The Ghostface killer is back and louder than ever. Scream 7 ripped into theaters this weekend with a knife-wielding fury, slashing its way to a franchise-best $64.1 million domestic debut. The latest installment in the long-running slasher series not only exceeded all pre-release expectations but also cemented its place as the biggest opener in the 30-year history of the franchise .
Director Kevin Williamson, who originally wrote the 1996 film that started it all, returned to helm this seventh chapter. The movie brought back beloved legacy characters while introducing new victims for the iconic Ghostface killer. According to studio estimates released Sunday, the film completely obliterated the previous franchise opening record of $44.4 million set by 2023’s Scream VI .
Neve Campbell’s Big Return Fuels Record-Breaking Weekend
The return of original star Neve Campbell as the resilient Sidney Prescott played a massive role in driving audiences to theaters. Campbell sat out the previous film due to a salary dispute, but Spyglass Media Group made sure she came back this time with a reported $7 million payday .
“This historic, franchise record-breaking box office performance is a testament to the enduring legacy created by our director Kevin Williamson 30 years ago, led by the incomparable Neve Campbell,” said Spyglass Media’s chairman and CEO Gary Barber .
The film also brought back other familiar faces including Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard. This nostalgia trip clearly worked, as fans lined up to see the original cast members reunite on screen for the first time in years .
Global Box Office Haul Crosses $97 Million
Outside North America, Scream 7 collected $33.1 million from international markets, bringing its global opening weekend total to $97.2 million . This worldwide figure also stands as the highest in franchise history.
The international numbers showed strong growth compared to previous entries. Key markets included the United Kingdom with $5.3 million, France with $4.2 million, Mexico with $3 million, Australia with $2.5 million, and Germany with $2.4 million . The film has yet to open in several territories including Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, which means the global total will continue climbing .
Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group produced the film on a reported budget of $45 million, making this opening weekend already a massive financial victory for the studios .
Premium Screens Give Ghostface an IMAX Boost
For the first time in franchise history, a Scream movie received an IMAX release. This premium format availability significantly boosted the bottom line. According to Shaun Barber, head of domestic distribution for Paramount, 40% of the film’s total weekend business came from premium format screens including IMAX and ScreenX .
Josh Goldstine, Paramount’s president of global marketing and distribution, explained the strategy behind the successful campaign.
“It’s a daunting task to market the seventh film in a franchise. We focused on bringing in the nostalgia. This is Scream‘s 30th anniversary, and we have Neve back. We focused the promotion on this sense of destiny and ‘it’s all led to this’” .
The marketing push included a prime Super Bowl spot and Ghostface appearances at major events like UFC 324 in Las Vegas, all designed to excite both longtime fans and younger horror audiences .
Critics Were Mixed But Audiences Showed Up
Despite the massive box office numbers, critical reception for Scream 7 has been notably poor. The film currently holds a weak 34% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 143 reviews . Audience polling firm CinemaScore gave the movie a “B-” grade, which typically signals mixed word of mouth .
However, the negative reviews did not stop horror fans from showing up in droves opening weekend. The film’s performance proves the enduring power of the Scream brand and the strong appeal of seeing legacy cast members back in action.
Behind-the-Scenes Drama Didn’t Derail Success
The road to Scream 7 was anything but smooth. The production faced major controversy when star Melissa Barrera was fired from the franchise in late 2023 after posting comments about the Israel-Hamas war that the studio deemed problematic . Her co-star Jenna Ortega subsequently dropped out of the project in solidarity .
Original director Christopher Landon also exited the film, famously saying it “all came tumbled down” after Barrera’s departure . That’s when Kevin Williamson stepped in to take over directing duties and retooled the film around Campbell and the returning legacy cast members .
Despite these production hurdles and the critical drubbing, audiences still flocked to theaters, showing that for many fans, the return of Sidney Prescott mattered more than the behind-the-scenes chaos.
Box Office Leaderboard: How Others Performed
With Scream 7 dominating the weekend, other films had to settle for lower spots on the chart.
GOAT Holds Strong in Second Place
Last weekend’s champion, the animated sports comedy GOAT produced by Stephen Curry, dropped to second place with $12 million in its third weekend. The Sony Pictures release has now accumulated $74 million domestically and crossed the $100 million mark worldwide with a global total of $130.5 million .
Wuthering Heights Falls to Third
Wuthering Heights, director Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of the classic novel starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, took third place with $6.95 million. The film’s domestic total now stands at $72.3 million, with global earnings approaching $200 million .
Concert Films and Holdovers Round Out Top Five
The concert film Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined opened in fourth place with $3.7 million. Another music documentary, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, took fifth place with $3.5 million after expanding to more theaters .
India Box Office Performance
In India, Scream 7 had a more modest opening. The film collected approximately ₹1.10 crore gross across all languages over the weekend, with shows primarily in English. Theater occupancy averaged around 10% across the three days.
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What This Record Means for the Franchise
The massive opening weekend proves that the Scream franchise remains one of horror’s most reliable properties even after three decades. With a production budget of just $45 million, the film is already highly profitable and will likely continue drawing crowds in the coming weeks.
Paramount Pictures has plenty to celebrate. The studio recently announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, and this box office victory provides positive momentum during a major corporate transition .
For fans wondering about the future, a sequel seems all but guaranteed given these numbers. The franchise has now earned nearly $1 billion worldwide across all seven films, with the original 1996 movie still holding the title of highest-grossing entry when adjusted for inflation .
Scream 7 is now playing in theaters worldwide, available in IMAX and all premium large formats.
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