Box Office Update: Final Destination Bloodlines’ Historic Debut Dethrones Thunderbolts from Top Spot

UPDATE: 2025/05/18 08:21 EST BY BRENNAN KLEIN

Final Destination Bloodlines Surpasses $50 Million, Exceeding Expectations

This report was originally compiled on Saturday morning and has now been refreshed on Sunday with the latest box office projections (highlighted in bold), a comprehensive chart, and detailed analysis.

Final Destination Bloodlines is poised for a remarkable opening weekend, marking the sixth installment in the iconic Final Destination horror franchise. This film features a chilling narrative in which Death pursues a family who has evaded its grasp, showcasing the franchise’s hallmark of creative and gruesome deaths. With principal performances from stars like Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Anna Lore, Brec Bassinger, and the legendary Tony Todd, this entry has achieved the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the history of the series, boasting an impressive Certified Fresh rating of 92%. This greatly surpasses the previous record of 63%, held by 2011’s Final Destination 5.

According to Variety, estimates as of Sunday morning indicate that Final Destination Bloodlines is projected to conclude its opening weekend with a remarkable 3-day domestic box office total of $51 million. This figure not only exceeds initial expectations of $31 to $38 million but also positions Bloodlines as having the highest opening weekend in the franchise’s history. Additionally, it has dethroned Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, which has held the #1 spot for two consecutive weekends since its debut on May 2.

In the competitive landscape, Thunderbolts* is currently fighting for the #2 position against the phenomenal fifth weekend performance of the horror film Sinners, which has amassed over $200 million in North America. Thunderbolts* is expected to generate around $16.5 million, while Sinners is projected to bring in approximately $15.4 million. This scenario diminishes the likelihood of Sinners reclaiming the #2 rank, despite its earlier feat of topping Thunderbolts* in the domestic box office for the first time last Thursday. Below is the complete breakdown of the domestic Top 5 for the weekend:

With a powerful debut, Final Destination Bloodlines has firmly established its position at the top of the box office chart. Following a tight competition, Thunderbolts* appears to have edged out Sinners, resulting in a reshuffle that has seen all titles in the prior weekend’s Top 4—alongside A Minecraft Movie and The Accountant 2—shift down one position each.

Following the influx of new movies, only one title has exited the Top 5: the young adult slasher adaptation Clown in a Cornfield, which has slipped from #5 to #7. This film is set to accumulate a domestic gross surpassing $6 million, a figure that is notably over six times its budget of less than $1 million.

Conversely, another new release this weekend, Hurry Up Tomorrow, starring Abel “The Weeknd”Tesfaye and based on his album of the same name, hasn’t performed as well as anticipated. Its projected debut is at #6 with a 3-day total of $3.3 million. While its budget remains relatively modest at $15 million, recovery of that amount in theaters appears bleak, although Lionsgate, the distributor, won’t bear the full financial burden.

Implications for Final Destination Bloodlines

Potential to Become the Franchise’s Top Earner

Not only has Final Destination Bloodlines achieved the highest opening weekend revenue in the franchise, but it is also on track to almost double the previous record for a debut, which stood at $27.4 million for The Final Destination released in 2009. This accomplishment is particularly remarkable since that film was released in 3D, which typically commands higher ticket prices. When adjusted for inflation, the 2009 release remains closer, generating about $40.7 million.

Below is an overview comparing the opening weekends of previous installments along with their final worldwide box office performance:

Despite the horror genre’s typical steep declines of 50% or more in second weekends, Bloodlines is currently on course to surpass $300 million globally, likening its performance to that of earlier installments. Such a milestone would mark it as the highest-grossing film within the franchise, yielding more than six times its budget of $50 million. The chances of further increases in revenue could soar should the enthusiastic critical responses translate into strong audience turnout, potentially facilitating an impressive sophomore weekend performance.

Insights on the Weekend Box Office

A Promising End to May for Domestic Theaters

The outstanding launch of Final Destination Bloodlines, combined with the sustained success of A Minecraft Movie and Sinners, as well as the gradual ascent of Thunderbolts*, contributes to a buoyant end to the month. This positive trend suggests a bright outlook as Memorial Day weekend approaches, which is expected to witness the release of both the live-action Lilo & Stitch remake and the action-packed sequel, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, with the potential for record-breaking performances.

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Source: Variety

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