Scream 7 opens with franchise-best $64.1 million

Thirty-year-old slasher movie franchise continues to thrill audiences

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The latest installment in the Scream horror movie franchise, Scream 7, debuted with a franchise-best $64.1 million at the box office, according to studio estimates. The film's strong opening is a win for Paramount, which recently announced its intention to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery. Scream 7 brought back original cast members like Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, and benefited from premium format screenings, with 40% of its opening weekend business coming from IMAX and other premium screens.

Why it matters

The Scream franchise has proven its enduring popularity, with the seventh installment opening to the highest debut in the series. This success comes as the media landscape is undergoing major changes, with Paramount's planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The strong box office performance of Scream 7 signals Paramount's commitment to theatrical releases and its ability to revive legacy franchises.

The details

Scream 7, which cost $45 million to produce, brought back original cast members like Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette. The film also featured newcomers like Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, though Barrera was later dropped from the project after making comments on the Israel-Hamas war that were deemed antisemitic. Director Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original 1996 Scream, stepped in to retool the film around the returning legacy cast members.

  • Scream 7 opened in theaters on March 1, 2026.
  • The previous franchise high was set by Scream VI, which debuted with $44.4 million in 2023.

The players

Paramount Pictures

The American film and television production and distribution company that released Scream 7.

Neve Campbell

The actress who reprised her role as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7 after sitting out the previous installment.

Kevin Williamson

The writer of the original 1996 Scream film who stepped in to direct and retool Scream 7 after the departures of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is the first time that the new Paramount team has gotten their arms around a movie, not necessarily from the production side but from the marketing and distribution side. It's really an exciting time for the new Paramount.”

— Josh Goldstine, President of global marketing and distribution at Paramount (wklh.com)

“The film's success speaks to the strength of the brand and Ghostface's staying power as an iconic villain. When you put that on the biggest screens in the country, audiences are even more excited to watch it together.”

— Shaun Barber, Head of domestic distribution for Paramount (wklh.com)

What’s next

Paramount is awaiting regulatory approval for its planned merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, which would create a major new media conglomerate.

The takeaway

The strong box office performance of Scream 7 demonstrates the enduring appeal of the slasher franchise and Paramount's commitment to theatrical releases, even as the media landscape undergoes significant changes with the planned Paramount-Warner Bros. merger.