Final Destination 5 (2011)

August 4, 2011 (Fantasia Film Festival)August 12, 2011 (United States) — August 4, 2011 (Fantasia Film Festival)
August 12, 2011 (United States)

Final Destination 5 is a 2011 American 3D supernatural horror film directed by Steven Quale and written by Eric Heisserer. It is the fifth installment in the Final Destination film series and a prequel to Final Destination. Nicholas D'Agosto stars as a young man who has a premonition about a suspension bridge collapsing, and saves a group of people from Death, only to learn that they cannot escape its plan. Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Arlen Escarpeta, David Koechner, and Tony Todd star in supporting roles.

Despite The Final Destination (2009) being announced as the final film in the franchise, that film's financial success led to the development of a fifth installment, which began in 2010. Filming took place in Vancouver, as with the first three installments. It is the second film in the franchise to be shot in 3D.

Final Destination 5 was theatrically released on August 12, 2011, and on DVD on December 27, 2011, by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema. The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $157 million worldwide, becoming – as of May 2025 – the third highest-grossing film in the franchise. A sixth film, Final Destination Bloodlines, was released in May 2025.

Storyline

Office worker Sam Lawton is heading to a company retreat with his colleagues. While crossing the North Bay Bridge, he has a premonition of the bridge collapsing due to high winds, killing everyone except for his ex-girlfriend Molly Harper. He panics and convinces Molly, his friend and boss Peter Friedkin, Peter's girlfriend Candice Hooper, his manager Dennis Lapman, factory manager Nathan Sears and colleagues Olivia Castle and Isaac Palmer to get off the bridge. Afterwards, the bridge collapses. FBI agent Jim Block suspects Sam of foul play. Still, Sam is cleared when Block's colleague determines the collapse was not man-made. Sam and his colleagues also meet mortician William Bludworth, who warns them that "Death doesn't like to be cheated".

Later, Candice dies from a freak accident during gymnastics practice, causing Peter to become unstable. Following Candice's death, womanizer Isaac is fatally crushed by a Budai statue during a spa treatment, after a fire breaks out and causes the shelf holding the statue to break. Present at the aftermath of both deaths, Bludworth tells them that Death is killing them because they survived a disaster they were supposed to die in, creating "wrinkles in reality". Molly, however, was meant to survive in the collapse and thus was not a part of Death's plan that threatened the other survivors. To survive, they must kill someone to steal their remaining lifespan. They later failed to save Olivia when she falls through a window after a malfunctioning laser eye surgery machine mutilates her right eye. Sam realizes that the survivors are dying in the order they would have died in the bridge collapse and discovers that Nathan is next.

During a workplace argument, Nathan accidentally kills his coworker Roy Carson. When the other survivors hear this, they deduce that Nathan must have stolen Roy's lifespan. Sam realizes that Dennis would be next on the list when, suddenly, a machine launches a wrench into Dennis's face, killing him. That evening, Sam and Molly rekindle their relationship at a restaurant. However, they are interrupted by Peter, who seeks to steal Molly's lifespan, resenting her for being destined to survive the collapse. Agent Block intervenes but is shot by Peter, who steals his lifespan. Despite this, Peter tries to kill Molly to eliminate witnesses but is saved by Sam, who impales and kills Peter with a meat spit. After Peter's gun misfires and misses Sam, he concludes that Peter stole Block's lifespan.

Two weeks later, Sam and Molly board a plane to Paris and witness six high school students and a teacher being escorted out, revealing that it is Volée Airlines Flight 180. Upon takeoff, Sam overhears that one of the students panicked after having a vision of the plane exploding, resulting in their removal. Sam and Molly realize it is too late as the plane explodes, killing everyone aboard. Meanwhile, at a memorial for Roy, Nathan learns from a co-worker that Roy had an undiagnosed brain aneurysm and that he could have died at any moment if he had lived. As Nathan realizes the implications, the landing gear from Flight 180 crashes through the roof and crushes him.