THE MARQUEE
Ghostface is back and bigger than ever. Paramount’s Scream 7 officially set a new franchise record this weekend, hauling in a staggering $64.1 million at the domestic box office. Directed by original series creator Kevin Williamson, the slasher sequel easily carved past the previous high of $44.4 million held by 2023’s Scream VI. Fans flocked to 3,540 theaters to witness the return of Neve Campbell, who reprised her iconic role as Sidney Prescott after a high-profile absence from the previous installment.
The success didn't stop at the U.S. border. Internationally, the film earned $33.1 million across 52 markets, bringing its global debut to a bloody impressive $97.2 million. This performance is a major win for Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, especially considering the film’s reported $45 million production budget. Despite mixed reviews—the film currently holds a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes—audiences proved they aren't tired of the meta-horror formula, securing the biggest opening for a February horror release in history.
The road to theaters was rocky following the high-profile exits of former stars Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. However, the pivot to a legacy-focused story featuring Campbell alongside Courteney Cox and Isabel May clearly paid off. The weekend was also a historic one for the studio; Paramount recently announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, making this box office win a perfectly timed celebration for CEO David Ellison. Shaun Barber, Paramount’s Head of Domestic Theatrical Distribution, credited the "lasting strength" of the franchise for the record-breaking turnout.
