Final Destination has always been one of my favorite horror franchises. The eerie premise, the constant sense of dread, and those insanely creative and gory death scenes are so much fun to watch. It’s an iconic, unforgettable franchise that has traumatized an entire generation, especially with the Final Destination 2 highway crash scene. That 18-wheeler and logging truck moment is burned into our brains, and now it’s being used to promote the newest installment, Final Destination: Bloodlines (yep, they went there).
With Bloodlines on the way, I’ve been itching for more movies that deliver that same kind of twisted fate and suspense. If you love the feeling that death is just around the corner and there’s no way to escape it, these 12 horror movies are exactly what you should watch next.
1. Sole Survivor (1984)
Directed by Thom Eberhardt | Starring Anita Skinner, Kurt Johnson, Caren L. Larkey
This underrated ’80s gem feels like the original blueprint for Final Destination. A woman survives a plane crash that kills everyone else on board, and soon finds that death is coming for her anyway. The pacing is slow-burn, but the concept is chilling and eerily similar to the franchise we all love.
2. It Follows (2014)
Directed by David Robert Mitchell | Starring Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Olivia Luccardi
A curse passed through sex might sound odd, but this movie makes it horrifying. Once you’ve got it, something will start slowly walking toward you. You can run, but it’ll never stop. The creeping dread and inevitable doom definitely channel that Final Destination energy.
3. Smile (2022)
Directed by Parker Finn | Starring Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher
After witnessing a traumatic suicide, a psychiatrist begins seeing a terrifying smile everywhere she goes. The curse passes from one person to the next, and once it’s on you, there’s no way out. Like Final Destination, it’s about an invisible force that stalks people to their breaking point.
4. The Butterfly Effect (2004)
Directed by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber | Starring Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart, Melora Walters
The Butterfly Effect is more psychological thriller than horror, but the theme of messing with fate and suffering the deadly consequences fits right in. Ashton Kutcher’s character keeps going back in time to try and fix the past, and each attempt makes things worse.
5. Truth or Dare (2018)
Directed by Jeff Wadlow | Starring Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane
A cursed game turns deadly when a group of friends is forced to play or die. The mysterious force targeting them plays with rules and fate, much like Death in Final Destination. It’s cheesy but fun.
6. The Monkey (2025)
Directed by Osgood Perkins | Starring Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Elijah Wood, Christian Convery
Based on the Stephen King short story, this movie follows two brothers haunted by a creepy toy monkey from their childhood. When people around them start dying in strange ways, they realize the monkey may be to blame. It has that same feeling of an unstoppable, cursed force with chillingly creative deaths.
7. Countdown (2019)
Directed by Justin Dec | Starring Elizabeth Lail, Jordan Calloway, Talitha Bateman
If you liked the idea of knowing exactly when you’ll die, this is basically Final Destination meets modern tech. A mysterious app predicts people’s deaths down to the second, and when their time runs out, there’s no escape. It’s not the best movie, but it’s a fun, fast-paced watch.
8. Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Directed by Sam Raimi | Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver
It’s got campy humor and it’s a little over-the-top, but the way Drag Me To Hell plays with the idea of being marked for death and powerless to stop it is very Final Destination. Plus, Sam Raimi’s style brings some ridiculously fun and gross horror moments.
9. Happy Death Day (2017)
Directed by Christopher Landon | Starring Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Ruby Modine
A college student is forced to relive the day she’s murdered over and over until she figures out who the killer is. It’s Final Destination meets Groundhog Day, with creative kills and a smart balance of horror and humor.
10. My Soul to Take (2010)
Directed by Wes Craven | Starring Max Thieriot, John Magaro, Emily Meade
Seven teens share the same birthday as the day a notorious serial killer supposedly died. Now, one of them may be the killer reincarnated or they’re being picked off one by one. It blends teen slasher energy with a cursed-fate vibe.
11. Tarot (2024)
Directed by Spenser Cohen & Anna Halberg | Starring Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika
When a group of friends breaks the rules of an old tarot deck, they begin dying in ways tied to their cards. Like Final Destination, each death feels prewritten and unavoidable. It’s creepy, fun, and full of eerie symbolism.
12. Saw (2004)
Directed by James Wan | Written by Leigh Whannell | Starring Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover
Saw is more about traps and choices, but the brutal deaths and elaborate setups will absolutely appeal to Final Destination fans.
