LOS ANGELES: Ghostface is back with a vengeance—and so are the fans. Paramount and Spyglass Media’s Scream 7 has slashed its way to a franchise-record $7.8 million in Thursday previews, proving that even a low critic score can’t kill a beloved horror series.
The massive preview haul easily surpasses the previous record-holder, 2023’s Scream VI, which earned $5.7 million in its previews. This stellar start gives Paramount additional reasons to celebrate, coming less than 24 hours after the company cleared a major path to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery.
A Record Debut Despite Critical Knocks
The film’s performance is particularly notable given its critical reception. On Rotten Tomatoes, Scream 7 holds a franchise-low critics’ score of just 37%. However, the audience score tells a different story, currently sitting at a healthier 76% as of Friday morning.
The strong preview numbers reinforce a long-held Hollywood belief: some genres are, to a large degree, review-proof. For slasher fans, the return of legacy characters and the thrill of a new Ghostface mystery are proving far more enticing than critical consensus.
What the Projections Look Like
Scream 7 officially opens everywhere today, Friday, February 27, in 3,540 theaters across North America. Paramount is forecasting a $40 million opening weekend, which would be the best three-day launch of the year so far.
However, some tracking is more bullish. The National Research Group projects a $45 million debut. If that holds, it would surpass Scream VI’s $44.4 million opening (from March 2023) to become the highest-grossing opening of the entire franchise, not adjusted for inflation.
Globally, the film is targeting a $60 million launch, rolling out in 52 international markets, including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
The Return of Sidney Prescott
A major draw for the film is the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. Campbell sat out Scream VI due to a salary dispute but returns for this seventh installment. She is joined by fellow legacy cast members Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) and David Arquette (Dewey Riley), completing the original trio.
The film also brings back several familiar faces from the franchise’s history in surprising ways:
- Matthew Lillard returns as Stu Macher, one of the original Ghostface killers from the 1996 film.
- Scott Foley is back as Roman Bridger, the Ghostface from Scream 3 and Sidney’s half-brother.
- Siblings Chad and Mindy, played by Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, also reprise their roles.
New to the cast is Isabel May, who plays Sidney’s daughter, Tatum—a name that pays homage to Rose McGowan’s character from the original film, who met a gruesome end.
Behind the Camera and the Budget
Kevin Williamson, who wrote the scripts for the original Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4, takes on directorial duties for this installment.
Spyglass fully produced the film, with Paramount co-financing half of the net $45 million budget. The film also has a secret weapon: it is the first in the franchise to be released in Imax and other premium large formats, giving fans a new way to experience the terror.
Cast Changes and Controversy
The path to Scream 7 was not without drama. Two stars of the recent revival films, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, are not returning. Barrera was fired from the project due to her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war. Ortega had voluntarily exited before the firing became public. Director Christopher Landon also departed amid intense fan backlash following Barrera’s dismissal.
Despite the behind-the-scenes turbulence, the film’s box office start suggests that audiences are ready to welcome Ghostface—and Sidney Prescott—back to the big screen.
