Scream 7" Slashes Box Office Records: A Look at Paramount/Spyglass' Latest Horror Hit
Paramount/Spyglass’ latest installment in the horror franchise, "Scream 7," is poised to set a new opening weekend record. With an impressive $28.8 million on its opening day, including $7.8 million from Thursday previews, the slasher film is expected to surpass $60 million in its opening weekend from 3,540 locations. Industry projections even suggest it could reach $66.5 million, surpassing the previous franchise record set by "Scream VI" in 2023.
The return of Neve Campbell as series protagonist Sidney Prescott has generated significant buzz for "Scream 7." The film marks a significant shift for Paramount and Spyglass, with Kevin Williamson taking over as director after the firing of Melissa Barrera, who starred in the previous two installments. Campbell's return after sitting out "Scream VI" due to a pay dispute has further fueled anticipation for this latest installment.
While the strong opening weekend performance bodes well for Paramount, audience reception metrics for "Scream 7" are not as robust as its predecessors. The film received a B- CinemaScore from opening night audiences, compared to the B+ ratings for "Scream 5" and "Scream VI." Rotten Tomatoes scores also show a disparity, with critics giving it 33% and audiences 78%, lower than the 77% and 90% scores for "Scream VI."
Despite the mixed audience metrics, "Scream 7" is expected to be a box office success against its $45 million budget. As Paramount and Spyglass continue to expand their franchise-heavy 2026 slate with sequels to popular series, the strong performance of "Scream 7" sets a promising tone for their upcoming releases. It remains to be seen if the lower audience scores will impact the film's long-term theatrical run as it aims to surpass the global total of its predecessor.