Even before the seventh film in the "Fast and Furious" franchise hit theatres, it was already bound to be a monumental one as it is the final time original cast member Paul Walker will be riding alongside Vin Diesel and crew.

But fans and even casual moviegoers interested in seeing how the tribute to Walker would be handled have made "Furious 7" the fastest film to hit $1 billion, accomplishing the feat in 17 days. In comparison, the billion-dollar box-office club that includes "Avatar", "Avengers", and "Harry Potter" managed to do it in 19 days.

"Today marks a significant milestone in our history," writes NBC Universal Vice Chairman Ron Meyer in a blog post. "At Universal we have had franchises with strong results at the box office, including JURASSIC PARK, DESPICABLE ME and the BOURNE series, and although we take great pride in these accomplishments, what distinguishes FAST & FURIOUS is that it is an original live action concept with an entirely diverse cast. It is the only franchise of its kind to reach a total of MORE THAN $3.39 billion and counting."

"Furious 7" is the first time in Universal’s 103-year history that have achieved this level of success in its first run.

(Photo courtesy of NBCUniversal.com)

These franchise favorites will premiere on Universal Channel starting on 31 March 2015, Tuesday, at 10:00 PM with 2 Fast 2 Furious. On 1 April 2015, Wednesday, a back-to-back presentation of Fast and Furious and Fast Five will be shown starting at 8:55 PM. Finally, settle in for a Fast and Furious marathon showcasing all three movies in a row during the weekend of 4 April 2015, Saturday at 7:55 PM, to 5 April 2015, Sunday at 6:00 PM.