Ghostface is off to a killer start, with Scream 7 slashing its way to a box office record. The latest instalment in Paramount and Spyglass Media’s long-running thriller franchise earned US$$64.1 million in its domestic opening, marking a new high for the 30-year-old property.
The figures are a significant improvement over the debut of 2023’s Scream VI, starring Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, that grossed US$44.4 million in its opening weekend. With an additional US$33.1 million racked up overseas, the film now stands at US$97.2 million globally, and comes as a surprise considering its series-worst 33 per cent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes (audience scores are way higher at 78 per cent).
It also surpassed studio projections of US$40 million across North American theatres, which can be attributed to the franchise’s first-ever IMAX release and other premium formats, such as Screen X, accounting for 40 per cent of the earnings combined. The other big factor lies in the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, who has appeared in every instalment except Scream VI.
The path to its big screen debut wasn’t as smooth-sailing, however. Following the firing of Barrera over comments on the Israel-Hamas war, the troubles continued with the departure of Ortega from the project, and later on, original director Christopher Landon. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the script for the 1996 original, Scream 2, and Scream 4, stepped up to the plate, while returning stars David Arquette and Courteney Cox complete the legacy trio as Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers, respectively. Newcomers include Michelle Randolph, Joel McHale, Anna Camp, McKenna Grace, Ethan Embry, Mark Consuelos, Jimmy Tatro, Celeste O’Connor, Asa Germann and Sam Rechner.
“When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott has built a new life, her darkest fears are realised as her daughter becomes the next target,” reads the synopsis for Scream 7. “Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.”
Trailing behind the slash pic at the box office are holdovers Sony Animation’s GOAT and Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights, bringing in another US$12 million and US$6.9 million for a domestic tally of US$73.9 million each. The latter pulls ahead globally, however, racking up S$194 million versus GOAT‘s US$30.5 million.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
