LOS ANGELES, May 19 — Final Destination: Bloodlines, the latest instalment in the horror franchise, made a grisly splash in North American theatres this weekend, taking in US$51 million to debut in the top spot, industry estimates showed Sunday.

“This is a sensational opening for the sixth episode of a horror series,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research, adding that critics’ reviews and audience scores were “excellent.”