Scary Movie: 'Scream 7' Scores Franchise-High $7.8 Million in Previews as Neve Campbell Returns
Scream 7 opened its preview run with $7. 8 million from Thursday screenings, putting the film on pace for the biggest opening weekend in the franchise’s 30-year history. The return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott and a series of production and cast changes have made the release one of the most closely watched horror rollouts in recent memory.
Scary Movie: Scream 7 Previews Hit $7. 8 Million
The $7. 8 million in Thursday previews outstrips the $5. 7 million generated by Scream VI’s previews in 2023, a film that went on to open to $44. 5 million. Box office trackers project Scream 7 will surpass that figure and may top $50 million for the weekend. The production budget for Scream 7 is $45 million, up from the $35 million budget for Scream VI, a financial shift that raises the stakes for the film’s opening performance.
Neve Campbell and the Sidney Prescott Storyline
Neve Campbell, who did not appear in Scream VI after a pay dispute, is back in the role she originated in 1996. Her character, Sidney Prescott, returns as a survivor of the Ghostface killings; the latest plot thread places a new Ghostface killer targeting Sidney’s daughter, Tatum, continuing the franchise’s generational throughline 30 years after the original film.
Kevin Williamson’s Return and a Fallen Version by Christopher Landon
Kevin Williamson, the writer of three of the first four Scream films, co-wrote and directed Scream 7, marking his series directorial debut. That follow-through came after an earlier plan for Scream 7, which would have been directed by Christopher Landon and starred the revival leads Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, collapsed.
Cast Departures: Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega
This installment is the first since the exit of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who had starred in the last two Scream films. Melissa Barrera was fired by Spyglass from the series because of her posts in support of Palestinians killed in Israeli military attacks conducted in response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. The collapse of the previous version of the film and those departures reshaped the production’s casting and public narrative.
Critical Response and Early Audience Reaction (Feb. 26, 2026)
Early reviews, posted on February 26, 2026, are mixed. Critics have given Scream 7 a 37% score on Rotten Tomatoes versus 77% for Scream VI, while early audience reception sits at 77%, compared with 90% for the previous film. Some critics praised Neve Campbell’s performance and new kills, calling the film a comeback or a return to form, while others deemed it stale or disappointing.
Review voices include Kristy Puchko of Mashable, who called it a return to form; Peter Gray of The AU Review, who highlighted its intergenerational dynamic and called it sturdier than expected; Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood Daily, who said fans will approve; and Anthony O’Connor of FILMINK, who called it a solid entry. Other commentators offered more critical takes: William Bibbiani said it isn’t the best in the franchise but noted how central Sidney Prescott is, Owen Gleiberman described it as basic, Manuel São Bento labeled it a disappointing sequel, Gregory Nussen called it a waste of time for franchise fans, and Taylor Williams criticized its lack of horror fundamentals.
What makes this notable is that, despite the turbulent production history and mixed critical reception, presales remain strong across demographics—evidence of the franchise’s resilience since its revival four years ago.
Box Office Context and Financial Stakes
The combination of a larger $45 million budget and the higher preview tally creates a clear cause-and-effect dynamic: stronger early ticket sales would be needed to meet higher production costs, and the previews suggest the film’s opening could cover that gap if weekend projections hold. Beating Scream VI’s $44. 5 million opening is now a measurable benchmark for success.
Other Entertainment and Cultural Notes
Several unrelated entertainment and cultural items appeared alongside coverage of Scream 7: George Pickens posted the best season of his career after joining the Cowboys; promotional guides note that Ghostface and Elvis Presley are among films hitting theaters and streamers; there are major markdowns on brands including Beats, Ninja, Dewalt and Craftsman; a brief guide promises everything to know about the 2026 Actor Awards; a miniature jukebox accepts 45 individual song cartridges; two-legged matches are scheduled for March 10-11 and March 17-18; Fred Zinkie published a 2026 fantasy baseball mock draft 2. 0 selecting players in the first three rounds; Brenda Song discussed the highs and lows of child stardom, motherhood and feeling fearless; and markets are focused on Nvidia’s fourth quarter results due after the closing bell on Wednesday as AI concerns persist.
As Scream 7 reaches theaters this weekend, its combination of box office momentum, a legacy lead returning to the franchise and a sharply divided critical response will determine whether the film translates early interest into a long-term commercial success.
