Final Destination Bloodlines had already started with an incredible box office run, but its original release plan could have ruined that potential success. The movie is the sixth film in the popular splatter horror franchise, which began in 2000. It is widely considered a reimagining of the original series, as there was a 14-year delay after the release of the previous franchise entry, Final Destination 5. While Bloodlines sees the return of Tony Todd (for his final role), it features a largely new cast including Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Anna Lore, Teo Briones, and Rya Kihlstedt.

So far, the movie has done incredibly well commercially and critically. Final Destination Bloodlines received the strongest reviews of any installment in the franchise thus far, getting a 93% Tomatometer. One of the film’s champions was ScreenRant‘s Nadir Samara, who gave the movie 8 out of 10 stars and called it a “phenomenal reboot.” This critical success was marked with commercial success, as its opening weekend brought in $102 million at the worldwide box office. While Warner Bros. can rejoice at this win, the box office for Final Destination Bloodlines was not always so certain.

Final Destination Bloodlines Was Originally Going To Be Released Exclusively On Streaming

Warner Bros. Announced This In 2022

Final Destination 6, eventually subтιтled Bloodlines, had a rocky production. It was originally going to be sH๏τ right after Final Destination 5, but a number of issues held the sixth installment. It was not until 2019 that significant progress was made when New Line Cinema announced a sequel in development, but writer changes were later made that reinvented it once again.

In January 2022, it was announced that Final Destination 6 would be released exclusively on HBO Max. This is not uncommon for modern horror films, especially following the pandemic. Salem’s Lot was released straight to HBO Max last year, despite being relatively high-profile as it was based on a Stephen King novel. Despite its initial plan, Warner Bros. changed this ruling in March 2024, when they confirmed that Final Destination Bloodlines would get a theatrical release.

Final Destination Movies Have Largely Done Really Well At The Box Office

And Bloodlines Continues That Trend

The fact that the movie was originally going to be a streaming exclusive was puzzling given the franchise’s history. The Final Destination movies have largely been box-office successes. The first film kicked off this streak, making $112.8 million worldwide on an estimated $23 million budget. Since then, all but one (Final Destination 2) have made over $100 million at the box office.

These totals are particularly significant because these movies are typically made for under a $50 million budget. As such, the franchise likely made money with most or not all of these films. While it is possible that Warner Bros. thought some franchise audiences would lose interest over time, the strong track record made the initial decision thoroughly confusing.

Final Destination Bloodlines’ Record Box Office Proves It Never Should Have Become A Streaming Franchise

It Would Have Made No Sense To Go To Streaming Only

The initial decision to make Final Destination 6 a streaming release was confusing, and now Bloodlines box office proves that Warner Bros. made the right decision by pivoting back to theatrical release. The movie has had the highest global opening weekend in the franchise, usurping even the second installment’s entire run in just three days. It is well on its way to becoming the highest-grossing movie in the entire Final Destination franchise if the drops remain steady in the upcoming weeks.

In the evolving era, movies can do extremely well on streaming and generate revenue, especially those in the horror genre. However, even the best streaming movies would have a tough time making studios well over $100 million, which Bloodlines is on track to do. In the end, Final Destination Bloodlines would not have had nearly the same impact at home, making its theatrical release the right call.