'Scream 7' opens with a franchise-best $64.1 million in box-office win for Paramount

“Scream” continues to be making a killing.

Thirty years after the unique slasher film opened in theaters, “Scream 7” debuted with a franchise-best $64.1 million, in response to studio estimates Sunday. The bigger-than-expected opening is a win for Paramount, which on Friday introduced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.

In a so-far sluggish 2026 on the field workplace, “Scream 7” managed the very best debut of the 12 months, simply displacing final weekend’s champ, the Stephen Curry-produced animated movie “GOAT,” from Sony Pictures.

“Scream 7,” which price $45 million to make, acquired a lift from the return of Neve Campbell, as Sidney Prescott. The actor sat out 2023’s “Scream VI,” however was drawn again for the seventh movie by a reported $7 million payday. Original solid members Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Matthew Lillard additionally co-star.

“Scream VI” had set a brand new excessive (not accounting for inflation) for the franchise with a $44.4 million launch. That movie starred Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, together with collection regulars. But in 2023, Barrera was dropped from the seventh movie by the movie’s manufacturing firm, Spyglass Media Group, after making feedback on the Israel-Hamas battle that some deemed antisemitic. Ortega subsequently dropped out of the movie.

Kevin Williamson, who wrote the 1996 unique and lots of the following chapters, stepped into direct, retooling the movie round Campbell and firm. In the movie, Sidney and her 17-year-old daughter are haunted by Ghostface within the suburban neighborhood of Pine Grove.

Reviews had been poor (34% contemporary on Rotten Tomatoes) and viewers scores (a “B-” CinemaScore) additionally weren’t nice.

But the overperformance of “Scream 7,” which added $33.1 million abroad, gave Paramount extra to have a good time on a doubtlessly historic weekend for the studio. On Friday, its dad or mum firm, Paramount Skydance, introduced its intention to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix dropped out of negotiations. The deal, which kinds a Hollywood colossus and remakes the media panorama, awaits regulatory approval.

For Josh Goldstine, president of worldwide advertising and distribution at Paramount, the launch of “Scream 7” signaled a brand new starting for Paramount, which final 12 months accomplished an $8 billion merger with David Ellison’s Skydance. Following that merger, Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, co-chairs, took the reigns of Paramount Pictures.

“This is the first time that the new Paramount team has gotten their arms around a movie, not necessarily from the production side but from the marketing and distribution side,” mentioned Goldstine. “It’s really an exciting time for the new Paramount.”

Goldstine declined to deal with the merger with Warner Bros. But he attributed the success of “Scream 7” — the uncommon franchise to continue to grow so many movies in — to the studio’s dedication to exhibition. In opposing Netflix’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Ellison trumpeted the studio’s dedication to theatrical, pledging a minimal 45-day theatrical window for movies.

“It’s really about the passion for the theatrical marketplace that exists at Paramount right now and the desire that we wanted to show the culture and the world why we love, and what we can do, with theatrical movies,” Goldstine mentioned of the “Scream 7” opening.

“Scream 7” benefited considerably from IMAX screens and premium format screens, one thing no earlier “Scream” film had on opening. Shaun Barber, head of home distribution for Paramount, famous that 40% of the movie’s enterprise over the weekend was on premium format screens.

“The film’s success speaks to the strength of the brand and Ghostface’s staying power as an iconic villain,” mentioned Barber. “When you set that on the largest screens within the nation, audiences are much more excited to observe it collectively.”

After claiming the highest spot in its second weekend, “GOAT” dropped to second place with $12 million in its third weekend. It’s thus far gathered $74 million domestically. “Wuthering Heights,” Emerald Fennell’s Emily Brontë adaptation, fell to 3rd place with $7 million in its third weekend. Its three-week haul stands at $72.3 million.

The solely new launch to make a dent in theaters was the live performance movie “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined.” Distributed by Trafalgar Releasing, it opened with $3.7 million in 836 theaters. Another live performance movie additionally continues to carry out nicely: “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.” The Baz Luhrmann “Elvis” addendum added 1,615 theaters after a robust debut final week. The Neon launch collected $3.5 million, pushing its two-week gross to $7.8 million.

With closing home figures being launched Monday, this checklist components within the estimated ticket gross sales for Friday by means of Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, in response to Comscore:

1. “Scream 7,” $64.1 million.

2. “GOAT,” $12 million.

3. “Wuthering Heights,” $7 million.

4. “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined,” $3.7 million.

5. “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” $3.5 million.

6. “Crime 101,” $3.4 million.

7. “I Can Only Imagine 2,” $3.1 million.

8. “Send Help,” $2.8 million.

9. “How to Make a Killing,” $1.6 million.

10. “Zootopia 2,” $1.4 million.

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