Vin Diesel has built a formidable acting career in Hollywood’s action genre, contributing significantly to four major film series. These series span genres like superhero tales, science fiction, and pulse-pounding action movies. Notably, all these franchises have garnered both critical acclaim and box office success.
Diesel’s career gained significant recognition even before he made a splash in Hollywood. He directed the acclaimed short film “Multi-Facial,” which provided him with enough resources to produce his first full-length movie titled “Strays.” This short film also caught the eye of Steven Spielberg, who eventually offered him a role in “Saving Private Ryan.
Kicking off his career as an independent filmmaker, Diesel built a sturdy work ethic and aimed to establish his own series of films. This endeavor commenced with “The Chronicles of Riddick” and subsequently extended to “The Fast and the Furious“. He continued with his Xander Cage franchise before ultimately joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a recurring part.
Yet, not all Vin Diesel’s attempts at creating new franchises have thrived. For instance, he endeavored to establish a fresh franchise with “The Last Witch Hunter,” inspired by his fondness for “Dungeons & Dragons.” Similarly, he made an attempt at a superhero series with “Bloodshot,” but that resulted in only one film production. Despite these setbacks, they serve as testament to the remarkable impact of his successful franchise endeavors.
4. Xander Cage
Vin Diesel As Xander Cage
In 2002, Vin Diesel hadn’t demonstrated his ability to headline a series of films. He had already been in the initial installment of the Riddick saga, “Pitch Black,” and the debut “Fast and Furious” movie. However, the future of the Riddick franchise was unclear at that time, and Diesel departed from “Fast & Furious” following the first film, thus he was still seeking a successful franchise to lead.
Joining the Xander Cage franchise happened after his role in xXx, but that wasn’t the original intention when he played the character. In the initial movie, Diesel portrayed Xander Cage, a daring sports star. However, due to illegal protests, the National Security Agency compelled him to join them or face imprisonment. He agreed and transformed into an undercover agent specialized in extreme activities.
The movie thrived and demanded a follow-up. Interestingly, just as with the Fast & Furious series, Diesel chose not to reprise his role for the second installment, instead being replaced by Ice Cube. However, after xXx: State of the Union flopped at the box office, the franchise was brought back under Vin Diesel’s wing, leading to xXx: Return of Xander Cage.
| Movie | Box Office | RT Score (Critics/Audience) |
|---|---|---|
| xXx (2002) | $267.2 million | 48% / 58% |
| xXx: State of the Union (2005) | $71.0 million | 17% / 32% |
| xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) | $345.0 million | 46% / 37% |
The third installment of the series also demonstrated a significant fact: it earned more than the initial one, indicating that Vin Diesel was indeed the main draw for fans, rather than the franchise as a whole. However, the possibility of a fourth Xander Cage movie is uncertain due to issues surrounding the film rights.
3. The Chronicles Of Riddick
Vin Diesel As Richard B. Riddick
Among the series starring Vin Diesel, “The Chronicles of Riddick” is the one with the longest history. The initial installment, titled “Pitch Black“, falls under the genre of straight sci-fi horror. In this series, Vin Diesel portrays Riddick, a hazardous convict, who underwent a “surgical shine job”, enabling him to navigate in absolute darkness.
This tool proves useful when the penal spaceship experiences a crash-landing on a dark-inhabited planet populated by alien insects that become aggressive at nightfall. Initially, it appeared to be an excellent standalone horror production, garnered moderate box office revenue, and received mainly favorable critiques.
Originally, director David Twohy and actor Vin Diesel envisioned Richard Riddick as the protagonist of a single horror film, “Pitch Black.” However, their ambitions grew, leading to an expansive mythology for the character, which culminated in the 2004 sequel titled “The Chronicles of Riddick“. Unfortunately, this intricate mythology proved baffling to fans of the original film, and it underperformed at the box office.
| Movie | Box Office | RT Score (Critic/Audience) |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch Black (2000) | $53.1 million | 59% / 77% |
| The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) | $107.2 million | 28% / 65% |
| Riddick (2013) | $94.7 million | 58% / 56% |
The positive aspect is that Twohy and Diesel didn’t abandon their project; they produced a third film in 2013, which revisited the elements that made Pitch Black so beloved by fans. The movie, titled Riddick, put Riddick in another precarious situation, as he found himself stranded on a perilous planet with hunters out to eliminate him and creatures that emerged at night to attack.
As a die-hard film enthusiast, let me share my excitement about the third installment of the Riddick franchise. This time around, we had heavyweight stars like Karl Urban, Dave Bautista, and Katee Sackhoff joining the cast, and it didn’t disappoint! The box office and critical reception were remarkably similar to the original film, demonstrating the enduring appeal of this character. What’s more, the success of this movie has paved the way for a fourth film, titled “Riddick: Furya,” which is currently in production. In total, the first three Riddick movies have grossed an impressive $255 million at the box office, according to The Numbers.
2. Guardians Of The Galaxy
Vin Diesel As Groot
As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but marvel at the sheer magnitude and success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a cinematic titan in Hollywood’s history. Though my physical presence may not have graced the screens within this universe, my voice has resonated deeply as I lent it to the beloved character of Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. Despite my absence from the MCU, the films echoed with the soothing tones of my voice, bringing the tree-like hero to life for fans everywhere.
In the initial Guardians of the Galaxy movie, Diesel first appeared. This film was actually the tenth production in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). At the time, it seemed like a daring move for Marvel Studios since this property was relatively unknown. However, it turned out to be a significant triumph, earning $773.4 million at the box office and solidifying the Guardians of the Galaxy as some of Marvel’s most beloved characters.
In subsequent projects, Diesel made appearances in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”, and “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” on Disney+. He also lent his voice to the character in the animated series “I Am Groot” on Disney+, a short series about the character that was broadcast from 2022 to 2023.
| Movie | Box Office | RT Score (Critics/Audience) |
|---|---|---|
| Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) | $770.8 million | 92% / 92% |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) | $869.0 million | 85% / 87% |
| Avengers: Infinity War (2018) | $2.048 billion | 85% / 92% |
| Avengers: Endgame (2019) | $2.717 billion | 94% / 90% |
| I Am Groot (2022-2023) | N/A | 89% / 76% |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) | $845.5 million | 82% / 94% |
| The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) | N/A | 94% / 81% |
Not only did Vin Diesel contribute to these milestones, but his portrayal of Groot was pivotal in two of the highest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe films ever. In “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” Groot amassed a staggering box office total of $5.64 billion collectively. Moreover, Groot made an appearance in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and whispers suggest that we haven’t seen the last of him within the MCU.
1. Fast & Furious
Vin Diesel As Dominic Toretto
Without a doubt, the most triumphant film series starring Vin Diesel as its leading man is undeniably the Fast & Furious saga. In these action-packed films, Diesel plays the character Dominic Toretto, and he has been the central figure in all but two of the movies, even making a brief appearance in one of them at the very end. It is largely due to Diesel’s leadership that this franchise has achieved such incredible success.
In 2001, Diesel made his debut in the movie “The Fast and the Furious,” which bore a resemblance to the iconic action film “Point Break.” Here, Diesel plays Dom Toretto, a street racer who leads a group that carries out thrilling robberies. Brian O’Conner, portrayed by Paul Walker, is an LAPD officer tasked with infiltrating this gang and apprehending Dom. However, the story doesn’t unfold as planned.
Instead, Brian allows Dom to escape, and both men wind up as fugitives pursued by the police. However, that’s not where the saga ultimately headed. The second installment found Brian on the run, joining forces with other street racers in an attempt to evade capture. The third film focused on a narrative unrelated to either Brian or Dom, giving the impression that the series was coming to a close.
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but draw parallels between the Fast & Furious saga and the Xander Cage franchise. Just like how these franchises were revived by the return of key players such as Paul Walker and Vin Diesel, Fast & Furious found new life and became a cinematic juggernaut. The fourth installment saw them back on screen together, but it was in Fast Five where everything shifted dramatically. The series transformed from a heist franchise into something much grander and more captivating.
| Movie | Box Office | RT Score (Critics/Audience) |
|---|---|---|
| The Fast and the Furious (2001) | $206.4 million | 55% / 74% |
| The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) | $157.7 million | 38% / 69% |
| Fast & Furious (2009) | $359.3 million | 29% / 67% |
| Fast Five (2011) | $629.9 million | 78% / 83% |
| Fast & Furious 6 (2013) | $789.3 million | 71% / 84% |
| Furious 7 (2015) | $1.460 billion | 82% / 82% |
| The Fate of the Furious (2017) | $1.189 billion | 67% / 72% |
| F9: The Fast Saga (2021) | $719.3 million | 59% / 82% |
| Fast X (2023) | $714.3 million | 56% / 84% |
Ever since the high-octane excitement of “Fast Five,” the series took a thrilling turn towards the realm of spy-like adventures. I, as a die-hard fan, found myself on a new mission with Dom and his crew, this time working for a clandestine government agency to take down the baddies. With musclebound powerhouses like Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham joining forces, the franchise truly skyrocketed, shattering the $1 billion milestone not once, but twice, in the seventh and eighth installments!
In 2023, the first part of a two-part finale for Dominic Toretto and his family, titled Fast X, was unveiled. The second movie is scheduled for release in 2027. This concluding film plans to use digital technology to reintroduce Brian, who was portrayed by Paul Walker until his death in 2013. Vin Diesel anticipates that this final installment will be the most spectacular in the series.
The show’s success has led to a spin-off featuring Johnson and Statham, and it may continue beyond the 11th and last installment even when Vin Diesel departs.
Source: The Numbers
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2025-07-04 23:12