BuzzFeed Contributor Ranks Every ‘Final Destination’ Film in a Quest to Cheat Death
NEW YORK, N.Y. — The “Final Destination” franchise has long captivated horror fans with its unique premise: death’s inevitable design can’t be cheated, no matter how hard the survivors try. Jeremy Hayes, a contributor to BuzzFeed, recently undertook the task of ranking every film in the series, highlighting the franchise’s most memorable death scenes and storytelling twists in a post that has resonated with longtime enthusiasts.
The original “Final Destination” (2000) still holds the top spot in Hayes’s ranking. The film’s chilling opening plane crash and the subsequent decapitation near train tracks left a lasting impression on audiences. Hayes notes that these scenes “really screwed me up as a kid,” underscoring their enduring impact. The original film set a high bar for the franchise, combining suspense with inventive death sequences that have become iconic.
Close behind is “Final Destination 2” (2003), praised for its ambitious attempt to break the cycle of death’s design. The highway pileup scene, in particular, stands out as a terrifying moment that forever altered how viewers perceive driving behind log trucks. This sequel’s fresh approach to the franchise’s mythology earned it a strong place among fans. The film’s daring narrative choices reflect a willingness to evolve, a trait that horror franchises often struggle to maintain.
More recently, “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (2025) was lauded for its disturbing and memorable ending, serving as a love letter to the series’ predecessors. Hayes highlighted the magnetic pull of an MRI machine as the whackiest and most creative kill in the franchise, a testament to the filmmakers’ commitment to blending horror with inventive set pieces.
While the fourth installment, “The Final Destination” (2009), ranked lowest in Hayes’s list, it still offered moments of interest, such as its X-ray introduction and 3D credit sequence, which felt reminiscent of video game aesthetics. Despite its weaker inciting incident at a racetrack, the film’s final death scene was noted as a highlight.
Hayes’s ranking also touches on “Final Destination 3” (2006), which he views as the franchise’s first stumble, citing less convincing inciting incidents and a sense that the series was running out of ideas. However, the tanning bed death scene was singled out for its horrifying execution and dark humor.
“Final Destination 5” (2011) was recognized for its memorable ending twist, despite forgettable characters and premise. The wild death involving fallen airplane parts was described as both ridiculous and adored, capturing the franchise’s blend of shock and entertainment.
Fans interested in revisiting the entire series can stream all the films on HBO Max, a platform that continues to support classic and contemporary horror titles. For those curious about the franchise’s cultural impact, the Library of Congress offers extensive archives on film history, while the FBI’s violent crime investigations provide real-world context on the fascination with death and mortality in media.
As the “Final Destination” series demonstrates, the interplay between fate and human agency remains a compelling theme in popular culture. The franchise’s inventive death scenes and evolving narratives continue to engage audiences, proving that even in horror, creativity can thrive. For more on the psychology of fear and its portrayal in media, resources from the National Institute of Mental Health offer valuable insights.
Jeremy Hayes’s ranking invites fans to reflect on which installment they believe best cheats death, sparking conversations about the franchise’s legacy and its place in horror cinema.
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