NEW YORK (AP) — “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 line with studio estimates Sunday. The larger-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 perfect debut of the 12 months, simply displacing final weekend’s champ, the Stephen Curry-produced animated movie “GOAT,” from Sony Photos.
“Scream 7,” which price $45 million to make, obtained 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. Unique forged 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 sequence regulars. However in 2023, Barrera was dropped from the seventh film by the movie’s manufacturing firm, Spyglass Media Group, after making feedback on the Israel-Hamas war 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. Within the movie, Sidney and her 17-year-old daughter are haunted by Ghostface within the suburban neighborhood of Pine Grove.
Opinions had been poor (34% contemporary on Rotten Tomatoes) and viewers scores (a “B-” CinemaScore) additionally weren’t nice.
However the overperformance of “Scream 7″ gave Paramount extra to have a good time on a doubtlessly historic weekend for the studio. On Friday, its father or mother firm, Paramount Skydance, introduced its intention to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix dropped out of negotiations. The deal, which forms a Hollywood colossus and remakes the media panorama, awaits regulatory approval.
“Scream 7” benefited considerably from IMAX screens and premium format screens, one thing no earlier “Scream” film had on opening. The film added $33.1 million abroad.
After claiming the highest spot in its second weekend, “GOAT” dropped to second place with $12 million in its third weekend. It’s up to now 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 one new launch to make a dent in theaters was the live performance movie “Twenty One Pilots: Extra Than We Ever Imagined.” Distributed by Trafalgar Releasing, it opened with $3.7 million in 836 theaters. One other live performance movie additionally continues to carry out properly: “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Live performance.” The Baz Luhrmann “Elvis” addendum added 1,615 theaters after a powerful debut final week. The Neon launch collected $3.5 million, pushing its two-week gross to $7.8 million.
Prime 10 films by home field workplace
With last home figures being launched Monday, this record components within the estimated ticket gross sales for Friday via Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, in line with Comscore:
1. “Scream 7,” $64.1 million.
2. “GOAT,” $12 million.
3. “Wuthering Heights,” $7 million.
4. “Twenty One Pilots: Extra Than We Ever Imagined,” $3.7 million.
5. “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Live performance,” $3.5 million.
6. “Crime 101,” $3.4 million.
7. “I Can Solely Think about 2,” $3.1 million.
8. “Ship Assist,” $2.8 million.
9. “Learn how to Make a Killing,” $1.6 million.
10. “Zootopia 2,” $1.4 million.
Jake Coyle, The Related Press