“Final Destination Bloodlines,” the sixth installment of the iconic horror franchise, has made a spectacular entrance at the box office, raking in a staggering $51 million during its opening weekend. This latest film from Warner Bros. and New Line has not only dominated the domestic box office but has also dethroned the reigning champion, Marvel’s “Thunderbolts,” while leaving fellow newcomer, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” by The Weeknd, stranded in sixth place.
The film’s success can be attributed to positive word-of-mouth and the best reviews the series has received to date. “Final Destination Bloodlines” has set a new record for the franchise, surpassing the previous benchmark held by 2009’s “The Final Destination,” which opened with $27 million. This marks a significant comeback for the series, as it has been 14 years since the last film, “Final Destination 5,” hit theaters.
In addition to its impressive domestic earnings, “Final Destination Bloodlines” grossed another $51 million from 74 international territories, bringing its remarkable global total to $102 million. Directed by Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky, the film had a production budget of approximately $50 million. The plot revolves around a family facing a horrifying fate as they begin to die, one by one, due to the matriarch's survival of a catastrophic event that occurred 50 years prior.
Audience reactions have been favorable, with “Bloodlines” receiving a “B+” grade on CinemaScore exit polls, a notable achievement for a film known for its gruesome and chilling sequences. Furthermore, the movie boasts a commendable 93% average on Rotten Tomatoes, highlighting its critical acclaim. Movie analyst David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research notes, “This is a sensational opening for the sixth episode of a horror series. Critic’s reviews are sensational, and the audience score is excellent for horror.”
Warner Bros. has enjoyed tremendous success with “Final Destination Bloodlines”, marking its third consecutive theatrical hit, following the successes of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners.” This achievement is a welcome relief for the studio, especially considering a recent string of commercial disappointments, including “Mickey 17,” “The Alto Knights,” and “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Over the weekend, Warner Bros. impressively placed three films in the top five, with “Sinners” securing third place, earning $15.4 million from 3,518 theaters during its fifth weekend of release.
“Sinners” has proven to be a financial success, amassing a staggering $240.8 million domestically and $76 million internationally for a global total of $316 million to date. Meanwhile, “A Minecraft Movie” remains in the top five, adding $5.9 million from 3,357 theaters in its seventh weekend, bringing its North American gross to $416 million and its international earnings to $501 million, culminating in a worldwide total of $928 million.
In contrast, “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” which was released this weekend, struggled to make an impact at the box office. The film, directed by Trey Edward Shults and starring The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan, only managed to earn $3.3 million from 2,020 cinemas. With a disappointing 14% average on Rotten Tomatoes and a low “C-” grade on CinemaScore, the film faced significant challenges, failing to resonate with audiences.
“Thunderbolts” dropped to second place, earning $16.5 million from 3,523 theaters during its third weekend, a decline of 50% from the previous week. Despite receiving better reviews than many recent Marvel films, “Thunderbolts” has grossed $155.4 million domestically and $325 million globally, but still faces difficulties in achieving profitability due to its hefty production and marketing costs.
As we approach the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, projections for Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” and Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning” suggest a potential boost for the box office. According to Gross, “Projections are huge,” which could significantly invigorate the market and help close the gap in ticket sales compared to pre-pandemic levels.
