Final Destination Bloodlines just became one of the best-reviewed horror movies of the year according to popular review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Not only that, but so far it is the best-reviewed movie of the entire franchise. Currently, the film sits at a 92% approval score based on 50 reviews, which is quite impressive.
It's possible that the film's approval rating will drop a little bit in the coming days as more reviewers and outlets post their finished thoughts, but to even debut with a number that high is extraordinary when you consider how poorly reviewed previous entires were.
Every Final Destination movie has been ranked "rotten" on Rotten Tomatoes thus far apart from the 2011 film Final Destination 5. But even that movie didn't rate highly enough to earn a Certified Fresh seal of approval, and it seems like Bloodlines could very well achieve that rarity. Before that, all other Final Destination films were dubbed rotten and only received 40-52% approval, with the original movie actually getting the lowest score of all at 28%.
Needless to say, Bloodlines has achieved something special, even if the overall score drops over the weekend. It's still highly likely the movie will maintain its "fresh" approval and perhaps even get the coveted seal.
This year has proven to be a great one for horror already, with several films earning critical acclaim such as Companion, The Ugly Stepsister, Sinners, Drop, and Presence. And we're still early into 2025 with many more highly-anticipated titles on the horizon, both original ideas and franchise favorites.
What are critics saying?
So we know that the majority of reviews for Final Destination Bloodlines have been positive, but what exactly are the reviewers saying makes the movie work?
Most of the praise goes toward this movie's unique kills, which have always been the highlight of the franchise. Final Destination is at its best when its death sequences are both scary and yet also tap into a very common fear that you suddenly think about forever, like the logging truck or tanning bed scenes. Other critics also praise the film for its solid sendoff of late actor Tony Todd's character William Bludworth.
Time Out writes that it "might be the most fun one yet," and Empire Magazine says, "Laugh as you barf. This fun reboot is crammed with affectionate nods and grisly kills as it bids a fond farewell to Tony Todd. Might it have been called ‘Ultimate Destination’?"
The film follows a young woman named Stefani Reyes (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) who shares a connection to one of the first people who ever experienced a premonition and averted Death's plans, leading to Death doing whatever it takes to kill anyone that outwitted its plans.
Final Destination Bloodlines begins playing in theaters this Friday, May 16.