Warner Bros. is still riding high from the spectacular success of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners,” which have combined for more than $1.1 billion in global box office grosses. That winning streak should continue this weekend with New Line’s “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” a revival of the 2000s horror series about people trying (and failing) to cheat death.
Based on pre-release tracking, “Bloodlines” is on pace to be the highest grossing “Final Destination” film ever, and depending on how well it legs out on Memorial Day weekend and beyond as a gory alternative to the likes of “Lilo & Stitch” and “Mission: Impossible 8,” it may hold that franchise record even after inflation adjustment.
Currently, Warner Bros. is projecting an opening weekend for “Bloodlines” of $35 million, while independent trackers are more optimistic at $40 million. A budget for the film hasn’t been reported but given that “Final Destination 5” was produced for $40 million in 2011, it’s probably reasonable to assume that “Bloodlines” was made at a similar mid-budget level.
If it meets tracking, a 2x multiple would give “Bloodlines” a domestic run that exceeds the unadjusted $66.4 million total of “The Final Destination,” the fourth installment of the series which came out in 2009. That film opened to $27.4 million, or $41 million after inflation, so “Bloodlines” is on pace for setting a new franchise opening record as well.
The film is also getting a boost from the best reviews ever for a “Final Destination” installment, sporting an excellent 94% Rotten Tomatoes score from 64 reviews logged. It’s a critical boost similar to the one enjoyed by “Saw X,” where Rotten Tomatoes’ efforts to expand its critics pool has led to an influx of positive reviews for a revival of a horror series that was critically maligned during its initial run two decades ago.
And just like “Saw X” and the upcoming Memorial Day offerings, millennial nostalgia is fueling “Bloodlines.” It’s been nearly 15 years since the last time moviegoers saw the gruesome Rube Goldberg-esque death sequences that have defined “Final Destination,” first played straight when introduced by director James Wong in 2000 and then played with morbid humor in later installments.
Critics have praised the film for bringing back those sequences in a way that will satisfy longtime fans, as well as adding a new element to the plot that explains the recurring appearances of William Bludworth, the mortician who knows the rules of Death’s design, played by the late Tony Todd in his final film role. That should be enough to bring back the core audience and could also attract Gen Z moviegoers who were too young to see the original series, similar to how Zoomers elevated the recent “Scream” revival to box office success.
Also opening this weekend is Lionsgate’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” a psychological thriller starring Abel Tesfaye — a.k.a. The Weeknd — in a companion film to his new album of the same name. Also starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, the film isn’t expected to attract many moviegoers beyond The Weeknd’s biggest fans, with tracking projecting a $5-8 million opening.
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