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Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith

Alex Browning, is embarking on a trip to Paris with his high school French class. In the plane's cabin, buckled-in and ready for take-off, Alex experiences a powerful premonition. He sees the plane ex...( read more  read more... )plode in a fiery blaze moments after leaving the ground. Alex panics and insists that everyone get off the plane. In the melee than ensues, seven people including Alex, are forced to disembark the ill-fated aircraft. Back in the departure lounge, Alex and his friends Billy and Tod; Clear a young woman who instinctively heeded Alex's warning; Carter, whose derision of Alex's paranoia had him and his girlfriend Terry thrown off the plane; and Ms. Lewton, the teacher who volunteers to stay with the disembarking students, all watch as Alex's horrific premonition proves tragically accurate when the plane explodes in a catastrophic fireball. Ironically, even though Alex's intuition saves lives, after the crash he is plagued by both guilt and suspicion. Ominous portents of doom as well as the FBI, dog his every step. Alex comes to believe that somehow, he and the other survivors have briefly cheated death, but will not be able to evade their fate for very long. Clear befriends Alex, but no one, not even she, really believes his macabre theory -- not even as one by one, these fugitives from fate fall victim to the grim reaper.

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453,066 ratings

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84 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: James Wong

Release Date: March 17, 2000

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DVD Release Date: September 26, 2000

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Ali Larter Ali Larter Devon Sawa final destination Kerr Smith ali larter Seann William Scott Amanda Detmer Kerr Smith as Carter Horton in Final Destination (2000) Final Destination Alex Amanda Detmer Billy Devon Sawa Kristen Cloke Terry Kristen Cloke Chad Donella
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Flixster Reviews (20,936)

  • magnum32004
    October 9, 2006
    magnum32004
    It was scary and fun at the same time. FD1 was a horror movie that didn't take itself way too seriously, even though it looked like it was serious.
  • PvtCaboose91
    October 19, 2009
    PvtCaboose91
    "You already cheated death by walking off the plane. Now you gotta out when and how it'll come back at you. Play your hunch, Alex. If you think you can get away from it. But beware the risk of cheating the plan, disrespecting the design... could initiate a horrifying fury that...( read more) would terrorize even the Grim Reaper - and you don't even want to fuck with that MacDaddy."


    By the year 2000, the slasher genre seemed to have utterly run out of steam given the disappointing final instalment in the Scream trilogy. Final Destination, however, ably proves that there's still life and originality left in the ailing sub-genre. Not a genuine classic by any means, and it's essentially B-Grade horror schlock infused with genre conventions and endowed with A-Grade production values, but this first chapter in what promises to be another never-ending horror saga is superior to your usual horror outing. Blending intriguing supernatural elements with spine-chilling moments and general gory carnage, Final Destination is an extremely entertaining, inventive Friday nighter. Stylishly filmed and tautly directed, this flick deals with a variety of fairly heavy topics which are discussed candidly by teenage characters (in accurately written "teen-speak" as opposed to highly intellectualised dialogue even Harvard scholars wouldn't use), all the while developing into a darkly foreboding, eerie suspenser.


    The main story is built on a simple question: what if you cheated Death, but the Grim Reaper still demanded his due?

    Alex Browning (Sawa) is a senior French high school student about to embark on a class trip to Paris with his fellow peers. At the airport prior to departure, everything seems a little off. Upon boarding the plane, Alex suddenly has a vision that the plane will explode after takeoff. His vision is so vivid and intensely real that it provokes a violent reaction. This causes a disturbance, and Alex is consequently booted off the plane along with a few other students as well as a teacher. They're furious with Alex's behaviour...but this emotion quickly changes when they witness the plane promptly exploding moments later, killing all on board. However, the seven who stepped off the plane have cheated Death, and Death wants to balance the ledger. Alex and his friends begin to be methodically hunted down by the forces of the Grim Reaper who's intent on collecting the souls of those who cheated him.


    "In death there are no accidents, no coincidences, no mishaps, and no escapes."


    After this set-up is established, the film indeed turns into a slasher movie, albeit a more thoughtful one than usual. Nobody takes their clothes off, and the usual invincible knife-wielding monster is replaced with the never-seen granddaddy killer of them all, the Grim Reaper. Final Destination doesn't use Death as a killer with superhuman abilities who must be overthrown by the protagonists...it's a truly unstoppable supernatural force instead. However, Final Destination succumbs to far too many genre clichés. The FBI agents are, of course, completely useless in the proceedings, and the adults are equally hapless. Also thrown in is an all-knowing mortician who babbles on for two minutes about "Death's design" (portrayed by none other than Tony Todd of the Candyman fame). The protagonists occasionally do boneheaded things (some characters practically walk into their death as opposed to being alert), and they usually act antagonistic towards one another for forced "tension". On top of this, the standard chase finale is silly, and it lacks intensity from time to time.


    The mediation on fate found within the concept of Final Destination would most likely seem more appropriate for a foreign art film as opposed to a teen slasher flick. These provocative questions about premonitions and destiny are employed merely as a hook. The point of the film has nothing to do with the survivors coping with guilt and uncertainty (a potentially fascinating premise). It instead has other things on its mind: concocting graphic bloodbaths, and proving that death cannot be cheated. Final Destination is certainly serviceable as a teen slasher flick...but it's too clichéd, and the premonition aspect is barely touched on. Interestingly, the story was originally the concept for an abandoned X-Files episode.


    At least the kill sequences are imaginative and enjoyably gory; evoking the spirit of Rube Goldberg. X-Files alum James Wong directs with style and flair, usually judging the timing of the shocks flawlessly (one particularly nasty road accident will leave audiences gasping with surprise), and in the opening 20 minutes he delivers one of the most devastating air disaster sequences ever committed to celluloid. However, Wong occasionally falters when the death sequences are elaborately built up. This is a fault of both those that choreographed these sequences as well as Wong's handling of the material. The kills are constantly far too elaborate to be believed, and the foreshadowing fails in building sufficient suspense. A "less is more" approach could possibly have proved more effective here. To the credit of everyone involved, though, the "don't go in there" syndrome never kicks in when a character is due to die.


    "We're all on the same list."


    It comes as no surprise that the "teenage" portion of the cast look more like adults in their mid-to-late twenties as opposed to 18-year-olds. As Alex Browning, Devon Sawa is appealing and subtle. Despite not looking like a teen at all, Sawa offers a certain believability that's beneficial during the film's key moments (after his initial premonition, he looks genuinely terrified). As Clear (the object of Alex's affection), Ali Larter is extremely effective. Ali is undeniably beautiful, but Final Destination never exploits the females of the cast, therein lying one of the best creative decisions of the entire film.

    As the movie's resident asshole, Kerr Smith stars as Carter Horton. Alongside him, Seann William Scott places forth a surprisingly decent and charismatic performance as one of those who survives the plane disaster. He's the sort of person who gets inadvertently caught up in awful situations. He's also the only student not to leave the plane voluntarily. The rest of the cast is competent at best, including the requisite adult role (Kristen Cloke).

    True fans of the horror genre will realise the characters are named after famous horror icons. For instance: Alex Browning (Dracula director Tod Browning), Larry Murnau (Nosferatu director F.W. Murnau), Agent Schreck (Nosferatu star Max Schreck), Agent Weine (Cabinet of Dr. Caligari director Robert Weine), Billy Hitchcock (Psycho and Rear Window director Alfred Hitchcock), as well as a few others.


    In a genre normally devoid of wit, intelligence and originality, Final Destination is a diamond in the rough. Director James Wong's horror movie has the ability to shock (although these moments lose their effectiveness after repeated viewings) and surprise - two qualities rarely found in modern horror flicks. It's ultimately let down, however, by excessive genre clichés and some bad judgements on the part of the filmmakers in relation to some of the death sequences. Instead of a dark horror flick, Final Destination is unfortunately more of a teen slasher. Enjoyable as the latter, but it may have been a superior experience as the former. In spite of a few irritating shortcomings, this is probably the most innovative addition to the genre for years.


    Followed by multiple sequels, beginning with Final Destination 2 in 2003.
  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    I liked it, a good teen horror without the usual clichés! It?s original and intelligent and has plenty of gore too! :o)
  • phubbs1
    September 2, 2009
    phubbs1
    The first and best FD film simply for originality and the awesome scare factor of the opening sequence. The whole idea of the film is brilliant, yes it started a slightly lesser franchise but all are actually good in their own way and thats down to the nice ideas of the first.

    T...( read more)he opening death sequence is really good, its scary as hell and everyone can relate to air travel fears, it reaches down to everyones deepest fears of aeroplanes and totally twists and tortures you with them, it made me sweat for sure haha In a way its actually abit nasty, in this day and age of terrorism it isnt something to see before actually flying lol but this is why the film is so good isnt it. The rest of the film you of course know about but as it was the first that makes it better than the other three.
  • stopitgoaway
    August 28, 2009
    stopitgoaway
    Final Destination, or ?Flight 180' as it was titled right up until the last minute, was a surprise hit of 2000. It was made with a modest budget of $23m it grossed a nice sum of $53m in the US. It was in the UK, however, where the film really shone, up against the massive epic Gl...( read more)adiator at the time the movie managed to gross a none too bad £11m but what made it better was it was a true sleeper hit, it spent 14 weeks in the UK film charts. With no big name actors, and no major publicity the film did so well because of word of mouth and the word was it was damn good.

    I admit I was sceptical at first in reading about Final Destination. It seemed like a tired teen horror movie that seemed to be spewing out of America at that time, indeed it was only until about 3 weeks in to it being released that I actually lifted my bum off my sofa and put my bum on the seat in front of the big screen to actually watch the movie. I loved it, and it was made better by the low expectations I had of it. It isn't groundbreaking but it is effectively chilly at times, the acting is surprisingly good and the plot is pretty fresh.

    James Wong (X Files) came up with the idea of the movie, about cheating death, and it does seem to have a kind of X Files ring to it. The story goes as follows. Alex (Devon Sawa) is off, with his classmates, to France. Now being in America France is like our version of?America, so it's a pretty big deal. While on the plane he has a premonition of the plane exploding, slightly scared, he wakes up and finds that some of his premonition turns out real. Scared for his life, and the others on the plane, he cause a fuss which sees him and several other classmates chucked off the plane. Some of his companions are none too pleased?until they see Flight 180 blow up, killing everyone on the plane.

    Thus begins the cat and mouse chase by Death himself. One by one, in seemingly ?accidental' ways, the survivors of the ill-fated crash are dying. While others dismiss the idea of Death coming for revenge, Alex isn't going to let it go and soon he convinces friend Clear (Ali Larter) that it is up to them to try and stop Death himself.

    As this happens we can witness some of the most imaginative death scenes ever. Thanks to the movie not having a masked killer doing the rounds the death scenes are not limited to the ?knife in back/stomach/head/eye' routine. Indeed, the first death scene is both funny and horrific all in one because, like with many of the deaths in this movie, it can really seem as that can actually happen. It gives you something to think about.

    The special effects, for a movie with as small as budget as this, are excellent (apparently they did actually spend half of their budget in the SFX). The plane crash is one of the most realistic you will see, its worrying to watch.

    For a movie aimed at the teenager end of the market, and for a genre renowned for hammy acting, the people in this movie actually do a good job.

    Devon Sawa, no stranger to movies, is perfect at playing the lead role of the troubled Alex. Kerr Smith (Dawson's Creek) does a major turnaround from what you are used to seeing him as, this time he's the typical school jock, flash car, blonde girlfriend, bad temper, but luckily he doesn't play it into overkill. Another nice surprise is Sean William Scott (American Pie, Road Trip, Too many teen movies), while we are used to seeing him as the guy who cracks jokes and makes fun of the others, he plays the geeky guy this time, and he provides us with quite a bit of comic relief. We also have a nice cameo of Tony Todd (aka the Candyman) as Bludworth, who plays the man at the morgue, he is suitably chilling, and is set to play a larger part in the sequel.

    Suspense wise this film doesn't fail either. In many films like this you are guessing who will be killed next. Not so in this movie. You are actually told who is going to meet Death next. However this doesn't spoil it. Suspense is carried over by how the person will die. If you know a person is going to die as soon as the camera pans of them, and their all alone, then your waiting in anticipation for them to die, but there are many false scares along the way. Also the suspense is kept up throughout the movie, it doesn't seem to drag too much at any time.

    There are very few bad points to the movie. Obviously it will depend on your taste whether you like it or not, whether you consider it too ?teeny' or too teeny but just right anyway. This film does have fun as well as generate scares.

    It is worth noting that there is an alternate ending to the movie and quite a few deleted scenes, namely a main subplot where Clear becomes pregnant. I think that it was wise to omit these parts, the ending seemed cheesy, but the one we are left with is excellent.

    Final Destination, thanks to an imaginative story, nice acting and some elaborate death scenes breathes new life into the tired genre of teen horror. It is not as widely recognized as the Scream trilogy, but in many respects it's better. Lets hope the sequel maintains the high standard it has set.

    FINAL DESTINATION IS

    Different Nicely acted Filled with imaginative deaths

    FINAL DESTINATION IS NOT

    Low on suspense A typical teen horror Going to be shown as in-flight entertainment
  • TheQueenOfAwesomeness
    November 22, 2009
    TheQueenOfAwesomeness
    thriller starring Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Seann William Scott and Kerr Smith. directed by James Wong.

    after having a vision of where the plane that he and his fellow classmates are on crashes, Alex Browning (Sawa) freaks and gets thrown off of the plane, along with a group of hi...( read more)s classmates. they're shocked, feel guilty for living and of course, think Alex had something to do with it. their suspicions only continue to grow as the survivors begin to die in freak accidents. is it Alex? or is it death come to collect?

    I still love this film as much as I did when I first saw it ten years ago... if not even more! one of my absolute favorite "scary" flicks. by far the best in the Final Destination series. they really should have just stopped while they were ahead. they will never achieve the awesomeness that they found with this original cast and script.

    two words: Devon Sawa. RAWR.

    love it! ♥
  • xxemokid666xx
    November 22, 2009
    xxemokid666xx
    LOVED IT!!! TOTALLY AWESOME!!!
  • sebastian771
    November 20, 2009
    sebastian771
    the best of the series
  • totalefreiheit
    November 17, 2009
    totalefreiheit
    Muy buena teoria. Interesante trama.
  • OlliffeObscurity
    November 15, 2009
    OlliffeObscurity
    It didn't make me jump! But a good film.

View All Final Destination Reviews

Critic Reviews

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Smarter and more original than most [Dead Teenager Movies]. full review

January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Playful and energized enough to keep an audience guessing. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, At the Movies

Smarter and more original than most [Dead Teenager Movies]. full review

View more Final Destination reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments

  • yanski95
    May 7, 2008
    yanski95
    this is so cewl!! I LOOVE it.. i watched this for like.. 80 times?? [ figure of speech ]I just love it
  • hollynelson93
    May 5, 2008
    hollynelson93
    I loved this movie it is my fav out of all of them, i dont really care or the 2nd one though, but the 3rd is amazing!! Lol i cant wait untill I get it on DVD!!!!!!! But ya if you havent seen it i would recomed seeing all of them, they are cool to watch!
  • pavacri23
    February 23, 2008
    pavacri23
    this movie is so good
  • ThEhOrRoReXpErT
    November 10, 2007
    ThEhOrRoReXpErT
    I've seen them all, it's a good trilogy.
    Now waithing for part 4.
    See poster of part 4 in my profile.
  • KelseyWelsie
    July 5, 2007
    KelseyWelsie
    billy was hott lol
  • dixiejean
    May 15, 2007
    dixiejean
    This movie was good. I love to sit down in watch it. But part 2 of this movie was so much better. It was more graftit then all the others movies.
  • flappergirl93
    April 22, 2007
    flappergirl93
    I love this movie.
  • shannonbabe92
    February 20, 2007
    shannonbabe92
    FINAL DESTINATION IS FUKIN AWSUM LYK UR ALL MAD IF U ENT SEEN IT!!!!!!!!!! I ADVISE U AL 2 WATCH IT !!!!!!
  • MagzIsMe
    December 13, 2006
    MagzIsMe
    I am really like this movie."Final Destination" it's a great movie :D i like fd1-3. i watched them. they were exciting and horror.
  • bestbabygirl18
    November 30, 2006
    bestbabygirl18
    This is just an okay. But I loved the 3rd one.
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Final Destination Trivia

  • What was the flight number of the plane that crashed in Final Destination?  Answer »
  • In the movie Casper when he gets to become a human for a little while in the end of the movie, who plays him? (Hint: he was also in Now and Then and Final Destination)  Answer »
  • In which Final Destination film does Alex die?  Answer »
  • In which film did the character Alex have a vision of how he and his classmates would die?  Answer »
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