This image released by Paramount Pictures shows Ghostface in a scene from “Scream 7.” (Paramount Pictures via AP)
The “scream” still leads to murder. Thirty years after the original slasher film hit theaters, Scream 7 debuted to a career-best $64.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The larger-than-expected opening is a win for Paramount, which on Friday announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. In a 2026 that has been slow so far at the box office, “Scream 7” had the best debut of the year, easily unseating last weekend’s champion, Stephen Curry’s animated film “GOAT,” from Sony Pictures.
‘Scream 7’ gets best debut of 2026
“Scream 7,” which cost $45 million to produce, got a boost from the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. The actor missed 2023’s “Scream VI” movie, but was pulled back for the seventh movie after a reported $7 million payday.
Original cast members Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Matthew Lillard also star. “Scream VI” set a new record (not taking inflation into account) for the franchise with a $44.4 million launch. This film starred Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, along with the series regular cast. But in 2023, Barrera was dropped from the seventh film by the film’s production company, Spyglass Media Group, after making comments about the war between Israel and Hamas that some considered anti-Semitic.
Ortega subsequently withdrew from the film.
Kevin Williamson, who wrote the 1996 original and several subsequent chapters, took over live action on the film, retooling the film around Campbell and his comrades. In the film, Sydney and her 17-year-old daughter are haunted by Ghostface in the suburban community of Pine Grove. Ratings were poor (34% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience scores (“B-” CinemaScore) weren’t great either. But the overperformance of “Scream 7,” which added $33.1 million overseas, gave Paramount more to celebrate in a potentially historic weekend for the studio. “Scream 7” made great use of IMAX and premium format screens, something no previous “Scream” film had done when it opened. Sean Barber, Paramount’s president of domestic distribution, noted that 40% of the film’s business over the weekend was on premium format screens.
“The GOAT” reaches $100 million
After taking first place in its second weekend, “GOAT” fell to second place with $12 million in its third weekend. To date, it has accumulated US$74 million domestically. The film grossed $100 million and grossed $102.3 million against a cume of $80 million.
“Wuthering Heights” drops to third place
“Wuthering Heights,” an adaptation of Emily Brontë by director Emerald Fennell, dropped to third place with $7 million in its third weekend. Starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as doomed lovers Cathy and Heathcliff from Emily Brontë’s classic novel, the film fell to third place with US$7 million.
Its three-week revenue is $72.3 million. According to Variety, the film grossed US$151.7 million worldwide against a production budget of US$80 million.The only new release to make an impact in theaters was the concert film “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined.” It was distributed by Trafalgar Editions, and opened to US$3.7 million in 836 theaters. Another concert film also continues to do well: “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.”
Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’ annex added 1,615 theaters after its strong debut last week. The Neon edition collected US$3.5 million, bringing its two-week total to US$7.8 million.
Top 10 films at the domestic box office
With final domestic numbers released Monday, this list takes into account estimated Friday-Sunday ticket sales at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:1. Scream 7 – $64.1 million. 2. Goats – 12 million US dollars. 3. Wuthering Heights – $7 million. 4. Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Imagined – US$3.7 million. 5. EPiC: Elvis Presley Concert – $3.5 million. 6. Crime 101 – $3.4 million. 7. I can only imagine 2 – 3.1 million US dollars. 8. Send Help – US$2.8 million. 9. How to Kill – $1.6 million. 10. Zootopia 2 – $1.4 million.
