Final Destination

A terrified teen, Alex Browning, experiences a vivid premonition of a passenger jet exploding midflight, and in a frantic effort to stop that future he manages to have several classmates removed from the plane. When the aircraft does indeed blow up, the survivors are left to deal with the aftermath, relief turning into dread as an unseen force seems to pick them off one by one. Alex grows increasingly certain they escaped Death for only a short time, and he tries to warn friends who dismiss his fears. He forms a fragile alliance with Clear Rivers as they try to piece together a pattern that might keep them alive, while the tension rises and each narrow escape ratchets up the paranoia.

Final Destination was directed by James Wong and released in 2000, based on a story credited to Jeffrey Reddick, with a screenplay by Wong and Glen Morgan. The film debuted as original horror rather than an adaptation, introducing a high-concept premise that would become its signature.

The movie performed strongly at the box office for a modestly budgeted horror film, earning over $100 million worldwide and proving profitable enough to kick off a franchise with multiple sequels and related media.

Final Destination made a mark on pop culture with its inventive, Rube Goldberg style death sequences that people still reference and parody. Scenes from the film turned up in sketches, internet videos, and even inspired other horror filmmakers to craft elaborate, cause-and-effect set pieces rather than relying solely on jump scares.

Critics were divided, with many noting the film's clever premise and surprisingly elaborate kills, while others found its tone uneven. Audiences responded well enough to give it a solid genre fanbase, reflected in a 6.6 average vote. Major themes include fate versus free will, the illusion of control, and mounting anxiety over the randomness of mortality, all wrapped in a mood that keeps viewers unsettled long after the credits roll.