‘Final Destination’ Returns with Best-Ever Opening and Critical Acclaim
“Final Destination: Bloodlines” earned $51 million domestically and $102 million worldwide in its opening weekend – becoming the franchise’s biggest debut and earning its best critical reception in over two decades. Learn more below.
The R-rated supernatural slasher, released by Warner Bros. and New Line, is the sixth installment in the long-running “Final Destination” franchise and the first in 14 years. It now holds the series’ highest opening weekend – regardless of inflation – and is the best R-rated horror debut of the decade. It's also the 10th highest-grossing movie of the year so far.
Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, “Bloodlines” follows a teenage girl plagued by vivid nightmares of a 1960s tower collapse. She soon learns that these visions are not dreams – but inherited premonitions passed down from her grandmother, who once foresaw the collapse and saved several lives. Decades later, the granddaughter begins to have new visions – this time of her own family dying in gruesome, inexplicable ways. She realizes there’s a sequence unfolding and must fight to interrupt Death’s design before it claims her entire bloodline.
“You may watch ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ through fingers covering your face. But chances are high you’ll be smiling, too.” Associated Press
While the plot centers on the familiar theme of fate's inevitability, “Bloodlines” has also been praised for injecting fresh energy into the series with stylized direction, dark humor and a self-aware tone.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. The film scored a 93 percent critics rating and 89 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes – the best reception of the franchise to date.
“We’re here for the kills and, again, every single kill in ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ is a winner,” shared TheWrap. “Every time a head explodes, which is a lot, you’ll want to stand up and cheer.” While AV Club says the film, “honors a legacy of unrepentant silliness and gleeful gore with a knowing wink.”
With standout box office numbers and widespread critical acclaim, “Final Destination: Bloodlines” has proven that after more than a decade, there’s still lots of life left in this horror franchise.
“Final Destination: Bloodlines” is playing in theaters now and will be available for licensing from Swank soon.