This movie received very low expectations after the previous installment, but it handily surpasses them by flipping the tropes on their heads. The cocky protagonist could have been obnoxious, except that the main narrative is about him growing out of his character deficiencies. The races could have been simple retreads of old ground, but instead they use the titular drifting to make some of the most interesting courses in the entire franchise. It’s still got the contrived interactions and setpiece moments and schoolboy drama at its core, but run-of-the-mill sequel this is not.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Fast and the Furious by way of Black Rain.

Setting: Yakuza Crime
Plot: Coming of Age
Tone: Cool Action