The Scream Queen

As someone who rewatches the Final Destination movies multiple times a year, I would consider myself somewhat of an expert. As such, I have decided that it is only right to give my ultimate ranking on what I believe to be the best franchise ever created.

* Spoilers ahead for the whole franchise.

6. The Final Destination (2009)

The Final Destination is the fourth entry in the franchise, and although its is not the last (despite its name), it does come last here. Notably filmed with the 3D gimmick in mind, The Final Destination features a plethora of downright bad effects that date the film to a very specific time period of the late 2000s/early 2010s, when every film was made to be in 3D. The premonition scene is one of the more forgettable, particularly as a speedway track doesn’t quite slot into everyday life fears as most of the others do. On top of this, the characters are boring, with many of them forgoing names and instead being only credited as their character trope (see ‘Racist’ and ‘MILF’). The Final Destination is also the only Tony Todd-less entry into the franchise, putting a final nail into its coffin on this list.

5. Final Destination 5 (2011)

Although still shot for 3D, Final Destination 5 is a definite improvement upon its predecessor. I was only 9 when this movie came out, but even I remember being terrified of the marketing. The laser eye surgery scene in particular was heavily advertised, and I’m sure it left many people rethinking having the procedure done. The kills in this one are gnarly, and do feature among some of the best in the franchise. However, the film’s real pièce de résistance is its twist ending, where its revealed the movie has been a prequel all along, and our main characters are stuck on the infamous flight 180 from the first movie. It is a stroke of genius, and in my opinion, one of the best twist endings of all time. So, why so low down on the list? For me, this film’s faults lie within its characters. The two main characters, Sam and Molly, are extremely boring, and really bring the film down at times. And, although it is deliberate, Isaac is truly unbearable. But ultimately for me this, this ranks second last purely because I enjoy the other ones more.

4. Final Destination Bloodlines (2025)

The latest instalment in the franchise, Final Destination Bloodlines brings the series back with a blood-splattered bang. The first Final Destination movie that I have had the pleasure of seeing upon its initial release in the cinema, Bloodlines has been formatted for both 4DX and IMAX to really optimise its time on the big screen. Putting a fresh spin on these movies, Bloodlines features a whole family getting taken out by death’s design all because they were never meant to be born in the first place. The premonition scene is one of the biggest they’ve done, and really sets the tone for the rest of the gloriously gory picture about to unfold. The characters are more fleshed out here, and as such, the audience are given a chance to care about them. However, as we all know, no one can cheat death, and once again we get some great franchise kills; one involving an MRI machine is particularly well played out, and has already become one of the most iconic in the franchise. Bloodlines also features the final performance by Tony Todd, who sadly passed shortly after filming. His ending is bittersweet, and truly a truly touching moment for a movie so tongue-in-cheek. Although I hope they continue to make these movies until the end of time, they will never be the same without William J. Bludworth.

3. Final Destination 2 (2003)

A fan favourite entry among the franchise, Final Destination 2 features what many consider to be the best premonition scene of the whole series; it is true that after watching, you will never drive behind a log truck ever again. The first sequel in the series expands upon the lore, and is the only entry where 2 characters manage to evade their fate and escape death, as recently confirmed in Bloodlines. Final Destination 2 also has some of the better special effects compared to the others, and as such, the death scenes feel horribly realistic. Similarly to Bloodlines, this sequel has characters you really do grow to care for, as the random group thrown together make for a more interesting point of view. The small twist that reveals the characters in this movie only lived as a ripple effect from the first movie is a clever one, and adds something new to a series that is fairly reliant on being formulaic. This is also the only film in the franchise to bring back a returning character that is not William Bludworth, in the form of Clear Rivers from the original movie. She acts nicely as a tie between the two movies, although unfortunately, she does not have the same luck she did last time. Killing off Clear Rivers reminds us that in this franchise, anyone and everyone is expendable.

2. Final Destination 3 (2006)

Coming in at number 2 is Final Destination 3, the one with Mary Elizabeth-Winstead and the infamous tanning beds. Final Destination 3 benefits from being the third entry into the franchise as by this point the audience knows the drill. The film therefore makes the most of its short runtime, with almost back to back death scenes. Although there are some arguments to be made in terms of the logic of this one (how did the rollercoaster crash when Frankie’s camera was part of causing it and he got off?), you really just have to put logic aside and enjoy the gloriously gory sequences that unfold. Featuring what I believe to be the best death in the franchise, the tanning beds scene is truly horrific, and has stuck with me since I watched it many years ago. This entry is definitely the most entertaining, albeit flawed, but is a nostalgic throwback to the mid 2000s that encapsulates the dark irony that these films are imbued with.

1. Final Destination (2000)

The film that started it all can only rank in one place; top of this list. Final Destination was originally a script for an episode of the X-Files, but thankfully became a full length feature instead, spawning the franchise we all know and love today. Final Destination works so well because it exploits a very real fear; flying. Although all of the films try to draw on every day fears, a plane crash feels so much more tangible than a lot of the deaths that feature in the series. The chance of being killed in a place crash is roughly 1 in 11 million. One of the main teens points out, as they get on the infamous plane that has a baby and a person with additional needs onboard, it would have to be ‘a really fucked up God’ to bring this plane down. As I said, the chances of being involved in a plane crash are extremely low, but not zero. This becomes quickly apparent in Final Destination, as the premonition scene shows the audience exactly what it would be like to die in such a terrifying way. From that point on, the film never really relents, and feels notably darker than a lot of the other entries. Terry Chaney being hit by a bus is one of the best moments in any horror film, and reminds us that death can strike out of nowhere. Final Destination forces us to face our own mortality in the most gruesome of ways, simultaneously reminding us that life is indeed short; as Tony Todd reminds us, we have to ‘enjoy what time we have left.’ We never really know how or when we will eventually go, but for me, I really hope I don’t suffer a similar fate to those in Final Destination.