Fri May 16 19:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten news article:
**Summary:**
New Line’s “Final Destination: Bloodlines” is off to a strong start, exceeding expectations with $5.5 million in Thursday night previews. This figure is ahead of other recent horror releases and could signal a much larger opening weekend than initially projected. Audience reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Meanwhile, Lionsgate/Live Nation’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” starring The Weeknd, is struggling with poor reviews and audience reception despite a significant multimedia marketing push connected to The Weeknd’s tour and album. “Thunderbolts*” and “Sinners” are expected to maintain solid performance in their respective third weekends.
**News Article:**
**’Final Destination: Bloodlines’ Slices Through Box Office Expectations with Stellar Preview Numbers**
**Los Angeles, CA -** Warner Bros. is reporting a stellar $5.5 million in Thursday night previews for New Line’s “Final Destination: Bloodlines,” exceeding industry expectations and signaling a potential box office bloodbath this weekend. The sixth installment in the popular horror franchise is already outperforming previews for the studio’s recent hit “Sinners” and even surpassing the previews of “The Nun,” a Conjuring spinoff that opened to a $53 million weekend.
Initial forecasts pegged “Bloodlines” for a $35-$40 million opening, but with glowing audience responses and impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores (93% critic, 90% audience), analysts are now predicting a much higher debut. PostTrak surveys show enthusiastic fan reactions, with 4 stars and a 69% definite recommend rating, skewing towards a male audience (60%).
This strong start marks the potential for a record-breaking opening for the New Line R-rated franchise and would represent Warner Bros.’ fourth No. 1 opening of the year.
Meanwhile, Lionsgate/Live Nation’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” starring The Weeknd, is struggling to gain traction. The film garnered a mere 1/2 star rating from critics and a weak 34% definite recommend rating on PostTrak. Despite a $1.65 million preview total including early access events, the film faces an uphill battle. The movie is part of a larger marketing strategy connected to The Weeknd’s highly anticipated tour and latest album, but critical reception remains overwhelmingly negative.
In its third weekend, Disney/MCU’s “Thunderbolts*” is projected to maintain a strong performance with around $19 million, while Warner’s “Sinners” is expected to draw around $15 million, showcasing the continued power of established franchises and solid word-of-mouth.
“Final Destination: Bloodlines,” directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, is poised to dominate the weekend box office, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats.