The U.K. and Ireland box office got a jolt of horror this weekend as Final Destination: Bloodlines, the sixth installment in the beloved supernatural franchise, stormed to the top with a killer £4 million ($5.3 million) debut, according to Comscore (via Variety). Released on May 15, 2025, the Warner Bros. and New Line film scared up a strong opening, tapping into nostalgia and a loyal horror fanbase. But the horizon is buzzing with anticipation as Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning hits screens on May 20, poised to shake up the charts with its high-octane action. Here’s how Bloodlines claimed the crown and what’s coming next.
A Gory Triumph for Final Destination
After a 14-year hiatus, Final Destination: Bloodlines brought the franchise’s signature blend of suspense and inventive death sequences back to theaters, and audiences couldn’t get enough. Directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, with a screenplay by Guy Busick and Lori Evans Taylor, the film follows a college student (Kaitlyn Santa Juana) who inherits her grandmother’s premonitions from 1968, only to find Death targeting her family. The R-rated thriller, also starring Brec Bassinger, Teo Briones, and Owen Patrick Joyner, delivered a global opening of $105.8 million, including $51.7 million domestically, making it the biggest debut in the franchise’s history.
In the U.K. and Ireland, Bloodlines outperformed expectations, topping Disney’s Thunderbolts, which slid to second place with $1.6 million in its third week, bringing its total to $18.5 million. Warner Bros.’ Sinners took third with £718,770 ($961,049) in its fifth weekend, while A Minecraft Movie and the documentary Ocean With David Attenborough rounded out the top five. The film’s strong B+ CinemaScore and 93% Rotten Tomatoes rating signal its appeal, especially for horror fans craving the series’ grim thrills. Its £4 million opening outdid previous franchise entries, with The Final Destination (2009) earning $186 million globally and Final Destination 5 (2011) at $157 million.
Mission: Impossible Looms Large
While Bloodlines owned the weekend, all eyes are now on Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which landed in U.K. and Ireland cinemas on May 20, 2025, just ahead of its global release. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie and starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, the eighth Mission: Impossible film is already making waves after a massive Indian opening, where it grossed £25.5 million (Rs 34.95 crore) over its first three days, per Sacnilk. With Cruise’s death-defying stunts and a cast including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, and Simon Pegg, the film is tipped to dominate the box office, especially with the bank holiday weekend approaching.
Paramount’s action juggernaut is projected to challenge Bloodlines’ reign, with early reports suggesting it could hit $100 million domestically during its Memorial Day debut in the U.S. The film’s early international numbers are strong, with $12 million from markets like India, South Korea, and Japan. In India, it outpaced Bloodlines’ £12.1 million (Rs 16.10 crore) three-day total, signaling Cruise’s enduring star power. While Bloodlines has horror fans locked in, The Final Reckoning’s broader appeal and franchise legacy could shift the U.K. and Ireland charts next weekend.
A Diverse Box Office Landscape
The U.K. and Ireland scene is buzzing with variety. Alongside Bloodlines, arthouse fans got Exhibition on Screen: Michelangelo – Love & Death, a documentary exploring the artist’s life, while Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later saw a re-release for horror purists. But The Final Reckoning’s arrival in over 300 locations is set to draw massive crowds, especially after its New York premiere earned a standing ovation. Meanwhile, Bloodlines continues to benefit from strong word-of-mouth and its horror niche, which faces less direct competition.
What’s Next?
Final Destination: Bloodlines has set a franchise record and revitalized Warner Bros.’ theatrical run after a shaky start to 2025. Its $50 million budget and $105.8 million global debut make it a clear win, with potential to hit $200 million worldwide if it holds steady. But Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is a box office behemoth, with its $400 million budget banking on Cruise’s global draw. As the bank holiday weekend approaches, the U.K. and Ireland box office is bracing for a clash of genres—horror’s grim suspense versus action’s explosive spectacle. For now, Bloodlines is king, but Ethan Hunt is coming to shake things up.
Source: Variety