History YMMV / FinalDestination3

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's central plot device - Wendy taking pictures for the yearbook on a digital camera and finding the clues once she loads them onto her computer - places the movie in the 2000s (specifically May 2005). Ten years later, Wendy could do all that on a smartphone. Frankie's camcorder also looks quite primitive, and he likewise would probably use a phone. Ashley and Ashlyn's clothes in the opening sequence are the Juicy Couture tracksuits that were the height of fashion - and their obsession with tanning is firmly rooted in the beauty standards of the day (as well as listening to [=iPods=] while in the beds). Ian mentions that Charles Manson and Osama bin Laden are still alive, which while true at the time of the film's release is no longer so (bin Laden was killed in May 2011 and Manson died in prison in November 2017). There are also a lot of swooping fringe haircuts on the characters.

* UnpopularPopularCharacter: A lot of fans adore Ian [=McKinley=], despite him being a complete {{Jerkass}}.

** Then again, one could argue the improbability makes the deaths just as frightening. Most of the horror comes from Wendy knowing that death is toying with her.

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments:
** When Wendy is scared about boarding the rollercoaster, Jason reassures her in a way that speaks volumes to their strong relationship [[spoiler:and makes his death all the more heartbreaking.]]
** When Wendy tells Kevin that she'll be freaking out every second, hoping that he's okay, Kevin can't resist teasing her about the way she had coldly dismissed his earlier attempts to offer her comfort. Kevin asks, "Why? We don't even like each other." Wendy laughs weakly, and the two hug. Essentially, Wendy was finally admitting that she cares more about Kevin than she had let on.
** You'd think that based on what they look and sound like, Ashley and Ashlyn would be typical GirlPosse bitches but when they invite Wendy to the tanning salon after seeing how miserable she is, it shows that they are nothing like you think they would be.

* FanPreferredCutContent: The alternate ending has a nice air of TheEndOrIsIt instead of a grim BolivianArmyEnding. Quite a few people like that ending, and many people who don't still feel that the theatrical ending is less enjoyable.

* HarsherInHindsight: In the alternate beginning scene, Wendy receives the premonition before they go on the ride and is able to save herself, Kevin, Jason, and Carrie. This version is mostly [[PlayedForLaughs Played for Laughs]] due to the “Where Are They Now?” segment at the end, but it becomes harsher when you realize that everyone else still dies in the rollercoaster crash, and this time, her sister Julie is one of the victims. Basically, no matter what route you choose, Wendy still has to deal with the trauma of losing a loved one. It’s really no wonder she’s considered [[TheWoobie The Woobie]] of the franchise; give the poor girl a break already!

* MoralEventHorizon: Ian decides to [[spoiler: kill Wendy because he believes that somehow, she's responsible for Erin's death (all she did was show up and warn them. And she DID save Ian's life!). He has absolutely nothing to gain from this either, unlike Peter. It's all an illogical revenge scheme]]

* FridgeBrilliance / FridgeHorror: Most criticisms of the film lament the film's improbable causes of death. But one of the most frightening things about freak accidents is that, despite the microscopic chances, they still occur. Death seems to use this to highlight the idea that Wendy can't escape it, and twist the knife by toying with her.

* HollywoodHomely: Zigzagged with Wendy. She is described in the script as "attractive, yet, not the hottest girl on campus". YMMV on how well they managed to doll down Mary Elizabeth Winstead who is very pretty.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's central plot device - Wendy taking pictures for the yearbook on a digital camera and finding the clues once she loads them onto her computer - places the movie in the 2000s (specifically May 2005). Ten years later, Wendy could do all that on a smartphone. Frankie's camcorder also looks quite primitive, and he likewise would probably use a phone. Ashley and Ashlyn's clothes in the opening sequence are the Juicy Couture tracksuits that were the height of fashion - and their obsession with tanning is firmly rooted in the beauty standards of the day (as well as listening to [=iPods=] while in the beds). Ian mentions that Osama bin Laden is still alive, which while true at the time of the film's release is no longer so (he was killed in May 2011). There are also a lot of swooping fringe haircuts on the characters.

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The film's central plot device - Wendy taking pictures for the yearbook on a digital camera and finding the clues once she loads them onto her computer - places the movie in the 2000s. Ten years later, Wendy could do all that on a smartphone. Frankie's camcorder also looks quite primitive, and he likewise would probably use a phone. Ashley and Ashlyn's clothes in the opening sequence are the Juicy Couture tracksuits that were the height of fashion - and their obsession with tanning is firmly rooted in the beauty standards of the day (as well as listening to [=iPods=] while in the beds). Ian mentions that Osama bin Laden is still alive, which while true at the time of the film's release is no longer so (he was killed in May 2011). There are also a lot of swooping fringe haircuts on the characters.

** you’d have to be a terrible person to feel no sympathy over a teen girls horrible death, just because she didn’t want to continue dating her high school boyfriend into college.

* {{Moe}}: Wendy. She's endearing enough while happily acting in her capacity as school photographer during the first fifteen minutes of the film. Then, after the accident that kills her boyfriend and best friend, she's in a broken state with barely anyone to turn to as she tries to prevent more deaths and finds out that [[spoiler:her sister is also being targeted by Death.]] There's barely a moment in the film where the average viewer won't want to hug her.

** You'd think that based on what they look and sound like, Ashley and Ashlyn would be typical bitches but when they invite Wendy to the tanning salon, it shows that they are nothing like you think they would be.

** [[spoiler: Lewis Romero]] screaming that Death fears him and that all he does is win rather before his head gets crushed between a pair of weights.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: [[spoiler:Ian [=McKinley=]'s]] death is quite brutal. However, the very last thing his body does is [[FlippingTheBird give Wendy the finger]].

* BonusFeatureFailure: The 'Choose Their Fates' mode on the DVD was clearly an afterthought. Not only does the 'choices' usually result in the character dying in a different fashion, those that ''do'' get saved get [[PutOnABus quickly wrote out of the story in some other fashion shortly after.]]

* TheWoobie: Wendy is probably the biggest Woobie in the franchise. She lost both her boyfriend and best friend in the rollercoaster accident, blames herself for their deaths, is personally connected to one of the survivors (her younger sister Julie), she's competent and nice enough that viewers can easily sympathize with her and Mary Elizabeth Winstead gave a wonderful performance.

--> "Ok, this isn't scary at all. Why? Because the best ''Final Destination'' deaths are simple, like someone getting hit by a bus. Not THIS, which is ''so'' implausible and ''so'' far-fetched that it's just not scary at all!"

** Same goes for the [[spoiler: Ashley and Ashlyn's deaths in the tanning beds]]. The circuitry would've fried first before reaching the neccesary temperature needed to kill [[spoiler: either]], and they simply ''can't'' burst into flames. UV is radiation, not heat, and lacks the necessary fuel to cause a fire.

** You'd think that based on their on what they look and sound like, Ashley and Ashlyn would be typical bitches but when they invite Wendy to the tanning salon, it shows that they are nothing like you think they would be.

* TookTheBadFilmSeriously: Despite this being viewed as a step down compared to the first two, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Ryan Merriman were noted as standouts in the cast - showing a lot of promise. Winstead especially has delivered on this, having a very strong acting career going years later and some highly acclaimed performances.