The Final Destination franchise has sparked fear in a generation of moviegoers. The series is renowned for its inventive and suspenseful portrayals of death’s inescapable design. After a 14-year hiatus, the franchise returns with Final Destination: Bloodlines, directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein. The latest entry in the series stars Kaitlyn Santa Juana as Stefani Reyes and promises to explore new dimensions of death’s intricate pattern.
With its unforgettable, Rube Goldberg-style kill sequences, Final Destination has created a unique fear of log trucks, tanning beds, and escalators for audiences everywhere. The franchise became a pop culture staple thanks to its high-concept premise that changed the concept of what horror could be. Unlike most horrors, it skips the antagonist in favor of death itself. Combined, the films have grossed over $666 million on a $154 million budget.
With the upcoming release of Final Destination: Bloodlines, a direct sequel to 2009’s The Final Destination, now is the perfect time for fans to revisit the series and get a refresher on how cheating death leads to death finding a way. Here’s your guide to watching the Final Destination movies before Bloodlines drips into theaters on Friday, May 16.
Final Destination (2000)
The one that started it all, Final Destination follows Alex Browning (played by Devon Sawa) as he boards a plane for a class trip to Paris, only to have a terrifying vision of the plane exploding mid-air. After getting himself and several classmates off the doomed flight, they soon learn death doesn’t take no for an answer. Other stars include Ali Larter, Kerr Smith, and Seann William Scott, and it was the first appearance of Tony Todd as William Bludworth, the mysterious mortician who knows more about death’s design than he lets on.
The concept began as a spec script for The X-Files and was inspired by a real news story about a woman who avoided a plane crash thanks to a premonition. It would end up grossing $112.9 million on a $23 million budget and spark the following sequels.
Where to Watch: Stream on Max | Buy/Rent on Prime Video
Final Destination 2 (2003)
Set one year after the original, Final Destination 2 centers on Kimberly Corman (A.J. Cook), who has a premonition of a devastating highway pile-up. She blocks traffic, saving several lives, but once again, death comes knocking. This sequel cranks up the carnage with even more elaborate kill sequences. The highway crash is one of the most iconic sequences in horror history and has made viewers think twice about driving behind log trucks ever since.
In the sequel, Todd returns briefly as Bludworth, offering ominous advice and delivering lines that feel like they’re written in blood. Returning survivor Clear Rivers (Ali Larter) also aids Kimberly in the sequel, that grossed $90.9 million worldwide on a $26 million budget.
Where to Watch: Stream on Max | Buy/Rent on Prime Video
Final Destination 3 (2006)
This time, it’s a roller coaster that kicks off the chaos. High schooler Wendy Christensen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) foresees a deadly accident at an amusement park. When she and a few others survive, they’re left to figure out death’s new plan, with clues hidden in ominous photos.
Shot on a $25 million budget, the third film raked in over $117 million at the box office, but is noted for its home video release. The DVD release featured a “Choose Their Fate” mode, letting viewers decide whether certain characters lived or died, which was a rare interactive twist for a horror film. It was also the first time Todd didn’t appear on-screen, however, he did lend his voice to the devil on the roller coaster and the subway PA system.
Where to Watch: Stream on Max | Buy/Rent on Prime Video
The Final Destination (2009)
Marketed as the end of the franchise (spoiler: it wasn’t), The Final Destination brings death to the racetrack. Nick O’Bannon (Bobby Campo) has a vision of a fiery disaster at a speedway, and soon he and his friends are dying in increasingly absurd and gruesome ways. Todd’s iconic character was absent, but the film also starred Shantel VanSanten, and Mykelti Williamson.
Notably, this was the first and only film to be released in 3D, which added a whole new layer to the over-the-top death scenes. The fourth film would gross $187.4 million worldwide on a $40 million budget.
Where to Watch: Stream on Max | Buy/Rent on Prime Video
Final Destination 5 (2011)
Final Destination 5 is actually a prequel to the original film. When Sam Lawton (Nicholas D’Agosto) has a vision of a suspension bridge collapse, he saves several coworkers, only for death to come for them in creatively grotesque ways. Todd returns with more screen time and deeper insights into death’s design, making this his most substantial appearance since the original. The film’s twist ending ties directly into the first movie, connecting the circle of fate.
The film’s bridge collapse opening is one of the most technically complex sequences in the series and was praised for its realism and suspense. Like the other films, the movie was a financial success, bringing in nearly $158 million worldwide and was shot on a budget of $40 million. It was also the last appearance of Tony Todd during his lifetime, as the actor, who reprises the role in Bloodlines, passed away in 2024.
Where to Watch: Stream on Max | Buy/Rent on Prime Video
