The summer movie season just got a major shakeup. Scary Movie, the sixth installment in the comedy horror franchise, is on track to earn $52.7 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office. This marks the biggest opening in the entire Scary Movie franchise history. The film hit theaters on June 5, 2026, and fans showed up in huge numbers. Meanwhile, Masters of the Universe opened in second place with an estimated $31.1 million, and A24’s Backrooms continues to make history in its second weekend.
Scary Movie Breaks Franchise Records with $52.7 Million Opening
The return of the Wayans brothers proved to be a winning move for Paramount and Miramax. Scary Movie earned $23.5 million on Friday, including preview screenings. That number pushed the three-day total to over $52 million. The previous franchise record was held by Scary Movie 3, which opened to $48.1 million back in 2003. The new film cost only $30 million to produce, making it a huge financial success right out of the gate.
Audience reactions have been strong despite mixed critic reviews. The film holds a 69% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to a 30% critics score. Social media analytics company RelishMix reported an online reach of 653 million across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The cast’s social media presence helped drive buzz, with Marlon Wayans bringing 23.3 million followers, Regina Hall with 6.7 million, and Anna Faris with 5.3 million.
“The crowd is hyped for Cindy, Brenda, the Wayans energy, horror cameos, and the return of dumb, rude, reference-heavy spoof comedy.” – RelishMix social media report
Fans online compared the new movie to classics like Scream, Terrifier, M3GAN, and even Hot Shots. One viewer wrote on social media, “The fact I can actually list all the horror movies they’re parodying is already a great sign.” Another fan shared, “Was 15 when first Scary Movie came out. First time I smoked weed before we went. Yeah, miss those times. 41 now, looking for nostalgia break with this one.”
Masters of the Universe Opens to $31.1 Million
Amazon MGM Studios spent $170 million on Masters of the Universe, and the film opened in second place with $31.1 million. The movie earned $12.1 million on Friday, including Thursday previews. Critics have responded better to this film than Scary Movie. Masters of the Universe holds a 70% certified fresh critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 88% audience score.
The film stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, with Camila Mendes, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, and Alison Brie in supporting roles. Director Travis Knight brought the 1980s toy and cartoon property to life after nearly 18 years of development struggles. The preview numbers came in just under the Ghostbusters: Afterlife previews, which earned $4.5 million before opening to $44 million. Family audiences are expected to show up in larger numbers on Saturday, which could push the weekend total higher.
Backrooms Becomes A24’s Highest Grossing Domestic Film
Backrooms continued its incredible run in its second weekend. The A24 horror film is projected to add $26.5 million this weekend, bringing its domestic total to $135.6 million. That makes Backrooms the highest grossing domestic release in A24’s history. The film surpassed Marty Supreme, which earned $96 million domestically earlier this year.
The movie earned $5.1 million on Thursday, down only 14% from Wednesday. Director Kane Parsons, who is only 20 years old, became the youngest filmmaker ever to open a film above $100 million globally. Backrooms was made for under $10 million and has already crossed $100 million domestically in just six days of release. Globally, the film is closing in on A24’s worldwide record holder, Everything Everywhere All at Once, which earned $148 million worldwide. Backrooms currently sits at $136 million globally and could pass that mark by Sunday.
Obsession Continues Strong Run in Fourth Weekend
The horror romance Obsession from Focus Features placed fourth with an estimated $24.8 million in its fourth weekend. That represents only a 9% drop from last weekend. The film has now earned $151.3 million domestically and over $196 million worldwide. Among all fourth weekends for horror movies, Obsession now ranks as the best ever, ahead of The Blair Witch Project, which earned $24.3 million in its fourth weekend back in 1999.
For Focus Features, Obsession has become the studio’s highest grossing pure theatrical release ever, surpassing Downton Abbey, which earned $194.6 million worldwide in 2019. The film has also outgrossed major franchise titles and continues to draw crowds based on strong word of mouth.
The Amazing Digital Circus Opens Strong for Fathom Events
The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act opened in fifth place with a projected $20.8 million over the four-day weekend. The film, based on the viral YouTube animated series from Glitch Productions, earned $4.5 million on Friday. That number is down 42% from its Thursday opening of $7.8 million. The film is expected to be front-loaded, with most of its business coming from dedicated fans who rushed to see it on opening day.
Despite the expected drop, The Amazing Digital Circus still represents a record opening for Fathom Entertainment. The previous record was held by The Chosen: Last Supper Part 1, which opened to $12 million last year. The film plays in 2,235 theaters and has benefited from the show’s massive online following. The Amazing Digital Circus has been viewed hundreds of millions of times on YouTube since it launched in 2023 and also had a run on Netflix.
The Mandalorian and Grogu Drops to Sixth Place
Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu fell to sixth place in its third weekend. The film earned $33.4 million last weekend and has now made $145.7 million domestically. The movie opened over the Memorial Day weekend to $81.6 million for the three-day frame and $98 million over four days. The 70% drop in its third weekend is typical for blockbuster franchise films.
Overall Box Office Hits $140 Million for the Weekend
The total box office for the top five films alone will exceed $140 million this weekend. That number is significantly higher than the same weekend in 2025 ($112.8 million) and 2024 ($104.3 million). The last time this weekend saw higher numbers was in 2022, when Jurassic World: Dominion led all films to a nearly $215 million weekend.
NBA Finals Could Impact Saturday Numbers
The only potential problem for this weekend’s box office is Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. The game airs Saturday night and could pull younger audiences away from theaters. However, Friday numbers came in strong across all major releases, suggesting that moviegoers are still showing up in large numbers.
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Streaming and International Release Details
Scary Movie is playing exclusively in theaters worldwide. Masters of the Universe is also a theatrical exclusive for now. Backrooms continues its theatrical run with no streaming date announced yet. Obsession is expected to hit digital platforms in the coming weeks. The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act is a limited theatrical release through Fathom Events. International viewers should check local listings for showtimes in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India. The film performed strongly in France, opening with 70,738 admissions in its first day.
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