Thirty years after the original Scream debuted, “Scream 7”delivered a franchise-best opening weekend, pulling in $64.1 million domestically, according to studio estimates Sunday.
The strong launch marks the biggest debut of 2026 so far and a major win for Paramount Pictures, which recently announced plans to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery under its parent company, Paramount Skydance.
Return of Neve Campbell Boosts Sequel
The seventh installment was buoyed by the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. Campbell sat out 2023’s Scream VI but reportedly returned for a $7 million payday.
Original cast members Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard also reprise their roles.
The film, directed by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the 1996 original, centers on Sidney and her teenage daughter being stalked by Ghostface in the fictional suburb of Pine Grove.
Despite poor critical reception (34% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm “B-” CinemaScore from audiences, the film outperformed expectations. It added $33.1 million overseas, bringing its global total to over $97 million in its first weekend. Produced on a $45 million budget, the film is already well on its way to profitability.
Premium Screens Drive Sales
According to Paramount executives, 40% of the film’s opening weekend revenue came from IMAX and other premium large-format screens — a first for the franchise.
Studio leaders credited a renewed emphasis on theatrical releases, including a commitment to a 45-day theatrical window, for the film’s strong debut.
Weekend Box Office Top 10
Here are the estimated top 10 films at the domestic box office:
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Scream 7 — $64.1 million
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GOAT — $12 million
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Wuthering Heights — $7 million
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Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined — $3.7 million
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EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert — $3.5 million
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Crime 101 — $3.4 million
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I Can Only Imagine 2 — $3.1 million
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Send Help — $2.8 million
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How to Make a Killing — $1.6 million
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Zootopia 2 — $1.4 million
The performance of “Scream 7” provides a much-needed jolt to what has otherwise been a sluggish start to 2026 at the box office — and signals that Ghostface still has plenty of life left in the franchise.