Final Destination (R, 2000)

common sense media says

Teens fear the reaper in this so-so thriller.

parents & educators say

50% say violence is an issue
40% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie has intense scenes of violence and gore peppered throughout. The death of the victims in these scenes is not caused by another person, but instead by circumstance and "chance" instigated by the shadowy figure of Death, who is sometimes seen as a blur in the background. There is no sexual content or drug use. Profanity is limited to our introduction to the high school students at the beginning of the film. While not overly gory, the film's treatment of death could scare younger children.

Positive messages: The main character tries to do good by attempting to save the lives of those he thinks are going to die. He is also willing to give his own life to save another.

Violence: As a plane explodes we see the terrifying effect on the passengers inside (e.g. people burning, lots of blood), a teenager accidentally hangs himself, a boy's head is cut in half by a flying piece of metal, a woman's throat is slashed and she is stabbed by knives that fall off a kitchen counter. There are other violent scenes where Death tries to take people's lives but fails.

Sex: Brief shot of a couple making out. A main character picks up a Penthouse magazine (we see only the cover of the magazine).

Language: Some strong language at the very beginning of the film (teenagers using foul language).

Consumerism: Not applicable.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about death and/or the concept of destiny. Are our lives pre-determined, or do we have free will? To what degree are we able to control what happens in our lives?

What's the story?

If the grim reaper has chosen our time, can we escape it? Does death have a design? If so, and we figure it out, can we change it? These are the questions high school senior Alex (Devon Sawa) begins to ask. Just after taking his seat on a flight, Alex has a very vivid vision that the plane carrying himself and his classmates on a field trip to France will explode shortly after takeoff. He freaks out, and is taken off the plane with five others who somehow get caught up in his hysteria. Sure enough, as Alex and a classmate argue at the gate, the plane takes off without them and explodes. One-by-one those six who escaped the plane begin to die under curious circumstances. Alex becomes convinced that the six of them cheated Death and now Death is coming to get them in the order they would have died on the plane. Alex, still having visions, is determined that if he can figure out Death's design, he can save the lives of those who got off the plane.

Is it any good?

FINAL DESTINATION has a convincing enough plot, unfortunately one that by now has become cliché. So desperate is this film to create an aura of suspense and foreboding that by the end of the film, any object in existence could be a weapon in the hands of the grim reaper. This certainly makes for suspense, but not good suspense.

Perhaps the film loses a lot of ground here when, in the opening sequence of the film, the camera lingers on the cover of the book Death of a Salesman. This is the degree to which the filmmakers are trying to spook us and fail; by referencing the title of a book that has nothing to do with the death of anyone. Watching this film merely becomes a countdown to gore as curiosity over "how" someone will get it overshadows any curiosity over "who" will get it. Overall, the film proves disappointing.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment
Director: James Wong
Cast: Ali Larter, Devon Sawa, Kerr Smith
Genre: Classic
Run time: 33 minutes
Theatrical release: March 16, 2000
DVD release: September 26, 2000
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: violence and terror, and for language

This review was written by Afsheen Nomai

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 10 parent & educator reviews:

50% say violence is an issue
40% say language is an issue
30% say sexual content is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

joshua martinez
adult

16 and up.

Final Destination is a poor movie made about death killing people and parents you need to know that final destination has a lot of gruesome intense bloody violence and some strong language used.

What other families should know

Movie Details

Starring

Genre

Final Destination (R, 2000)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on Final Destination

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Review It

Review Final Destination

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

16 and up.

Final destination is good , not scary

This should've been the movie's final destination

Fine, But Not for Kids.

good movie

Good Film not for the young or Faint Hearted!

cuss cuss

OK for older kids 16+

Good but very scary

Spooky (a pretty good movie)

scary and a little gory

The first one was the best

GOOD FILM FOR KIDS 16 AND UP

Disgusting!!

m

for adults.

Love It!

Final Destination

WASTE OF TIME!!!!!!!!

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families

Age-appropriate reviews

Advice on the big issues

vote now

Will you see Final Destination?

Already seen it? What do you think?

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more movies

About our rating system

Browse our library of reviews

See what our editors recommend