This really is the year of the sequel. We are seeing many franchises return with the hopes of outdoing their predecessors. One genre in particular though, is seeing somewhat of a rebirth in films this summer. With the release of 28 Days Later and M3GAN 2.0 this June, the horror world is heating up. But that’s not before the long-awaited release of Final Destination Bloodlines, next week. The gruesome series is making its way back on to our screens and most likely into our nightmares. Fans have described the franchise as “the greatest horror movies ever made” and hope that the sequel will stay “somewhat grounded in reality and provide brand new, fresh ways to rethink tiny, every-day situations”. So ahead of the highly anticipated release, here is the series of horror films ranked in order from worst to best.
5. The Final Destination (2009)
This is the fourth installment of the horror series and it revolves around individuals who have premonitions about imminent death, only to try and escape the vengeful force they are sensing. Despite being the highest-grossing film of the franchise, this entry takes the themes of the film to the extreme and veers a little too closely into self-parody. Its short run time and lack of character development does little to help its credentials.
4. Final Destination 5 (2011)
Following the fourth installment, the last film of the series so far did its best to rebound after the car crash that was Final Destination 4. New to the franchise, Steven Quale directed this installment that felt a bit slow in pacing and was dragged even further by a subplot about FBI agents. Final Destination 5 was also shot in 3D and succeeds in constructing some crazy deaths while dialling back on the gimmicks.
3. Final Destination 2 (2003)
The second of the franchise, this film is a mixed bag. There are some sharp kills that make for a very entertaining watch but the storytelling suffers as fans struggle to connect with the rinse and repeat characters of the horror universe. Ali Larter reprised her role as Clear Rivers a.k.a the final girl to face off with Death’s Design twice in a performance that is not disimilar to Jamie Lee Curtis’ triumphant return in Halloween (2018).
2. Final Destination (2000)
It was a close call but coming in at number two is the original Final Destination movie. If you prefer a horror that is slightly more grounded in its nature and with potentially more realistic killings, then this is the one for you. Despite not being as memorable as some of its sequels, the original can be described as the scariest of the bunch. Its stellar casting including Kerr Smith, Seann William Scott and Devon Sawa also boasted the film’s credibility at the time.
1. Final Destination 3 (2006)
Who can forget that iconic tanning bed death? Not to mention the roller coaster scene to end all scenes. Both of those have stayed with me in the years following the film. This film confirms that the belief “third time’s a charm” is factual. The script means the film could stand alone as a success without the rest of the franchise. By far the most memorable of the series, the third film struck the balance between horror and comedy perfectly.