(Updated 03/20/2024)
For 25 years, the FINAL DESTINATION movie series has done two things, typically at the same time. It has delivered some of the most gruesomely thrilling clockwork freak accidents ever conceived for the silver screen, reminding audiences that the end might not be far away, especially if we're careless.
The series has been dormant since 2011, but like a beautiful flower, it comes back to life this spring with the release of FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES. The first trailer reveals a classic and somewhat stomach-turning tattoo parlor mishap that tells us this sequel is not playing around! The new movie also features the final return of actor Tony Todd, who passed in 2024.
Here's everything we know about FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES.
Final Destination: Bloodlines Opens in May
New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures will release FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES in movie theaters on May 16, 2025.
Watch the Gnarly Final Destination: Bloodlines Trailer
This is your only warning. The trailer for FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES is more of an extended clip than a traditional trailer. It is a good representation of the series overall. In other words, it's not for the very squeamish.
Tony Todd's Final Film
The late actor Tony Todd became a horror icon thanks to CANDYMAN in 1992, and he has a wealth of acting roles in projects from PLATOON to several different "Star Trek" series. Next to the title role in the CANDYMAN movies, Todd's most consistent recurring role has been in the FINAL DESTINATION series. He plays funeral director William Bludworth and is typically tasked with explaining some rule about death's behavior.
Todd was contracted to reprise the role in FINAL DESTIANTION: BLOODLINES, and completed filming prior to his death in November 2024. The film will be Todd's final big-screen appearance.
The Final Destination Movie Series
For over a decade, the FINAL DESTINATION series explored all the many ways that Death might act on people through elaborate accidents and traps. Here's a rundown of the existing five movies that lead up to BLOODLINES.
Final Destination
Director: James Wong
Release Date: March 17, 2000
Primary Cast: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith, Tony Todd
The first movie in the series is built on an idea that everyone understands on a deep level: Death is inescapable. But the visualization of that idea is… let's say very immediate. No one in the FINAL DESTINATION series dies of old age. Alex Browning has a premonition of a plane crash before his flight to Paris. He and several others exit the plane, which subsequently explodes. Death, angered that they cheated their fate, begins hunting them down one by one in the order they would have died. As they realize what's happening, Alex and Clear Rivers try to decipher Death's design to save themselves. The survivors are picked off in increasingly elaborate accidents until only a few remain, leading to a tense final confrontation where they believe they've beaten Death—only to discover the cycle isn't over.
Final Destination 2
Director: David R. Ellis
Release Date: January 31, 2003
Cast: A.J. Cook, Ali Larter, Michael Landes, Tony Todd
Kimberly Corman has a vision of a horrific highway pile-up and blocks several vehicles from entering the freeway. When survivors begin dying in freak accidents, she seeks out Clear Rivers, the only survivor from the first movie. Together with Officer Thomas Burke, they discover Death is killing them in reverse order of the original crash. They also learn that new life can defeat Death's design. While FINAL DESTINATION was a nice little horror hit, the massive highway pile-up that opens the first sequel truly cemented the series as a must-see. With massive logs ramming through cars and a frankly astonishing level of chaos, the sequence isn't just one of hte best in the series; it's a highlight of 2000s-era horror.
Final Destination 3
Director: James Wong
Release Date: February 10, 2006
Primary Cast: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ryan Merriman, Kris Lemche, Amanda Crew
High school senior Wendy Christensen has a premonition about a roller coaster disaster. She prevents several classmates from boarding, but witnesses the deaths of those who remained, including her boyfriend. When survivors begin dying in the order they would have on the ride, Wendy and Kevin Fischer use photos she took at the amusement park to predict how each will die. Despite their efforts to save their friends, Death's design proves nearly impossible to thwart. After a series of narrow escapes, Wendy believes she's beaten Death, only to confront a spectacular subway disaster.
The Final Destination
Director: David R. Ellis
Release Date: August 28, 2009
Primary Cast: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano, Haley Webb
Nick O'Bannon experiences a vision of a deadly car race crash at McKinley Speedway. He and several others escape before the accident occurs, only to be stalked by Death afterward. Using his continuing premonitions, Nick struggles to save his girlfriend Lori, their friends, and the other survivors. Each death becomes increasingly elaborate and shocking, delivered in eye-popping 3D for audiences. After several close calls and apparent victories, Nick believes they've broken the cycle, but a final catastrophe at a café reveals Death's ultimate design was far more intricate than they imagined.
Final Destination 5
Director: Steven Quale
Release Date: August 12, 2011
Primary Cast: Nicholas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Tony Todd
Sam Lawton's premonition saves his colleagues from a suspension bridge collapse. Survivors soon begin dying in bizarre accidents. Mysterious coroner William Bludworth hints they might transfer Death's mark to others. Sam's friend Peter becomes increasingly unhinged as his girlfriend dies and he contemplates murder to gain more life. After several gruesome deaths, including a spectacular laser eye surgery mishap and a deadly gymnastics accident, Sam and Molly believe they've escaped Death's design by boarding a plane to Paris—which turns out to be Flight 180 from the first film, revealing this was a prequel all along.
FINAL DESTINATION BLOODLINES opens on May 16.
All images courtesy of New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures.