In a chilling twist of life imitating art, a woman celebrating her birthday during a screening of Final Destination: Bloodlines was injured when part of the cinema ceiling collapsed mid-film.
The incident occurred on May 19 at a theater in Argentina, just days after the horror franchise’s long-awaited return premiered on May 16. The film, which centers on characters trying to escape death only to be killed in bizarre accidents, took an eerie turn when 29-year-old Fiamma Villaverde became a real-life victim of an unexpected and violent mishap.
Villaverde, who was accompanied by her 11-year-old daughter and a friend, said the outing was spontaneous. “It was my birthday, and we were just taking a walk. We hadn’t planned on going to the movies, but tickets were cheap, so we decided to go,” she told local media.
What began as a celebratory night quickly turned into a nightmare. As the film neared its climax, Villaverde said the audience heard a loud sound—but initially assumed it was part of the movie. Moments later, a piece of the ceiling came crashing down on her.
“I was leaning on the armrest, which is probably why it didn’t hit my head,” she said. “I have injuries to my shoulder, back, knee, and ankle.” She was taken to a local hospital and diagnosed with trauma and multiple bruises. Further X-rays on her back were scheduled.
Villaverde expressed frustration with the theater’s handling of the incident, stating she was asked by the manager how to resolve the situation. “I was furious,” she said, revealing she had contacted a lawyer and was considering formal legal action. She has also been unable to return to work and is currently taking medication for pain and anxiety.
The cinema has not yet issued a public statement. Meanwhile, Final Destination: Bloodlines continues to perform well at the box office—though for Villaverde, the movie’s horror became far too real.