‘Fast Five’ races past $600 million

After speeding to the front at the box office when it debuted in April, “Fast Five” has now lapped its predecessors in the film franchise by grossing more than $600 million worldwide.

The film, the fifth installment in the series featuring high-speed cars and the wacky men and women who race them, this weekend collected $370,000 in 40 foreign markets, bringing its international total to $601.6 million, according to an estimate from distributor Universal Pictures. And there’s more mileage left: “Fast Five” won’t open in Japan until October.

That means that “Fast Five” is now the highest-grossing film in the franchise — by far. The fourth film, 2009’s “Fast & Furious,” previously held that record, though it ultimately grossed a comparatively meager $363.2 million worldwide.

With the immense success of the latest film, it’s no wonder that Universal already has plans for a sixth “Fast & Furious” movie, scheduled to open Memorial Day 2013.

— Amy Kaufman