The box office is officially back in the black — and horror is leading the charge. Warner Bros.’ Final Destination: Bloodlines slashed its way to the top of the domestic box office with a chillingly strong $51 million opening weekend, the biggest debut in franchise history.
That number propelled the overall weekend total to $105.6 million across all films — a solid improvement over last year’s $96.5 million take from the same frame, which Paramount’s IF had led.
The sixth installment in the long-dormant Final Destination series marks a triumphant return, both critically and commercially. Critics gave the film a shockingly high 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, a sharp departure from the franchise’s typically lukewarm receptions. Audiences followed suit with an 89% score. Bloodlines also scored big internationally, pushing its global total to $102 million against a modest $50 million budget.
Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein (Freaks), Bloodlines functions as a reimagining rather than a direct sequel, bringing back original creator Jeffrey Reddick and longtime producer Craig Perry. The story centers on college student Stefani Reyes, whose family tree is haunted by a deadly near-miss in 1969 that now puts her generation directly in Death’s sights. Critics praised the film’s inventive death sequences, practical effects, and a poignant final appearance by horror legend Tony Todd, who passed away in 2024.
Final Destination Franchise by the Numbers
Before Bloodlines, the franchise had already proven itself a horror cash machine. Over five films, the series brought in more than $650 million worldwide on a combined production budget of just $154 million — an impressive 4.2-to-1 return on investment. And while critics haven’t always been kind, audience loyalty and the creatively macabre “death scenes” have kept the franchise alive — literally.
Here’s how the previous five films stack up:
| Film | Release Year | Worldwide Gross | RT Critics Score | RT Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Destination | 2000 | $112.9M | 35% | 68% |
| Final Destination 2 | 2003 | $90.4M | 48% | 58% |
| Final Destination 3 | 2006 | $117.7M | 43% | 57% |
| The Final Destination | 2009 | $186.2M | 28% | 35% |
| Final Destination 5 | 2011 | $157.9M | 62% | 52% |
With a 14-year gap since the last installment, the film’s record-breaking opening proves there’s still plenty of life left in the franchise — and it likely won’t be another decade before the next chapter.
A Bloody Good Setup for Memorial Day
While Bloodlines ruled this past weekend, the real box office fireworks are expected next. The Memorial Day holiday frame is shaping up to be one of the biggest weekends in years, with Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning launching simultaneously.
Industry analysts predict a $200M+ three-day total, and $250M for the full four-day weekend — potentially challenging the Memorial Day record set in 2022 when Top Gun: Maverick powered the market to $223.4M over four days.
The timing couldn’t be better. After a sluggish 2024 marred by strike-related delays and streaming competition, theaters are seeing momentum again. Horror (Bloodlines, Sinners), family fare (Minecraft), and action (Thunderbolts) are drawing diverse audiences back to the big screen.
What’s Next?
- Paramount’s Ethan Hunt swan song (Mission: Impossible) could be Tom Cruise’s biggest opening ever.
- Disney’s Lilo & Stitch appeals to a wide demographic, primed for strong family turnout.
- Word of mouth on Bloodlines may keep it in play as a counterprogramming option even as new tentpoles arrive.
If early tracking holds, the summer movie season is about to explode — and this time, Death won’t be the only one cleaning up.
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INTERVIEW: Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky on extending Final Destination’s Bloodlines
