Scream 7 Dominates Box Office with Record-Breaking $64.1 Million Debut
Thirty years after the original slasher film terrified audiences, Scream 7 has slashed its way to a franchise-best opening weekend, grossing an estimated $64.1 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio reports released on Sunday. This impressive debut marks the biggest opening of 2026 so far, easily dethroning last weekend's champion, the animated film GOAT from Sony Pictures.
A Major Win for Paramount Amidst Acquisition News
The stellar performance comes as a significant victory for Paramount Pictures, which announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on Friday. In a year that has seen sluggish box office returns, Scream 7 injected much-needed energy into the industry. The film, produced on a budget of $45 million, benefited from the return of original star Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, who reportedly received a $7 million payday to rejoin the franchise after sitting out 2023's Scream VI.
Other original cast members, including Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard, also reprised their roles, adding to the nostalgic appeal. This ensemble helped the film surpass the previous franchise high set by Scream VI, which opened with $44.4 million in 2023.
Behind the Scenes: Cast Changes and Directorial Shift
The production of Scream 7 faced notable challenges. Melissa Barrera, a star of Scream VI, was dropped by production company Spyglass Media Group after making comments on the Israel-Hamas war that some deemed antisemitic. Jenna Ortega subsequently exited the project as well. In response, Kevin Williamson, the writer of the original 1996 film and many sequels, stepped in to direct, retooling the storyline around Campbell and the returning original cast.
The plot follows Sidney Prescott and her 17-year-old daughter as they are haunted by the iconic Ghostface killer in the suburban community of Pine Grove. Despite the strong box office numbers, critical reception was poor, with the film scoring only 34% on Rotten Tomatoes and a B- CinemaScore from audiences.
Premium Formats and International Success
Scream 7 achieved its record-breaking debut partly due to enhanced screen formats. For the first time in the franchise's history, the film was released on IMAX and other premium format screens, which accounted for 40% of its weekend business, according to Shaun Barber, head of domestic distribution for Paramount. Internationally, the film added $33.1 million, bringing its global total to $97.2 million and providing further cause for celebration during a potentially historic weekend for the studio.
Other Box Office Highlights
In other box office news, GOAT, the Stephen Curry-produced animated film, dropped to second place with $12 million in its third weekend, bringing its domestic total to $74 million. The film has now crossed the $100 million mark globally, earning $102.3 million against an $80 million budget.
Wuthering Heights, Emerald Fennell's adaptation of the Emily Bronte novel starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, fell to third place with $7 million, accumulating $72.3 million domestically and $151.7 million worldwide on an $80 million budget.
New releases made a modest impact, with the concert film Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined debuting at $3.7 million in 836 theaters. Another concert film, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, expanded to 1,615 theaters and earned $3.5 million, pushing its two-week total to $7.8 million.
Top 10 Domestic Box Office Rankings
Here are the estimated ticket sales for the weekend in U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:
- Scream 7 - $64.1 million
- GOAT - $12 million
- Wuthering Heights - $7 million
- Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined - $3.7 million
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert - $3.5 million
- Crime 101 - $3.4 million
- I Can Only Imagine 2 - $3.1 million
- Send Help - $2.8 million
- How to Make a Killing - $1.6 million
- Zootopia 2 - $1.4 million
This weekend's results highlight the enduring appeal of the Scream franchise and its ability to draw audiences despite mixed reviews, setting a high bar for 2026's cinematic offerings.
