Scream 7 Thursday Box Office Sets New Franchise Record

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Okay, so the latest Scream movie is here, and honestly? As a critic, I’m not thrilled. This one’s had a really bumpy ride behind the scenes – losing key stars like Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega definitely hurt. And the reviews? They’re the worst the series has ever seen – currently sitting at just 35% on Rotten Tomatoes. But here’s the weird part: despite all that negativity, it’s doing really well at the box office. In fact, it looks like it’s going to break the opening weekend record for the entire Scream franchise, which is… surprising, to say the least.

According to The Wrap, Scream 7 made $7.8 million in the U.S. from showings on Thursday, February 26th. This is the best preview night performance ever for a Scream movie, surpassing the $5.7 million earned by Scream VI in 2023.

Will Scream 7 Set More Franchise Box Office Records?

Before the weekend, experts predicted Scream 7 would open with $45 to $50 million domestically, making it the biggest debut in the Scream series and the highest-grossing film of the year so far. However, these estimates were made before critics released their reviews, so it’s still unclear how those reviews will affect ticket sales. The film was expected to do well with early screenings, as those are usually attended by devoted fans eager to see it first. Given the popularity of the Scream franchise, a strong opening was likely no matter what the critics said.

It will be interesting to see how well Scream 7 performs throughout the weekend. While it’s likely to have a strong opening day, its success on Saturday and Sunday will depend on audience reactions. If reviews are generally negative and word of mouth spreads quickly, it could limit the film’s appeal beyond its core horror fans. Box office hits often attract viewers outside their typical audience, giving them an extra boost. Those who are unsure about seeing Scream 7 in theaters might wait to stream it based on the initial reviews.

A good sign for Scream 7 is that it’s entering a relatively empty movie market. Last weekend’s top film, the animated movie GOAT, only earned $16.9 million. With Wuthering Heights quickly losing viewers after its initial success and Sam Raimi’s Send Help having already peaked, there aren’t many other popular movies currently playing – leaving an opening for horror fans. Scream 7 is launching at an ideal moment, likely having the box office mostly to itself this weekend. The well-known Scream franchise could also attract general audiences simply because it’s the most prominent movie available.

While the new Scream 7 is expected to have a strong opening weekend, it might not become one of the most profitable films in the series overall. To compete with the original Scream ($173 million worldwide) or Scream VI ($169 million), it needs to maintain its audience over several weeks. However, early reviews suggest that won’t happen, and it’s likely to see a significant drop in ticket sales after its initial release, especially with new movies like Hoppers and The Bride! coming out soon. The good news is that Scream 7 reportedly cost $45 million to make, so it doesn’t need to be a massive hit to be profitable.

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2026-02-27 22:19