‘Scream 7’ Shrieking At Record Decibels With Franchise-Best $59M Debut – Box Office Update
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in 'Scream 7' Paramount/Spyglass
UPDATED FRIDAY MIDDAY: David Ellison can celebrate another win this weekend in addition to taking pole position with Warner Bros and that’s that Scream 7 is heading to a franchise opening record of $59M after a $28M Friday that includes previews. What the? Nope, no head-scratching needed. Give the Scream fans what they want: Neve Campbell and the franchise’s original architect Kevin Williamson in the director’s chair. Now some rivals are seeing well over $60M for the weekend, but the caution here stems from the front-loadness of horror pics.
Previous opening record was 2023’s Scream VI with $44.4M domestic. The Spyglass co-production was put into motion by the previous Paramount Brian Robbins administration, however, the current admin under marketing czar Josh Goldstine takes the win for the franchise opening record.
And as an extra bonus today, the PSKY stock is up post following news of Warner Bros’ realizing Paramount’s superior offer with $13.51 at the time of this post, +21%.
Given the big opening for Scream 7, the entire weekend looks to be well ahead of the same frame a year ago (Feb. finale/beginning of March) which did $54.4M per Box Office Mojo.
We’ll have more updates as they come.
UPDATED Friday AM after Thursday PM EXCLUSIVE: Scream 7 preview figures came in higher Friday with $7.8 million, which as we told you last night is a franchise record. The question now is how frontloaded will it be.
The 2022 Spyglass/Paramount revival Scream did $13.3M in previews/first Friday, which was 44% of its three-day total ($30M) — granted that came during a four-day MLK weekend ($33.8M).
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In 2023, Scream VI posted a $19.2M combined previews/first Friday, repping 43% of that pic’s $44.4M opening (a franchise record start).
According to RelishMix, prerelease social media universe stats on Scream 7 at 264.5 million are running 11% above horror-franchise norms across TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram combined. At the same time, they are behind Scream VI‘s 360.5M social media reach by 27%. Neve Campbell is active on social, bringing 672,000 fans, while Courteney Cox stands by in pre-activation mode with her 20.7M fans.
Conversation is mixed-positive per RelishMix, the better word of mouth due to Campbell’s return as the franchise’s spine, rather than just a cameo.
“The hype is nostalgia-with-teeth, with people treating Sidney like horror royalty and the trailer like proof the series still knows its own rules,” RelishMix says. “Fans are cheering while also acknowledging Sidney’s life is basically a permanent caller ID jump-scare. There’s also genuine craft-appreciation for franchise iconography and the ‘back where it started’ vibe, plus nerdy deep-cuts that compare it to Halloween style final-girl mythology. Examples: ‘So glad Neve Campbell is back. It’s not really a Scream movie if she isn’t in it!’ and ‘I love how Sydney and Ghostface are becoming the new generation of Laurie and Michael Myers.’ Also: ‘Best film series ever!’ and ‘This trailer has absolutely sold me… I’m going opening night.’
this week’s top 5:
- GOAT (Sony) 3,863 theaters Wk $20.66M (-50%), Total $62M/Wk 2
- Wuthering Heights (WB) 3,682 theaters, Wk $19.5M (-57%), Total $65.3M/Wk 2
- I Can Only Imagine 2 (LG) 3,105 theaters, Wk $10.1M/Wk 1
- Crime 101 (AMZ) 3,161 theaters, Wk $7.7M (-59%), Total $26.6M/Wk 2
- Send Help (20TH) 2,800 theaters, Wk $6.1M (-49%), Total $57.1M/Wk 4
PREVIOUSLY, EXCLUSIVE: After becoming the lead bidder for Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount is capping off a great Thursday with $7.5 million in previews for the Spyglass co-production Scream 7, which would rep a franchise record.
Scream VI previously posted franchise records for previews ($5.7M), ahead of a three-day domestic opening ($44.4M) and global debut ($66.4M). Paramount didn’t return request for comment.
All of Scream 7‘s money is from tonight, starting with a 6 p.m. fan preview on premium screens with extra content and tchotchkes followed by broader previews at 6:30 p.m. Scream 7 won’t be playing in 3D like the 2023 title, but instead will be booked in Imax and ScreenX auditoriums for the first time in the horror franchise’s history. The seventhquel is also playing D-Box and premium large-format screens.
Critics are far more severe on Scream 7 than the recent Radio Silence reboots at 38% Rotten, and an audience score of 79%. Scream VI was 77% certified fresh with critics and 90% with audiences, while 2022’s Scream was 76% with critics and 82% with audiences.
What’s the appeal of Scream 7? Why, original franchise scribe, Kevin Williamson, who is directing for the first time on the 30-year horror series. The action has Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott back in Pine Grove with her daughter (Isabel May) in tow. They’re both being threatened by Ghostface killers.
Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) produce this time around after helming the 2022 reboot Scream and 2023’s Scream VI. Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers is among other Scream dramatis personae are back for part seven.
Scream 7 is the only wide major studio entry this weekend. The pic cost a net $45M before P&A, co-financed 50-50 between Spyglass and Paramount. The six previous Scream movies have grossed a combined worldwide total of $908.5M.
Scream 7 is playing 52 offshore territories this weekend including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the UK.
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