Will There Ever Be Another Final Destination Movie?
A sixth Final Destination movie is in the works and will reportedly release on Max.
Born amidst the teen slasher renaissance triggered by the genre-reviving success of Scream, the first Final Destination movie hit theaters over two decades ago and swiftly carved out its unique niche with its distinctive concept of inescapable fate. It’s been years since we last saw a film in the franchise, but luckily a sixth movie is in the works.
Spanning five installments, the franchise has reaped an impressive global box office tally of $665 million. With the past popularity and cultural impact of the series, could we see another terrifying premonition take place on the silver screen, birthing another chapter in the Final Destination legacy?
Released in 2000, Final Destination was directed by James Wong and stars Devon Sawa and Ali Larter. In the film, Sawa’s character, Alex Browning, has a frightening premonition of a plane crash and manages to save himself and several classmates. However, they soon find out that death isn’t so easily cheated, as they begin dying in the order they would have perished in the crash.
In 2003, Final Destination 2 brought back Ali Larter’s character, this time aiding a new group of survivors who escape a horrific highway pileup thanks to a premonition. This sequel added the memorable twist of “new life” defeating Death, with the birth of a baby signaling the end of its macabre spree.
Final Destination 3, released in 2006, features a high school graduate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who foresees a deadly roller-coaster accident and successfully evacuates her friends before the actual disaster unfolds.
In 2009, The Final Destination purportedly marked the end of the series, only for the franchise to resurface with Final Destination 5 in 2011. In an unexpected narrative twist, the fifth installment ingeniously circled back to the original movie’s doomed Flight 180. Presenting itself as a prequel, it unveiled its cast as the previously unobserved victims alluded to in the first film.
Even with a mixed reception, the Final Destination series has proven a commercial success globally, with all installments, bar Final Destination 2, earning over $100 million. Its influence goes beyond mere financial statistics, resonating within the cultural milieu through its original premise, unforgettable death sequences, and the perennial theme of circumventing fate.
The franchise’s legacy, therefore, is not merely monetary, but also deeply rooted in the discourse it has stimulated about the possibility of cheating death.
So where does the series currently stand? While a sixth installment in the Final Destination series has been in development for years, progress on the next chapter has been decidedly slow. Last year, fans were offered a glimmer of hope when it was announced that Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) would produce a fresh entry in the franchise for the streaming platform Max.
Moreover, it was revealed that the screenplay for Final Destination 6 will be crafted by the skilled hands of Lori Evans Taylor, famed for Wicked Wicked Games, and Guy Busick, who contributed to 2021’s Scream.
While the plot specifics remain under wraps, Jeffrey Reddick, the franchise’s creator, hinted at a departure from the narrative formula of the preceding five films.
Originally, the story was said to unravel in the dangerous world of first responders. But recent online leaks imply the plot may pivot around a young woman who foresees a family disaster, rescues her loved ones, and then must thwart Death’s relentless pursuit of them.
No matter the trajectory of the narrative in the upcoming Final Destination installment, it is crucial that it maintains an innovative approach. It will need to balance the inevitability of death with new, inventive scenarios to keep audiences on edge. Additionally, it will need to grapple with the legacy of the previous movies.
There’s no question that audience tastes and expectations have evolved since Final Destination 5 was released more than ten years ago. The horror genre has seen a rise in more psychologically focused narratives that lean into social commentary. The successful continuation of the Final Destination franchise would need to take these factors into account.
As it stands, a sixth Final Destination movie is confirmed; what remains unclear is the timeline for its release. Although the pace of progress is slow, the wheels are noticeably in motion for the next chapter in the franchise. We can’t wait to uncover the sinister designs Death has plotted for the forthcoming characters of this beloved horror saga.
