Scream 7 is heading toward a franchise-record domestic opening in the $59 million range after a powerful $28 million Friday haul that includes $7.8 million in previews — the biggest preview number in the series’ history. The seventh installment now looks poised to surpass the $44.4 million opening of Scream VI, which currently holds the franchise’s debut record.
The preview figure alone signals strong fan urgency. At $7.8 million, Scream 7 outpaced the $5.7 million preview gross of Scream VI, reinforcing the idea that the return of franchise cornerstone Neve Campbell has reignited core audience enthusiasm. Campbell reprises her role as Sidney Prescott after sitting out the previous installment, a move that became central to the marketing narrative.
Adding further weight to the nostalgia factor, franchise creator Kevin Williamson stepped into the director’s chair for the first time. The creative recalibration follows a turbulent development cycle that included cast shake-ups and a delayed production schedule. The final production budget reportedly climbed to $45 million, up from $35 million for its predecessor, increasing the financial stakes for the studio.
Still, horror remains one of the most dependable theatrical genres, particularly when tied to recognizable intellectual property. Even accounting for the genre’s historically front-loaded pattern — where opening weekend represents a large share of total domestic earnings — Scream 7’s launch trajectory positions it comfortably toward profitability when factoring in global box office and ancillary markets.
Social metrics also pointed to elevated awareness heading into the weekend. Pre-release online engagement ran above typical horror franchise norms, with conversation largely centered on Sidney Prescott’s return and the film’s “back-to-basics” tone. While overall social reach trailed the peak levels seen during Scream VI, sentiment leaned positive and heavily nostalgia-driven.
The broader marketplace is feeling the impact. Holdovers are absorbing the shock of Ghostface’s return. Sony’s GOAT is projected to slide roughly 50% in its second weekend, while Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights is pacing down 57%. Newer entries such as I Can Only Imagine 2 and Amazon MGM’s Crime 101 are maintaining moderate holds but are largely overshadowed by the horror sequel’s dominance.
The frame itself is shaping up to run well ahead of the same weekend last year, underscoring the drawing power of established genre brands during a corridor that typically serves as a bridge between awards season holdovers and spring break tentpoles.
For Paramount and Spyglass, the opening marks another validation of the franchise revival strategy launched in 2022. That reboot successfully reintroduced the brand to a younger audience while leaning on legacy characters to maintain continuity. With Scream 7 now threatening to set a new opening benchmark, the studio’s blend of nostalgia and reinvention appears to be paying dividends once again.
The key question moving forward will be durability. Horror titles often see sharp second-weekend declines, but even a standard drop would leave Scream 7 on solid financial footing given its production scale. If audience reception proves strong beyond opening weekend, the seventh chapter could extend its run well into March.
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