Final Destination 5 begins with a group of office workers participating in a company retreat. Sam Lawton (played by Nicholas D’Agosto), an ambitious chef, joins his girlfriend Molly Harper (Emma Bell) and coworkers, including his best friend Peter (Miles Fisher) and their manager Dennis (David Koechner), on the trip.
As their bus crosses a large suspension bridge, Sam suddenly experiences a vivid premonition of the bridge collapsing, resulting in a catastrophic accident. In his vision, he witnesses in detail the tragic fates of his friends. Snapping out of this horrifying vision, Sam senses imminent danger and urges everyone to leave the bus. Some of his colleagues heed his warning and manage to escape just before the bridge actually collapses.
The survivors feel relieved at first, believing theyโve narrowly escaped death. However, they soon realize that surviving the disaster doesnโt mean they are safe. FBI agent Jim Block (Courtney B. Vance) investigates the strange coincidence but remains unconvinced. Meanwhile, the survivors begin experiencing a series of mysterious and unexplainable accidents, as though an invisible force is working to “restore” the disrupted natural order.
Sam and the others encounter a mysterious character, Bludworth (Tony Todd), who operates a morgue. He reveals a grim rule: if they take someone elseโs life, they might escape deathโs design. This revelation puts the characters in a difficult position, forcing them to grapple with the moral dilemma of sacrificing someone else to save themselves.
As the survivors continue to experience unforeseen tragedies, tensions rise among the group, especially between Sam, Molly, and Peter. Peter, increasingly consumed by his fear of dying, begins to act erratically, while Sam tries to protect Molly from danger. Friendships and trust are tested as suspicion, selfishness, and desperation take over.
The story reaches its climax as Sam and Molly attempt to escape, only to discover that death has its own way of restoring balance. In a shocking twist, it is revealed that the events of the film take place before the original Final Destination movie. The final survivors unknowingly board Flight 180, setting the stage for the disaster that began the entire series.