Corona beers have become a staple of the Fast & Furious franchise, with the drink appearing in almost every movie in the series, making their absence The Fate of the Furious notable to long-time viewers. The drink’s constant presence in the franchise was established in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, with Dom Toretto’s quip “You can have any brew you want, as long as it’s a Corona” becoming heavily associated with the character. Because of the drink’s frequent appearances in the Fast & Furious franchise, there has to be a reason they weren’t in The Fate of the Furious – and this new theory explains why.
The Fate of the Furious is the eighth entry in the Fast & Furious franchise, following a mysterious newcomer named Cipher (Charlize Therone), who convinces Dom to betray his crew. Although most of the franchise’s stars return, including Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Michelle Rodriguez, one notable absence was Paul Walker, who tragically died during the production of Furious 7. The fact that The Fate of the Furious is the first film after Paul Walker’s death makes it sadder than most of the other movies, and according to a new theory, this sadness may have something to do with the notable absence of Corona beer.
Which Fast & Furious Movies Corona Beer Is Missing From
Corona beers have appeared in the majority of Fast & Furious, but there are some exceptions – although their absence is never without reason. Although Coronas were all over The Fast and the Furious, the first movie they were missing from was actually 2 Fast 2 Furious. Dom Toretto actor Vin Diesel didn’t return for 2 Fast 2 Furious, and since the drink is heavily associated with the character, being Dom’s drink of choice, it makes sense that the Coronas skipped the sequel as well. Similarly, Corona beer isn’t in the third film, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which is a standalone sequel that doesn’t feature Vin Diesel either.
While the Corona beer product placement returned for the fourth film, the drink was again absent from Fast Five. However, this sequel did feature Vin Diesel, making their lack of appearance even stranger. Up until Fast Five, Dom’s adventures in the series had mostly taken place in Los Angeles, where Dom would often drink the beer with his friends and family. Fast Five takes place in Brazil, which is a long way from the typical setting of Los Angeles, meaning that the lack of Coronas symbolizes that Dom doesn’t feel at home. Finally, the Coronas don’t appear in The Fate of the Furious – and it takes some explaining.
Corona In Fast & Furious Is Even Deeper Than You Realize
Although the constant presence of Corona beer may seem like nothing more than a product placement typical of a blockbuster franchise, it’s actually a lot deeper than that. In fact, Corona doesn’t even pay for the product placement in the films at all, meaning that the series has to have a good reason for continuing to use them. Instead, the Fast & Furious franchise uses Coronas for one big reason: they are essential to Dom’s character.
In the Fast & Furious franchise, Coronas have always been a symbol of home and for Dom, acting as something of a comfort drink for the character. Dom usually drinks Coronas with his crew at meals or celebrations, often at the end of the film when the main conflict has been resolved and everyone has gone home. Having Corona beers be entirely absent from The Fate of the Furious implies that there is some kind of problem that is robbing Dom of this comfort of home that can’t be resolved over the course of the film. As it turns out, this new Fast 8 theory explains what that problem is.
Is Corona Missing From Fate Of The Furious Because Brian Isn’t There?
According to a new theory proposed by USA Today, Coronas are missing from The Fate of the Furious because Brian O’Connor is also missing. Brian, played by Paul Walker, had been the main character of the Fast & Furious franchise since the beginning, and his tragic death during the production of Furious 7 meant that his character had to be written out of the eighth film. Although Brian doesn’t die in Furious 7, his absence is never really explained, with it being assumed that he is living somewhere safe with his girlfriend, Mia Toretto, and their two children. Brian’s absence had an impact on everyone in the series, including Dom.
Since Corona beer symbolizes home and family for Dom, it makes sense that he would stop drinking them after Brian’s disappearance. Throughout the Fast & Furious franchise, Dom and Brian had been the best of friends, with the two being seen drinking Coronas together countless times. One of their first interactions was even Dom handing Brian one of the drinks. The lack of Coronas in The Fate of the Furious symbolizes the lack of comfort and family that Dom feels without Brian, something that he can never fix. Although the Coronas may have initially seemed like an odd oversight in the eighth film, this theory makes their absence tragic.
F9’s Brian Scene Explains Why Corona Returns
Despite their absence in The Fate of the Furious, Coronas actually return in F9 – and one scene perfectly explains why. Once again, F9 ends in a big Corona-filled family cookout, with one chair still empty before everyone eats. The identity of this missing guest is soon revealed as Brian O’Connor’s blue Nissan pulls into the driveway, revealing that, even though Paul Walker is dead, Brian is still a part of F9‘s family.
The return of Coronas in F9 mirrors the return of Brian O’Connor in the same film, implying that seeing Brian again has allowed Dom to regain the sense of home and family that was lost after Furious 7. Brian is clearly a major piece of Dom’s life, with the Corona theory implying that Brian’s absence makes Dom just as homesick and being in Brazil in Fast Five. Luckily, now that Brian O’Conner has reentered the picture in F9 after not being in The Fate of the Furious, Dom’s family has been restored, giving Paul Walker a loving tribute and his character a beautiful ending in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Key Release Dates
Fast X
Release Date:2023-05-19
