Final Destination was a game-changer in thehorror genre, focusing instead not on slashers, but outrunning your fate from the supernatural presence of Death, and ultimately failing to stop the inevitable. This expanded into a highly rewatchable series where creative and iconic freak death sequences play on real-life fears to bring you some of the most memorable kills in horror cinema.
It’s one of those horror movie series that’s a lot of fun, andevery Final Destination entry becomes worthwhile and entertainingfrom start to finish, yet still, there are some that are indeed far better than others. With 2025’s Final Destination Bloodlines now released, here’s a look at where all the films reachtheirfinal destination.
David R. Ellis
Main Cast
Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano, Haley Webb, Mykelti Williamson, Krista Allen, and Andrew Fiscella
2009
5.1
28 percent
Where To Stream
HBO Max
By now, it’s universally acknowledged that the fourth installment of the Final Destination series is the least liked. Titled ‘The Final Destination,’ it made clear that it was filmed specifically for 3D, which made the camerawork and kills all seem outrageously poor and questionable. The CGI was also unforgivably bad, and the 80-minute runtime didn’t allow the same attachment to the characters as in other films and made everything feel rushed.
What really worked was the opening premonition (as always), which saw a car accident on a speedway track, as well as the escalator and near-death car wash scene. The 3D movie screening and mall premonition added a neat and suspenseful meta twist, but the ending really dropped the ball. However, Bobby Campo was an excellent lead, and you also haveThe Boysand For All Mankind star Shantel VanSanten, as well as Nick Zano from CW’s Legends of Tomorrow.
Even veteran franchise producerCraig Perry said the fourth Final Destination film “sucks.”
A.J. Cook, Michael Landes, Ali Larter, Keegan Connor Tracy, Justina Machado, David Paetkau, Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson, Jonathan Cherry, James Kirk, Lynda Boyd, and Tony Todd
2003
6.2
52 percent
Final Destination 2 starts with the infamous highway log truck premonition that taught everyone never to get behind them while on the road, and it also brings back Ali Larter’s character, Clear Rivers, showing that she’s still alive. Clear voluntarily committed herself to a padded room at a psych hospital, one of the best ways she thought to avoid Death, but ends up coming out of retirement to help the new protagonists.
Final Destination 2 struggled a lot with tone and identity. It tries to keep the same tragic and suspenseful vibe that’s a hallmark of the series, but by the end, the final barbecue kill played into dark comedy and almost felt like a self-parody. The opening premonition is still unmatched, the apartment fire death remains one of the best, and it touched uponelevator horrorand dental visits, but the main cast was the least memorable, and the ‘twists’ hindered the story.
James Wong
Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Seann William Scott, Kerr Smith, Amanda Detmer, Daniel Roebuck, Roger Guenveur Smith, Kristen Cloke, and Tony Todd
2000
6.7
40 percent
Final Destination launched in the era ofteen slasherslike Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, and this movie went for something different and more supernatural, while still carrying the same vibe from those aforementioned horror series. The first entry had a great cast, with even American Pie’s Seann William Scott making a horror debut, but the kills were definitely more grounded and less extreme.
Final Destination starts with a school trip to France, when the main character, Alex, has a premonition that their plane will explode, thus saving the lives of a teacher and a few friends and acquaintances, and now needing to help them all escape Death, just as the FBI suspects him of murder. The characters all have superb chemistry, some kills are quite shocking, while others are predictable, but the final death creates the perfect ending.
Steven Quale
Nicholas D’Agosto, Emma Bell, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, P.J. Byrne, Ellen Wroe, David Koechner, Courtney B. Vance, and Tony Todd
2011
5.9
63 percent
Final Destination 5 has one of the best stories, endings, and casts of the series, with parts even taking a strong comedic direction with the likes of P.J. Byrne and Anchorman’s David Koechner. Tony Todd’s Bludworth also has his finest dialogue moments here. Without spoiling the reveal, Final Destination 5 becamea solid prequelthat brought the series full circle, and even had a montage of all the iconic deaths throughout the films before the end credits, as well as multiple Easter eggs throughout.
The kills were some of the most suspenseful, brutal, and relatable, especially the acupuncture and laser-eye surgery, but by far the best setup was the nail-biting gymnastics routine that claimed Candice. The fifth installment also introduced the new concept of taking a life to save yourself, and that added a lot to the character development and story. And though the CGI still wasn’t amazing, the overall gore was solid, and the 3D aspects were a lot more subtle than FD 4.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Merriman, Amanda Crew, Kris Lemche, Alexz Johnson, Sam Easton, Chelan Simmons, Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe, and Tony Todd
2006
5.8
44 percent
James Wong returned to the helm for Final Destination 3 and also co-wrote the script with original writer Glen Morgan, and the duo truly perfected the Final Destination formula. The opening roller coaster premonition sparked everyone’s fear of thrill rides, even if they previously didn’t have one, and the kills were some of the best and goriestwith practical effects. The cast was also phenomenal, particularly Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Wendy and Ryan Merriman’s Kevin as the lead duo attempting to save everyone.
The story in Final Destination 3 plays on the fear of tanning beds going haywire, hardware store hazards, drive-thrus going wrong, weightlifting machines, horses being frightened by fireworks, and subway trains derailing in some of the best-shot scenes. And even though he doesn’t reprise the iconic Bludworth,Tony Todd’s voicecan still be heard as the Devil’s Flight roller coaster mascot and the subway train conductor.
The best way to experience Final Destination 3 is the special DVD edition, which allows you to play a mode called’Choose Their Fate. ‘In this mode,you can make decisions at certain points to alter the story and fates of the characters, unlocking alternate scenes, likethe interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein
Tony Todd, Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard Harmon, Owen Patrick Joyner, Rya Kihlstedt, Anna Lore, Alex Zahara, April Telek, Tinpo Lee, and Brec Bassinger
2025
7.2
93 percent
HBO Max (After theatrical release)
Could 2025’s Final Destination Bloodlines do the unimaginable and topple all the previous entries? Indeed, it did, and the writers were super imaginative with all the deaths and freak accident setups, subverting your expectations in the best way possible and making each death sequencean unpredictable twiston its own. From family barbecues to MRI machines, vending machines, piercings, and even dropped pennies, new fears are unlocked, and these were definitely some of the best and gnarliest kills of the series.
The skyscraper restaurant premonition playing on anxieties around heights, elevators, and glass floors proved an epic set piece that was masterfully shot, especially with all the dominoes at play and the fantastic VFX. Like the fifth installment, Bloodlines does a good job of balancing effective comedic moments with disturbing and shockingly gruesome deaths. And once again, there are clever nods to past films.
Death going the familial route was a compelling and fresh take. The family members were all great, most notably Richard Harmon’s Erik. Tony Todd’s Bludworth also had an amazing twist reveal to his character and got to share one last special moment that left you with an emotional closing message from him. May his soul rest in peace.
Final Destination Bloodlines is co-written by Lori Evans Taylor and Guy Busick, the latter of whom you may recognize from his writing onRadio Silence’s horror films, like Scream 5 and 6 and Ready or Not. The story also comes from MCU Spider-Man director Jon Watts.
