All 6 ‘Final Destination’ Movies in Order: Chronological & By Release Date

The Final Destination series has been scaring moviegoers since its debut in 2000, offering a clever and terrifying concept: a group of people trying to escape a predetermined fate after narrowly avoiding death. If you’re a fan wanting to watch all the Final Destination films, you can choose to watch them in the order they were released, or follow the storyline as it unfolds within the movies.

Every movie in the series features a new set of people who briefly avoid a terrible fate thanks to a warning, only to discover that death always finds a way. After six films, the series has become a well-known and creative example of supernatural horror.

The Final Destination movies are known for their thrilling suspense, incredibly detailed and creative death scenes, and a subtle, ongoing storyline that connects them all. You can enjoy the movies in release order to see how the series developed, but watching them in chronological order—the order the events actually happen—gives you a richer understanding of the story as a whole.

This article explains the two different ways to experience these films, shows how they’re related, and tells you where to find them – just as a new movie in the series is about to come out.

All ‘Final Destination’ movies in release date order

I’ve been a fan of the Final Destination series since the very first movie back in 2000, and it’s been amazing watching how the story of death always catching up has evolved over the years. The latest one, ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’, just came out in 2025, and it’s wild to think about how far the franchise has come. Here’s a look at when each film hit theaters:

‘Final Destination’ (2000)
‘Final Destination 2’ (2003)
‘Final Destination 3’ (2006)
‘The Final Destination’ (2009)
‘Final Destination 5’ (2011)
‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ (2025)

Are all ‘Final Destination’ movies connected & what’s the best order to watch them in?

The Final Destination films are subtly connected by a universe where death has a plan and tries to correct anyone who escapes it. Characters and events sometimes reappear – like the mortician William Bludworth – and there are nods to previous disasters, such as the plane explosion in the first movie. While each film mostly tells a self-contained story with new people and situations, ‘Final Destination 5’ actually serves as a prequel to the original, creating a stronger storyline when watched in order.

To get the most out of the Final Destination series, it’s best to watch the movies in the order they happen in the timeline. Starting with ‘Final Destination 5’ – which shows the first disaster – and then watching the sequels, you’ll see how the consequences unfold over the years. This makes the story easier to follow and emphasizes how everything is connected, making death’s plans feel even more unavoidable.

‘Final Destination’ movies in chronological order

The order in which the Final Destination movies were released doesn’t match the timeline of events within the story. This list presents the films chronologically, starting with a prequel and including the upcoming sixth movie, to give viewers a new way to experience the series’ unfolding story of avoiding death.

1. ‘Final Destination 5’ (2011)

During a company trip, Sam Lawton (Nicholas D’Agosto) has a vision of a bridge collapsing and manages to save himself and some colleagues. However, after the near-disaster, the survivors start dying in freak accidents – from faulty gym equipment to a terrible complication during eye surgery. Sam and his girlfriend, Molly (Emma Bell), realize there’s a disturbing pattern to these deaths, and the mystery ultimately connects back to the events of the first film.

‘Final Destination 5’ actually takes place first in the series, in the year 2000, right before the events of the original ‘Final Destination’ begin. The movie concludes with Sam and Molly getting on the flight that crashes, making it a prequel and establishing the order of events for the entire franchise.

2. ‘Final Destination’ (2000)

Alex Browning has a terrifying premonition: Volée Airlines Flight 180 is going to explode. He and a few classmates manage to get off the plane before it takes off, but their escape isn’t what it seems. One by one, those who survived the flight begin to die in strange and unavoidable accidents, as if death is determined to correct its mistake.

This movie begins in May 2000 and directly follows the events of Final Destination 5. It opens with the same plane crash – Flight 180 – that Sam and Molly were on at the end of the previous film. It explains how the rules of the deadly fate work and starts the series’ timeline in order.

3. ‘Final Destination 2’ (2003)

Okay, so in this film, A.J. Cook plays Kimberly, and let me tell you, she has some seriously unsettling premonitions. The movie kicks off with her averting a huge highway disaster – she sees it happening, and manages to save a bunch of people. But here’s the thing: surviving isn’t necessarily a good thing. People she saved start dying in these incredibly gruesome, elaborate accidents. That’s where Clear Rivers, the woman who cheated death in the first movie, comes in. Together, they’re trying to figure out if there’s a way to break this terrifying cycle, and if bringing new life into the world could actually be the key.

Released in 2001, Final Destination 2 continues the story begun in the first film, linking the new victims to survivors of the original plane crash. The return of Clear Rivers and mentions of what happened to Alex Browning help establish a clear timeline between the two movies.

4. ‘Final Destination 3’ (2006)

After experiencing a chilling premonition and surviving a roller coaster accident, Wendy Christensen (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) realizes her friends are being targeted by a mysterious force. They begin dying in bizarre and gruesome ways – from tanning bed mishaps to accidents involving nail guns. Wendy desperately uses photographs to try and decipher the pattern and save her friends, but ultimately confronts a terrifying subway disaster.

This film, taking place in 2005 and four years after the second movie, feels more self-contained while still connecting to the overall series. It continues the established pattern of elaborate and unavoidable deaths and includes a reference to the 300th anniversary of President McKinley, showing the story naturally moves forward in time.

5. ‘The Final Destination’ (2009)

Nick O’Bannon has a premonition of a terrible crash at a racetrack and manages to save himself and his girlfriend, Lori, along with other people. However, death continues to pursue them, manifesting in a series of increasingly dangerous accidents – from tire failures to a horrifying escalator incident – culminating in a devastating theater explosion where everyone perishes.

Released in 2009, The Final Destination is the most recent film in the Final Destination series. It can be watched after Final Destination 3 without needing to know anything from the earlier movies, as it only shares the general idea of death trying to claim people’s lives.

6. ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ (2025)

The newest installment in the series, released on May 16, 2025, centers around a college student named Kaitlyn Santa Juana who is haunted by nightmares predicting her family’s tragic fate. Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, the film expands the world by featuring first responders, and welcomes back Tony Todd as Bludworth, bringing new surprises to the familiar story.

In 1969, Iris Campbell and her boyfriend, Paul, attended the opening of Sky View, a brand new skyscraper restaurant. Iris unexpectedly had a vision of the tower falling and everyone inside dying. She acted quickly, warning people and preventing the collapse, but her actions disrupted a plan that Death had in motion.

Fifty-five years after the event, Iris and Paul’s granddaughter, Stefani Reyes, a college student, starts having the same nightmares about the near-accident. She goes home hoping to find out what really happened. Because the story unfolds in 2024, it’s best to watch this movie last.

Where to watch all above-mentioned movies?

The first five ‘Final Destination’ movies are easy to find online. In the U.S., you can stream or rent them on Amazon Prime Video, Max, and Hulu, though availability differs depending on where you are. You can also buy digital copies from iTunes, Google Play, and YouTube. Specifically, ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ is available to stream on Max.

Will there be more ‘Final Destination’ movies?

A seventh movie was confirmed to be in the works on August 8, 2025, with Taylor writing the screenplay. Then, in October, Michiel Blanchart was revealed as the director.

2025-11-25 21:16