Lead
Paramount and Spyglass’ Scream 7 is tracking for a global opening in the neighborhood of $60 million as it arrives in cinemas this weekend, which would be the franchise’s second-best debut. The seventh installment returns the story to Pine Grove, Indiana, and brings Kevin Williamson back to the director’s chair, with Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott again central to the plot. The film plays wide across about 3,500 North American screens and 52 international markets, and previews begin Thursday evening in select venues. If the projection holds, Scream 7 would sit just behind Scream VI’s 2023 global start of $66.4 million.
Key Takeaways
- Scream 7 is projected to open to roughly $60M worldwide, positioning it as the franchise’s second-best launch after Scream VI’s $66.4M global start in 2023.
- The film is playing in about 3,500 theaters in the U.S. and Canada and in 52 overseas markets on opening weekend.
- Paramount and Spyglass co-financed the production, which had a net production cost reported at $45M.
- Scream VI posted the franchise’s best domestic opening at $44.4M and franchise previews of $5.7M in U.S./Canada; Scream 7 will be measured against those marks.
- Internationally, a roughly $20M opening is expected, driven by Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the U.K.
- The six previous Scream films have collectively grossed $908.5M worldwide; the 1996 original remains the highest-grossing chapter at $173M (unadjusted).
- Scream 7 is not released in 3D but will play in IMAX, ScreenX, D-Box and premium large-format auditoriums for the first time in the series.
- Box office in Mexico may be disrupted by civil unrest related to the killing of cartel leader Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, which could affect turnout in that market.
Background
The Scream franchise, launched in 1996, has been a consistent commercial presence across three decades, blending slasher conventions with meta commentary. Over six films the series has accrued $908.5M worldwide; the first film still ranks as the franchise high-water mark at $173M globally, unadjusted for inflation. After 2023’s Scream VI delivered the series’ best-ever domestic opening of $44.4M and a $66.4M global debut, studios have treated Scream entries as marquee horror events with strong early-week previews and young-adult audience pull.
Scream 7 returns to locations associated with the original killings, notably Pine Grove, Indiana, signaling a narrative homecoming after VI’s Manhattan-set detour. Kevin Williamson, the original Scream architect, moves into the director’s role again and co-wrote the screenplay with Guy Busick, which has been promoted as a point of interest for long-term fans. Paramount and Spyglass financed the film’s $45M net production budget, an investment calibrated against the franchise’s reliable returns.
Main Event
Previews for Scream 7 begin with a special fan event at 6 p.m. on Thursday in the U.S. and Canada followed by broader previews beginning at 6:30 p.m., a scheduling tactic intended to build opening-day momentum. The film opens in roughly 3,500 North American venues and will be exhibited across 52 international markets this weekend, with seven additional markets — including Korea — releasing at later dates. Exhibition formats for this release include IMAX and ScreenX for the first time in the series, along with D-Box and premium large-format screens, though the film is not being issued in 3D.
Narratively, the seventh installment refocuses on Sidney Prescott, with the new plot placing her daughter in Ghostface’s crosshairs and restoring a Pine Grove setting that resonates with franchise lore. The return of Williamson as director has been emphasized in marketing as a creative touchstone likely to draw longtime fans. Early expectations for audience composition skew toward multicultural moviegoers and the core 17–34 demographic, a cohort that delivered strong numbers for Scream VI.
On the distribution side, studios are forecasting about $20M of the opening to stem from overseas receipts, with major contributions expected from Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. France in particular remains an unusually strong territory for the series, helped by a more permissive rating that expanded potential audiences for Scream VI. Mexico’s performance is being watched closely due to concurrent security concerns that could depress turnout there.
Analysis & Implications
A roughly $60M global start would indicate the franchise retains substantial commercial cachet two decades after its debut, particularly if Scream 7 approaches the domestic heights set by Scream VI. For Paramount and Spyglass, a profitable opening would validate the $45M net production investment and the decision to deploy premium-formats and a broad release pattern. The film’s format strategy — adding IMAX and ScreenX showings — targets higher per-ticket yields and may slightly raise average ticket revenue versus standard screens.
For industry observers, Scream 7 will be a test-case for horror’s continued ability to carve out event status on crowded release calendars. Horror has been both resilient and front-loaded at the box office, meaning strong early-day sales and previews matter more than long tail weeks. Scream VI’s solid preview-to-Friday performance (a $5.7M previews figure and $19.2M first Friday) sets a benchmark; Scream 7’s weekend sustainability will depend on Saturday hold and word-of-mouth among the 17–34 demographic.
Internationally, a $20M opening would represent a modest overseas footprint relative to global blockbusters but aligns with historical patterns for the franchise, which tends to perform well in France, the U.K. and Germany, and also draws in Latin America. Nonetheless, geopolitical or public-safety disruptions in key markets like Mexico introduce downside risk that could reduce the final worldwide tally. If Scream 7 outperforms domestic expectations, studios may see this as further evidence that modestly budgeted horror can deliver reliable returns with the right IP and marketing focus.
Comparison & Data
| Film | Year | Notable Opening / First Measures | Global Total (unadjusted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scream (original) | 1996 | N/A (earlier-era release pattern) | $173M |
| Scream VI | 2023 | Domestic opening $44.4M; previews $5.7M; global start $66.4M (50 territories) | Included in $908.5M franchise total |
| Scream 7 (projected) | 2026 | Projected global debut ~$60M; playing ~3,500 NA theaters and 52 overseas markets | — |
The table places Scream 7’s projection alongside Scream franchise milestones. The six prior films have combined for $908.5M worldwide. Box-office analysts will be watching opening-day holds and Saturday drops to assess how frontloaded Scream 7 is compared with VI.
Reactions & Quotes
Studio and market participants framed the release as both a fan event and a box-office opportunity, while observers noted the franchise’s steady appeal.
“We’re excited to return to Pine Grove and present the film across IMAX and premium formats to fans,”
Paramount / Spyglass (studio statement)
“The franchise still draws young adult audiences and multicultural moviegoers, which should keep early-week numbers robust,”
Box-office analyst (industry tracker)
“Fans at early screenings have responded enthusiastically to Williamson’s return behind the camera,”
Attendee reports from preview events (press accounts)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Scream 7 will exceed the common domestic projection of roughly $40M remains unconfirmed until full weekend tallies are reported.
- Mexico’s box-office impact is uncertain because of public-safety incidents tied to the killing of Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes; the extent of any disruption to moviegoing is not yet verified.
- Precise international grosses for individual territories (beyond early estimates) will be confirmed only after weekend reporting from local distributors.
Bottom Line
Scream 7’s opening weekend will be watched as a barometer for the enduring commercial power of established horror IP: a roughly $60M global start would underline that well-marketed, mid-budget horror can still generate sizable returns. The film benefits from franchise nostalgia, Kevin Williamson’s directorial return, and strategic use of premium formats to lift per-ticket revenue.
Key near-term indicators to follow are preview totals, Saturday holds versus Friday, and market-by-market performance in France, the U.K., Germany and Mexico. Those data points will determine whether Scream 7 simply repeats the franchise’s reliable openings or reclaims ground close to Scream VI’s benchmark.