The Wayans brothers are back, and audiences turned out in a big way. Paramount and Miramax’s Scary Movie debuted with an impressive $55 million at the domestic box office, delivering the biggest opening weekend in the franchise’s 26-year history. The sixth installment also launched to $105.5 million worldwide, marking the strongest global debut ever for the long-running horror-comedy series.
The opening surpassed the previous franchise record held by 2006’s Scary Movie 4, which debuted with $49.7 million domestically. Produced on a reported $30 million budget, the film is already positioned to become one of the year’s most profitable studio releases.
Scary Movie Delivers a Franchise Record
The latest installment entered the weekend as the clear box office favorite and exceeded industry expectations with its $55 million debut from 3,490 locations. The opening not only set a new franchise benchmark but also delivered the largest global start in the series’ history with $105.5 million from 53 international markets.
Industry observers have pointed to a combination of nostalgia, horror’s continued popularity, and strong audience awareness as key drivers behind the film’s performance. The movie’s modest production budget further strengthens its financial outlook heading into the coming weeks.
A major selling point for the new installment was the return of the Wayans family to the franchise they created. Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, and Craig Wayans returned to the series for the first time since Scary Movie 2 in 2001. Marlon and Shawn also reprised their fan-favorite roles as Shorty and Ray.
The film additionally welcomed back franchise stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall, whose characters Cindy and Brenda had not appeared in the series since Scary Movie 4. The return of the original creative team appears to have resonated with audiences, helping the franchise reconnect with longtime fans while introducing a new generation to its brand of horror parody.
Beyond the franchise itself, Scary Movie‘s performance is being viewed as a significant victory for theatrical comedy. The $55 million opening ranks among the strongest launches for a traditional studio comedy in recent years and represents the biggest opening for a Paramount comedy, surpassing Jackass 3D‘s $50.3 million debut.
The result arrives at a time when theatrical comedies have become increasingly rare, with many studios shifting mid-budget comedy projects directly to streaming platforms. The success of Scary Movie suggests that audiences remain willing to turn out for comedies when supported by recognizable brands, strong marketing, and broad appeal.
Horror Continues Its Box Office Dominance
While Scary Movie led the weekend, it was far from the only horror title attracting audiences.
The marketplace continued to be dominated by genre fare, with A24’s Backrooms and Focus Features’ Obsession also delivering strong numbers. Together, the three films formed what some industry observers described as a horror-driven weekend at the box office.
The continued success of horror remains one of the most consistent trends in the theatrical business, with audiences repeatedly turning out for both original concepts and established franchises.
Backrooms Becomes A24’s Biggest Global Hit
A24’s breakout sensation Backrooms added another $25.9 million in its second weekend despite a 68% decline from its record-breaking debut. The Kane Parsons-directed horror phenomenon has now earned $135 million domestically and $212.6 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in A24’s history globally.
The film surpassed the previous worldwide record held by Marty Supreme and continues to establish itself as one of the biggest theatrical success stories of 2026.
Masters of the Universe Opens Below Expectations
Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe debuted in second place with $29.3 million domestically and $54 million worldwide. While the adaptation secured a respectable opening, the result was softer than many industry forecasts given its reported production budget of approximately $170 million to $200 million. The fantasy adventure will now look to international markets and strong word of mouth to build momentum in the weeks ahead.
Another notable newcomer was Fathom Entertainment’s The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act, which earned $12.4 million from 2,221 theaters during its opening weekend. Based on the hugely popular animated web series, the film benefited from strong awareness among younger audiences and continued the growing trend of internet-born properties successfully making the transition to theatrical exhibition.
Several Major Box Office Milestones Were Reached This Weekend
Beyond Scary Movie‘s record-setting debut, the weekend saw several notable milestones across the global marketplace. Focus Features’ Obsession continued its remarkable run, reaching $152.1 million domestically and $224.8 million worldwide. The thriller is expected to cross the $200 million mark internationally within days, which would make it the highest-grossing release in Focus Features history, surpassing Downton Abbey.
Elsewhere, The Devil Wears Prada 2 pushed its worldwide total to $648 million, nearly doubling the $326 million global haul of the original 2006 film. Universal’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is also set to become the first 2026 release to cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, while Lionsgate’s Michael has climbed to $888 million globally, overtaking Bohemian Rhapsody‘s $879 million lifetime total.
A24’s Backrooms also reached a major benchmark this weekend. With $135.1 million domestically and $212.7 million worldwide, the Kane Parsons-directed horror phenomenon has officially become the highest-grossing film in the studio’s history, further cementing its status as one of the biggest surprise success stories of the year.
Top 10 Weekend Box Office
Scary Movie led the domestic marketplace with $55 million, followed by Masters of the Universe with $29.3 million. Backrooms finished third with $25.9 million, narrowly ahead of Obsession, which earned $25.6 million in its fourth weekend.
The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act rounded out the top five with $12.4 million, while Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu added another $10 million. Further down the chart, Michael earned $7.7 million, The Breadwinner collected $3.4 million, Pressure brought in $3 million, and The Devil Wears Prada 2 completed the top ten with $2.8 million.
With Scary Movie delivering a franchise-record debut, Backrooms becoming A24’s highest-grossing film worldwide, and several holdovers continuing to generate strong business, the weekend provided another encouraging result for the theatrical marketplace.
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