Paramount Pictures' highly anticipated slasher sequel, Scream 7, premiered on February 25, 2026, at the Paramount Pictures studio lot in Los Angeles, ahead of its theatrical release on February 27, 2026. However, the film's debut has been met with significant controversy and mixed critical reception. Outside the premiere, pro-Palestine protestors gathered, urging a boycott of the movie in response to actress Melissa Barrera's firing in November 2023.

Barrera, who starred as Sam Carpenter in the previous two installments, was dismissed by production company Spyglass Media Group due to social media posts regarding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Spyglass stated they have "zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form," including "false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech." The firing led to a significant creative overhaul for Scream 7, including the departure of then-director Christopher Landon, who revealed the original script was entirely built around Barrera's character. Franchise co-creator Kevin Williamson stepped in to direct and co-write the film alongside Guy Busick, bringing back original star Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, reportedly for a nearly $7 million deal, and Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, who secured $2 million.

Addressing the protests, director Kevin Williamson told The Hollywood Reporter, "Look, we live in America. Everyone has a right to protest and everyone should be heard... That is your right in this country, and I stand by it. I support that 100 percent." Early critical reviews for Scream 7 have been largely mixed to negative, with some outlets calling it an "uninspired return to basics" and even the "worst reviewed film in the franchise," noting a "lack of a strong point of view" and one of the "weakest killer reveal[s]." However, some critics acknowledged strong performances from Campbell and Cox, finding it "generally fun and generally entertaining." Despite critical hurdles, early audience scores on Allocine show a 3.6/5 rating from over 100 reviews, equivalent to a B/B+ Cinemascore, often considered a decent showing for horror films.