“Life’s simple. You make choices and you don’t look back,” - Han Lue, Tokyo Drift. There are few lines the Fast and Furious franchise that touch a heart and mind quite like this one. The lines, however, are not the only memorable parts. While it take an interesting approach to its themes, the series is a story of friendship and family. From Dom — the leader of an illegal street racing gang — taking Brian — the undercover cop—under his wing, to the unexpected betrayal in the eighth movie in the franchise, The Fate of the Furious. Throughout it all, we’ve been with them every step of the way.

We’ve laughed, and we’ve cried and we’ve been astounded. From hilarity to heartbreak, we have become a part of the “ride or die” crew with Dom, Brian, Mia, Letty and Hobbs. The Fast and Furious franchise has been around for 17 years at this point, but it's not over yet. With the 9th addition to the series being scheduled for release in 2020, there is never a lack of memes for this franchise. Today, we’ve collected 15 memes that will make you laugh, possibly cry, but will certainly have you nostalgic and ready to start reliving them all from the beginning.

15 SHIFTING GEARS

“Dear Dom and Crew, Cars don’t actually work like that. Love, Anyone who has ever watched a single Fast and the Furious movie.” If there was only one thing fans and critics alike would ever be able to agree on, it’s that the gear shifting in this franchise is just a tiny bit ridiculous. A normal car will typically have about six options on the gearshift, with older versions having only about five. When you watch the races or high-speed chases in these movies, it isn’t hard to tell that they are shifting gears a lot more than they should be. Even someone who knows nothing about the technical mechanics and workings of cars (like ourselves) can’t help but chuckle any time they watch these scenes because it’s just obvious that it’s a Hollywood thing.

Whether you find this entertaining or annoying, you can’t deny that it’s a classic part of the Fast and Furious franchise, from the original Fast and the Furious to the most recent Fate of the Furious. While there isn’t too much information floating around about the ninth instalment besides its release date for the year 2020, we can all be sure that the classic gearshift madness will be a part of that, as well.

14 SHOTGUN

No matter who calls shotgun, there’s almost inevitably a struggle over it. Sometimes that struggle is verbal, sometimes it's physical. Sometimes it’s just a race to the car, but other times — according to this meme — it involves jumping to one moving car from another! This stunt, like most stunts in these movies, definitely falls under the category of “Do not try this at home.”  We do have to admit, though, that this scene, where Brian O’Conner (played by the late Paul Walker) jumps from the Honda Civic onto the semi while they’re both speeding down the freeway is pretty dang epic.

Obviously, this meme is just meant to poke fun at how far “calling shotgun” can go, but wouldn’t it be hilarious if that was actually the reason behind this entire scene? If the “furious” part was all over someone stealing shotgun? While you should certainly leave stunts like this to the trained professionals, we do have to give some props to Brian for realizing that even he shouldn’t try this without a rope tied around him — and shot into the truck to make sure he has a better chance of making it all the way there in one piece.

13 DRIVING HOME

The Boromir meme is a classic staple for any meme collection. We couldn’t just leave it out of this list, could we? It wouldn’t feel right. This being the most popular version for Fast and Furious, we decided it definitely makes a very fitting addition to the list. Driving fast is fun, there’s really no denying that. It’s also really, really fun to watch movies where the pro and antagonists drive super fast and attempt all sorts of crazy, daring and dangerous maneuvers. We would be lying if we said we'd ever watched one of these movies and not thought “Man, we wish we could do that.” However, there are always those people who seem like they’re actually going to attempt something like Dom and his crew pull.

We’ve all seen them — the people weaving in and out of traffic going 30 miles per hour over the speed limit on the freeways, the ones who are constantly revving their engines at the stop lights; you know the ones. When many of us daydream about the Fast and Furious movies, we also think about insane driving, and vice versa. When you saw this, was there someone specific who popped into your head? There probably was... and that person is a menace, we tell you! A menace!

12 PURE NOSTALGIA

We will readily admit that the first instant we saw this one, we started dancing to the song that started playing in our heads. Only a few short seconds after that, though, we were hit with a strong wave of nostalgia. Not only did this meme beautifully encapsulate the juxtaposition of the early and later movies, it also plays to the sense of nostalgia and hope that exists in each human being. There is something innate in each of us that causes us to simultaneously hope for increase and betterment in the future, and also miss and long for the simplicity of the past.

Was this the purpose behind the creation of this meme? Probably not. Did its creator expect that anyone would ever begin pondering the human condition after seeing it? Also, no — well, most likely, at least; we don't want to cast aspersions as to the philosophical acumen of its creator. Either way, and however it was meant to be taken, that is what happened. Surely the main focus in its creation was geared more towards the juxtaposition in the series itself. This comparison itself is an elegant tribute by the producers to Paul Walker and the role he played in the series. They deserve applause for that, if nothing else.

11 BUCKLE UP

Do you remember when you were very first learning how to drive? Getting behind the wheel, in the drivers’ seat for the first time and, if you’re like a lot of people, having a very nervous parent in the passenger seat beside you? Most of us have experienced this, and we bet most of you remember it (we certainly do). We personally think that this experience in part leads to the phenomenon described in the first half of this meme. Almost everyone will drive with extra care and caution when their parents are in the car with them — sometimes this extra caution borders on laughable, especially when the person is a safe and cautious driver anyway.

That same feeling of caution that dictates how you drive with your parents doesn’t necessarily carry over to driving with other people, especially your best friends, and that is the feeling to which the second half draws your attention. Driving fast, as we already mentioned, is quite fun even on your own but there is something about driving fast with your best friends with you and some epic music from your favorite bands on the radio that is hard to beat. This meme is a perfect illustration of both of these feelings.

10 THROWBACK

We don’t know that there is any way we could write an entry that would do any better of highlighting why this meme is great than just looking at it. Really, this is pretty much straightforward gold. But hey, we'll try anyway. Memes that have very prevalent vintage themes are wonderful to begin with, but we don’t know what we love more about this one specifically. Is it the fact that someone saw this picture and one of the first thoughts to go through their head was something along the lines of “this would be a great Fast and Furious meme”? Or is it the fact that this picture exists — that it was able to be captured at all? Or is it simply the facial expressions? It’s truly hard to decide.

What we do know for certain, however, is that we are very grateful for each of those things individually and collectively. There’s a chance that this is one of the memes that is poking fun at the fact that this franchise has lasted so long, but we have another meme that we think embodies that better. Another thing that’s undeniable though is that this is a meme we will never forget.

9 PROGRESSION

The truth in this meme hits home for everyone who has watched the series. This meme expresses the difference in the main plot points and conflicts in the early installations versus the later ones. At first, this might be an upsetting progression for some fans of the early movies. However, it is certainly a tribute to character growth and development. The fourth movie, Fast and Furious, marks the “coming of age,” so to speak, of this series and these characters. The first three installations to this franchise — The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift — set the stage and introduced us to basic conflicts this lifestyle would create.

Although one may argue that later ones are “darker” than the earlier instalments, it can be countered that it is also a typecast of our individual lives and how we are often put in the position that we must make harder choices and deal with more lasting consequences as life goes on. As these characters grow, the audience can grow and learn alongside them. Yes, it’s fiction. Yes, we shouldn’t be basing life decisions off fiction (at least not Fast and Furious fiction). However, can’t it also be argued that as we observe people, both real and fictional, making these difficult choices, we will be more prepared to make our own?

8 HOLLYWOOD AND SEQUELS

It’s no secret that Hollywood loves its sequels. Some might say it loves its sequels a little too much. The Fast and Furious series is no exception. The Fast and the Furious was released in 2001. We're sure when it was released, none of the fans expected that it would still be thriving after 17 years — with at least one more sequel in sight! To put this in perspective, the first movie in this series came out at the same time as Jimmy Neutron: The Movie and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. The next one is set to come out in the same year as the third Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and Indiana Jones 5. A lot has happened and a lot has changed cinematically from then to now and more is sure to change over the next two years.

Don’t let the fact that some of these series mentioned in relation to the Fast and Furious series have new installations continuing to come out, or started before this series, fool you. Those series have had substantial hiatuses. Don't forget that the third and fourth Indiana Jones movies were released 19 years apart! The fans of Dom and his crew have had a steady stream of storyline to keep them satisfied these entire 17 years.

7 DARING MANEUVERS

Sometimes the antics that people pull are truly astounding. This is another meme, the circumstances surrounding which we are just baffled by. There is no way the driver of this car didn’t realize what was happening. You don’t end up underneath the trailer of a semi-truck in your car and wonder, “Hey, how’d I get here?” Was this truly another instance where people got a little too carried away with the stunts of Fast and Furious, thinking they can do it, too? Is this someone managing to capture a picture of a stunt driver in the middle of a normal road? Who knows.

While this is daring and risky maneuver is made humorous meme, the photo itself can also illustrate how the realities of life can be skewed by perception. Although the manner in which the message is portrayed is very different, there are undertones of the same message found through the most recent film, The Fate of the Furious. This installation of the series reminds us that each of our lives is influenced by the perceptions of those around us and can change at the drop of a hat. We may never know what was going through this driver’s head, but we are certainly glad that someone was able to capture it.

6 THE ULTIMATE PUN

Maybe there’s a simple reason behind the franchise lasting so long. Maybe it all really is due to this, the ultimate pun that could possibly be made in relation to these movies. Now, just imagine production team meeting together while creating The Fast and the Furious and deciding if there were to be more installations of this storyline. Picture them sitting around a table and asking, “Well, how long is this story line going to last? What else can we do with it?” People are tossing around ideas until someone says, “Hey, we should make ten of them so we can call the last one “Fast10: Your Seatbelts.” Wouldn’t that be great?” is probably pretty slim. Stranger things have happened though, right?

There are a lot of possibilities and a fair bit of speculation about what the ninth movie is going to be titled, and whether the series is actually going to extend on after that point. Many of us expected the death of Paul Walker to mark the end of the franchise, but we were proven wrong. While it’s improbable that they are continuing the series for this sole purpose, it’s not impossible and there are many people out there who will probably be disappointed if the franchise passes up this opportunity.

5 PLAN B

Most of us have been there. Whether it’s high school or college, finals are rough. Sometimes it seems like there is no way you’re going to make it out alive, much less pass. All the late night study sessions, trying to cram every ounce of information possible into your brain because you have no idea what will be on the finals. All the nights of sleeping an hour or two a night because you just have to finish that study guide; it's brutal. Thank goodness it only comes around once a semester!

When you’re going through any point in your life and times are getting harder and harder, sometimes it’s easy to just consider giving up. This scene, however, shows us that there is another alternative. Maybe your first plan doesn’t work out. Maybe your second, and third, and forth plans also don’t pan out. This scene reminds us in one of the most humorous ways possible that we can keep going and keep trying even when it seems like nothing on earth is going to work. The message of persistence is carried on throughout the entirety of the Fast and Furious franchise — Dom and his friends stick it out and see all of their projects to the end no matter what obstacles may stand in their way.

4 DID YOU KNOW?

This meme is one that definitely made us want to watch the movies again simply because it brought all of the actors and their characters that we love into the same frame. Now, we will admit without shame that we are very sentimental people here at CBR, and we tend to get nostalgic very easily. Perhaps that’s the reason that when we saw this meme, we both laughed and started thinking about all the adventures we watched the characters share. While this meme is used to poke fun at the sheer number of actors hired for these roles who have little to no hair, we are certain they were cast for their talent, not their hair or lack thereof.

Some notable — and probably obvious — mentions for applauding these men on their talent and the diversity of roles they have played would have to be Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Each of these men have starred in many roles and have thus proven the scope of their talent. Diesel has been in everything from The Pacifier as Shane Wolfe to Saving Private Ryan as Private Caparzo and Guardians of the Galaxy as Groot. Johnson’s recent roles have included Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as Spencer, and Hercules as the title role.

3 A WILD RIDE

Once again, we have a meme that makes us wonder how this even happened. The bear behind the wheel is entertaining in and of itself. However, the reactions of the couple beside him only enhance the quality of this photo. Perhaps this was a still from a movie, or perhaps it truly was as crazy it looks. Either way, we couldn’t resist adding this to our collection. Why does this meme make someone want to watch all eight movies again? Consider this: look at the expression of the three humans in this picture. The bear knows he can’t be bothered, but each of the three reactions is priceless. Why not start the series again and pay special attention to the reactions and expressions of the extras and the minor characters. The similarities to this meme might surprise you.

This meme, originally posted with the caption “In Soviet Russia, car drive you,”  falls into the subset of memes, the “Soviet Russia” memes, that highlight some of the things that happen in Russia that seem to not phase them at all. Crazy stuff did go down in Tokyo Drift though, so you never know what might happen if they were to travel to Russia!

2 MARIO KART VS. FAST & FURIOUS

Originally, Dominic Toretto — played by Vin Diesel — used this scene to highlight the fact that, no matter how close the runner-up might be, a win is a win. As a part of the first movie, The Fast and the Furious, this scene can be interpreted as setting the stage for the rest of the franchise. No matter whether it’s a close call or smooth sailing, Dom and his crew stick together and make the most of every moment on the path to victory. It’s an inspiring scene and was the moment that made fans of quite a few people.

The reason we chose this version of the meme, however, is because of the iconic nature of Mario Kart. Even non-gamers have, generally speaking, had  great experiences with the classic racing game. However, as cute as it may appear, it is also a breaker of friendships. But it's just a harmless game... how could relationships possibly be ruined? Right? Wrong. It turns out that any racing game is super competitive, and any win is a major victory. It doesn’t matter if it’s Mario Kart or Grand Theft Auto, winning is winning, and much like the family in the Fast and Furious franchise, we are all about that good, good winning! No matter what!

1  RIGHT IN THE FEELS

As the final addition to this Fast and Furious meme collection, we couldn’t pass this one up. Not only is this the perfect closing because it involves saying goodbye, but it also evokes so much nostalgia. This time, the nostalgia doesn’t just come for the series. Through this specific meme, nostalgia for Brian and his role in the movies is accompanied by the feelings of loss and sadness associated with the death of Paul Walker. In 2013, when everyone heard about his passing, the Fast and Furious fanbase suffered the loss not only of a talented man, but also of a beloved character.

This meme perfectly portrays how nearly every fan reacted to this scene. Brian and Dom starting out as friends and quickly becoming so much closer that their bond develops into that of brotherhood is an important piece of the entire series. When Brian pulls up next to Dom and utters the character’s last line, “Thought you could leave without saying goodbye,” we're pretty sure the entire audience in that theater burst into tears (we certainly did). If any single meme was capable of making a person want to watch eight movies start to finish and watch that relationship grow from day one, it would be this one.