10 Horror Movie Sequels That Are Just As Good As The Original

While the first Final Destination (2000) film combined a genuinely original premise with a healthy dose of gory special effects, the next few installments in the series are generally considered lackluster and redundant.

The films follow groups of teenagers and young adults who, having escaped near-death experiences (including plane crashes and roller-coaster disasters), are slowly killed off in a variety of increasingly gruesome (and often ridiculous) ways.

While each film introduces new ways for these survivors to be killed off (including the infamous fatal tanning beds of Final Destination 3 (2006)), none of the sequels truly live up to the originality of the first film. The final film of the series, however, managed to inject some much needed innovation into the tired franchise.

After surviving a hair-raising bridge collapse, a group of colleagues are wiped out one-by-one via a series of outlandish deaths. The film features some of the franchise's most nail-biting and gory kills, including a deadly acupuncture session, a laser eye surgery which goes horribly wrong, and a literally back-breaking gymnastics class.

The film's ending, however, is what truly elevates this sequel above the other films in the franchise. Featuring a deceptively clever final-act twist, wherein we learn that this sequel is actually a prequel, the climax is as unforgettable as it is totally shocking.

As the two surviving characters board a plane to start a new life in Paris, the audience learn that this is Volée Airlines Flight 180, the ill-fated flight which triggered the events of the original Final Destination, bringing the series full circle.