Sources: Wikidata · OpenAlex. The record of the motion picture, not an assessment of this cell.
FILM NOTES
Universal Pictures released The Fast and the Furious in 2001, a modestly budgeted actioner that became a cultural phenomenon and the foundation of one of cinema's most durable franchises. Directed by Rob Cohen, it channeled the underground street racing scene into mainstream spectacle, pairing Paul Walker's undercover cop with Vin Diesel's crew leader Dominic Toretto. The film's success reshaped Universal's release calendar for two decades and turned a niche subculture into a global brand built on cars, crews, and family loyalty.
This cell preserves a moment from Street Racing, the film's defining pulse, featuring Mia Toretto, played by Jordana Brewster. Mia stands apart from the racers themselves, the family tether who grounds Dominic's world and becomes Brian's entry point into it. Collectors seek her out as the emotional throughline of the series' origin, present at its foundation before her role expanded across later chapters. A 35mm cell from this scene captures the franchise's founding energy, the street culture that launched an empire, held here in a single frame of film history.
Authentication Findings8 checks
Consistent with a 35mm colour release print of The Fast and the Furious (2001).
Gauge
35mm, four perforations per frame visible on the top edge; the strip holds three frames.
Perforations
Four per frame on the top edge are visible and appear evenly spaced with clean rectangular punching; bottom-edge perforations are partially obscured by heavy base damage and debris.
Soundtrack
Not visible in this capture; the area beside the picture frame is obscured by damage along the bottom edge.
Edge print
Not visible in this capture.
Base & colour
The base shows a warm amber-orange cast consistent with the dye image; no obvious red shift or significant fading is apparent.
Projection history
The bottom portion of the strip shows severe physical damage: heavy black streaking, tearing, and layered debris consistent with a heavily projected or mishandled print.
Picture
Positive colour image; all three frames appear to be consecutive frames from a single continuous shot, and the orange sports car visible is consistent with imagery associated with the film on record.
Era check
A 35mm colour positive print with this perforation pitch and warm dye image is consistent with a theatrical release print from the early 2000s, matching the 2001 release date on record.
Read from the original intake capture shown below. Observations only — film is authenticated, not graded.
This original motion picture film element has been examined and authenticated by Crown Grading in partnership with National Film Vault, and encapsulated for archival preservation.
Why so little survivesRelease prints were leased to theaters, not sold. When the run ended they went back to the distributor to be destroyed, and most were. What collectors hold today came from the prints that escaped that order, and no new 35mm prints of these films are being struck.
CROWN SERIAL 000062880
Original Film CaptureAs received
Photographed on the light panel at intake, before encapsulation — tap to open full size
Tap to enlarge
