‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Is Better Than the Original

Final Destination: Bloodlines is the sixth installment in the Final Destination franchise and the first new sequel in 14 years. It was released on May 16th and is now the best-reviewed Final Destination movie with the highest-grossing opening weekend ($102 million globally). It was also a beautiful send-off to Tony Todd, who the film was dedicated to following his 2024 death.

This article discusses the plot of Final Destination: Bloodlines, but is free of major spoilers. Read on to find out why Bloodlines may be the best movie in the franchise.

First, what is Final Destination: Bloodlines about?

The main character is Stefani (Kaitlyn Santa Juana), a college student on academic probation because of a disturbing recurrent nightmare about Iris, her estranged grandmother. Iris reveals that the nightmare is identical to a premonition she had in 1968 which saved dozens of lives. Iris spent the rest of her life avoiding Death, which resulted in her estrangement from her children.

Now, Death has caught up to Iris. Every person who was supposed to die in the restaurant has now died, along with their families. The logic is that since their bloodlines would not have continued if they had died in the restaurant, Death is also coming for them. Stefani has to convince her extended family to believe Iris and find a way to beat Death.

So, what makes Final Destination: Bloodlines so good?

A higher kill count

The original Final Destination slowly introduces the concept of “Death” as an entity that conceives of elaborate plans and seeks revenge against those who thwart it. Setting up this universe is necessary but it takes time, time which Bloodlines is able to dedicate to a higher number of decadent kill scenes. After the initial explosion of Flight 180, Final Destination shows the deaths of five characters. After the initial bloodbath in Bloodlines, eight character deaths are shown.

More humor

The tone of the original Final Destination is fairly serious. By the sixth installment, fans know what to expect from the franchise and the filmmakers are free to embrace it’s over-the-top aspects. This is exactly what makes the newest film so great.

One bonkers scene in Bloodlines involves (mild spoiler) a man being pulled genitals-first into an MRI machine due to the machine’s magnetic pull and the man’s Prince Albert piercing. It is horrifying and funny and incredibly enjoyable. Bloodlines is full of these kind of elaborate death sequences which the franchise is known for. It delivers what the audience wants with fanfare, gusto and humor.

A satisfying conclusion to Tony Todd’s arc

Tony Todd played the character of coroner William Bludworth in four of the six Final Destination movies. He usually appeared on screen to give cryptic advice (and vague threats) to the characters as they struggled to figure out Death’s plan. When accepting the role of William Bludworth for the fourth time, Tony Todd made the Bloodlines filmmakers aware that he had been diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. This was a fact the actor kept private from the public.

Knowing his diagnosis, the filmmakers were able to write Todd’s character off in a meaningful way. Bloodlines shows the origins of Bludworth’s knowledge about Death and sends him off to live happily for a short period of time, knowing Death would come for him soon enough. Filming wrapped in May 2024 and Todd passed away the following November. After his passing, Bloodlines was dedicated to Todd.

Better sequel potential

Bloodlines lays down fertile territory for future Final Destination installments. A sequel could follow any one of the large group of characters from the opening restaurant incident. I’d love to see a prequel based on Iris’ story after she escaped the Skyview. How did she find out so much about Death? How did her husband die?

The next sequel could also repeat a version of the big twist-ending of Final Destination 5 which revealed in its final scene that (spoiler alert) it was in fact a prequel to the original Final Destination as the character’s were shown on the doomed Flight 180 to Paris along with Alex Browning (Devon Sawa) and his classmates.

Updated Final Destination ranking

How “good” a movie is considered is a subjective question, but we’ve our updated ranking of the franchise to (from best to worst):

1. Final Destination: Bloodlines
2. Final Destination
3. Final Destination 5
4. Final Destination 2
5. The Final Destination
6. Final Destination 3

—

With the critical and commercial success of Bloodlines the franchise is reinvigorated and it seems likely that fans will not have to wait another 14 years for the next Final Destination movie. Director Adam Stein told The Direct that he and co-director Zach Lipovsky have a lot of ideas for Final Destination moving forward and said “Death’s work is never done.” No sequel has officially been announced yet.

Further reading:

• The 9 Gnarliest Deaths in the ‘Final Destination’ Movies
• ‘Final Destination Bloodlines’ Review: The New Installment Of The Horror Franchise Deserves Its 95% Rotten Tomato Rating