Scream 7 Sets Franchise Record With $64 Million Debut

The latest installment in the long-running slasher series had a scary-good start at the box office.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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"Scream 7" cemented a franchise record with $64.1 million in its domestic box office debut, greatly improving upon the opening of 2023's "Scream VI" which previously held the franchise record. The film collected another $33.1 million overseas, bringing its global tally to $97.2 million. Although this entry carries the biggest budget of the series at $45 million, it'll easily turn a profit in its theatrical run.

Why it matters

The box office win for "Scream 7" comes after a long drought for Paramount, marking the studio's first No. 1 release in 12 months. However, the film's success is tempered by ongoing concerns about the movie theater business not fully recovering from the pandemic and 2023 labor strikes, with domestic ticket sales still down roughly 20% from pre-COVID times.

The details

"Scream 7" had several setbacks in the lead-up to its big screen debut, including the firing of 2022's "Scream" reboot star Melissa Barrera over social media posts and the departure of co-star Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon. A vocal backlash, including protests at the Los Angeles premiere, didn't stop fans from showing up to theaters. The film benefited from nostalgia, with the return of veteran "Scream" star Neve Campbell, as well as the enduring popularity of horror.

  • "Scream 7" marks Paramount's first No. 1 release in 12 months, since last March's action comedy "Novocaine."

The players

Paramount

The studio behind the "Scream" franchise and the distributor of "Scream 7."

Spyglass Media

The production company behind the "Scream" franchise and co-distributor of "Scream 7."

Neve Campbell

The veteran "Scream" star who returned for the seventh installment after securing a nearly $7 million deal.

Kevin Williamson

The director of "Scream 7," which follows a new Ghostface killer who targets Sidney Prescott's daughter.

David A. Gross

The movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, who says "Smashing records is always good."

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What they’re saying

“This is sensational business. Smashing records is always good.”

— David A. Gross, Movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research (Variety)

What’s next

The film may face steep second weekend declines, as horror movies are known to do, due to its mixed reviews from critics and audiences.

The takeaway

The record-breaking debut of "Scream 7" is a bright spot for the movie theater industry, which is still recovering from the pandemic and labor strikes, but the film's long-term success remains uncertain given the genre's typical second-weekend drops and the mixed reception.