Fast & Furious 6 breaks $500m in record time

'Fast & Furious 6' has reached $500 million (£320 million) in worldwide box office takings in record time for its studio Universal.

The Vin Diesel-fronted car-chase franchise reached the figure quicker than any other film in the studio's history.

It also managed to score Universal's highest-grossing opening weekend of all time too, debuting at number one in the US and staying there for two weeks.

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The figures so far rack up to $180.3 million (£116 million) in the US, and $342.2 million (£219 million) internationally.

This latest instalment has been helmed by Justin Lin, who has made the last four films in the wildly popular series.

So far, over six films and a collected budget of $570 million (£365 million), the films have made over $2 billion (£1.2 billion) for Universal.

What does Diesel, the man behind wily ex-con Dom Toretto, reckon is the key to the success?

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“Because we made a conscious decision not to be like most Hollywood movies,” he says. “And to treat it more like a saga, a mythology.”

A seventh film, which will see James Wan – he of 'Saw' and 'Insidious' fame –  taking over the directorial reigns, is set for release in July, 2014.

Meanwhile, Diesel recently said that a further three films are planned, taking the total to nine.