Synopsis

After a reckless street race lands him in trouble, American teenager Sean Boswell is sent to Tokyo to live with his father. There, he discovers drifting, a technically demanding style of racing, and becomes involved with a tight-knit car culture connected to the yakuza. Under the guidance of an older racer, Sean must master drifting before confronting his most dangerous rival.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film was the first entry in the franchise to move its main setting outside the United States and the first to include filming in Japan.

• Much of the Tokyo material was filmed in Los Angeles because permits for filming on Japanese streets were difficult to obtain. The production also filmed in Tokyo, including sequences in the Shibuya district.

• Professional drift drivers performed many of the film's most demanding driving sequences rather than the actors.

• More than 100 vehicles were reportedly wrecked or destroyed during production.

• Toyota donated thousands of tires for the shoot, while Rays Engineering supplied the Volk Racing wheels used on several cars.

• The film introduced Han Lue, a character who later became an important part of the larger Fast & Furious storyline.

• Although it was released as the third film, later installments established that its main events take place after Fast & Furious 6 and before Furious 7.

• The movie began the franchise's long-running creative partnership with writer Chris Morgan and composer Brian Tyler.

• In Japan, the film was released under the Wild Speed title used for the series in that market.

• Tokyo Drift was initially the lowest-grossing film in the franchise, but its emphasis on drifting, Japanese car culture, and practical driving helped it develop a strong cult following over time.