Scream 7 debuts with franchise-record $64.1 million box office haul for Paramount
Thirty years after the original slasher film first terrified audiences, “Scream 7” delivered the biggest opening weekend in franchise history, debuting with $64.1 million domestically. The stronger-than-expected launch marked a major win for Paramount during what has otherwise been a sluggish 2026 at the box office. The seventh installment easily claimed the year’s best debut so far and knocked last weekend’s top film, the Stephen Curry-produced animated movie “GOAT,” out of first place.
Made for approximately $45 million, “Scream 7” benefited from the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. Campbell, who did not appear in 2023’s “Scream VI,” reportedly came back for a $7 million payday. Original cast members Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard also reprised their roles, bringing a heavy dose of nostalgia to longtime fans. “Scream VI” had previously set a franchise opening record with $44.4 million, but the new installment significantly surpassed that figure.
The road to “Scream 7” was not without turbulence. Melissa Barrera, who starred in the previous film, was dropped from the new installment after controversial comments related to the Israel-Hamas war, and Jenna Ortega later exited the project as well. Franchise writer Kevin Williamson, who penned the 1996 original and several sequels, stepped in to direct, reshaping the story around Sidney Prescott and her family. In the film, Sidney and her 17-year-old daughter are stalked by Ghostface in the suburban town of Pine Grove.
Critical reception was lukewarm, with low review scores and a “B-” CinemaScore from audiences. Still, the film’s commercial performance proved resilient. Internationally, “Scream 7” added another $33.1 million, strengthening its global start. The movie also benefited from premium large-format screenings, including IMAX, which were not widely available to earlier installments. Roughly 40% of its opening weekend revenue came from premium screens, boosting overall ticket sales.
The strong debut provided additional momentum for Paramount during a significant moment for the studio’s corporate future. Its parent company, Paramount Skydance, recently announced plans to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix exited negotiations. The proposed deal would reshape the media landscape if approved by regulators. Paramount executives described the “Scream 7” launch as a sign of renewed energy under the studio’s current leadership, following last year’s $8 billion merger with David Ellison’s Skydance and the appointment of Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein as co-chairs of Paramount Pictures.
Meanwhile, “GOAT” fell to second place with $12 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $74 million. “Wuthering Heights,” Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the Emily Brontë novel, placed third with $7 million, pushing its three-week domestic haul to $72.3 million. Other newcomers included the concert film “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined,” which opened with $3.7 million in 836 theaters, and “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” which added 1,615 theaters in its second week and earned $3.5 million, bringing its two-week total to $7.8 million.
Rounding out the domestic top 10 were “Crime 101” with $3.4 million, “I Can Only Imagine 2” with $3.1 million, “Send Help” with $2.8 million, “How to Make a Killing” with $1.6 million and “Zootopia 2” with $1.4 million. Despite mixed reviews, “Scream 7” demonstrated that the Ghostface franchise still has strong drawing power, proving that three decades later, audiences are still willing to scream in theaters.
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