Scary Movie Buzz: Scream 7’s Franchise-Record $7.8M Previews, Casting Fallout and Mixed First Reviews
The new installment in the franchise opened with $7. 8 million in previews, a franchise record, signaling heavy early interest in the scary movie but leaving questions about frontloading and long-term box office strength.
Record Previews and box office context
Scream 7 posted $7. 8 million in preview receipts on the night of its early playdates, surpassing earlier exclusive tallies of $7. 5 million from the prior night. The bigger-picture question for the scary movie now is how frontloaded that demand will be across opening weekend.
For context within the franchise: the 2022 Spyglass/Paramount revival recorded $13. 3 million in previews/first Friday, which made up 44% of that film’s three-day total of $30 million (and $33. 8 million across the longer four-day MLK weekend). Scream VI posted $19. 2 million in combined previews/first Friday, representing 43% of its $44. 4 million three-day opening; that title also set earlier franchise preview benchmarks with $5. 7 million before expanding to a $44. 4 million domestic weekend and a $66. 4 million global debut.
Scary Movie Fans and social reach
RelishMix’s prerelease social media universe stats put Scream 7 at 264. 5 million across TikTok, Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram combined, roughly 11% above horror-franchise norms but 27% below Scream VI’s 360. 5 million social reach. Cast social numbers show Neve Campbell contributing 672, 000 fans on her platforms while Courteney Cox sits on a much larger pre-activation audience of 20. 7 million. Conversation metrics skew mixed-positive, with stronger word of mouth tied to Campbell’s substantive return rather than a cameo.
Why Scary Movie Fans Are Talking About Scream 7
Two commercial variables widely cited as key attractors for the scary movie are Neve Campbell’s return as Sidney Prescott and Kevin Williamson’s role as co-writer and director — Williamson’s first time directing on the 30-year franchise. That creative move, plus a deliberate nostalgia push, is central to both the film’s preview strength and the split critical reaction.
Casting turbulence and narrative pivots
The lead-up to release included notable upheaval: Melissa Barrera was fired after initially being set to star as Sam Carpenter, and Jenna Ortega subsequently exited the production. Reviewers and observers note the behind-the-scenes shakeups forced a pivot that emphasized legacy characters and nostalgia in an effort to keep longtime fans engaged.
Inside the film: Sidney’s arc, production notes and formats
In Scream 7, Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott returns — now using the married last name Evans — living in Piney Grove with her husband Mark and their daughters. The daughter Tatum is the oldest, described as timid and frustrated; two younger daughters are noted as being left at Grandma’s house during parts of the plot. Tatum has a brooding boyfriend and a close group of friends, several of whom are presented as suspect. A new Ghostface killer targets Tatum and her friends, compelling Sidney to resume her survivor persona. Isabel May is named in the context as the actress playing Sidney’s daughter.
The film is produced this time by Radio Silence principals Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett after they helmed the prior two franchise installments. Scream 7 will not play in 3D like the 2023 title; it will debut in IMAX and ScreenX auditoriums for the first time in franchise history, and it is also booked in D-Box and other premium large-format auditoriums. All preview revenue referenced came from that night’s slate, beginning with a 6 p. m. fan preview on premium screens with extra content and tchotchkes, followed by broader previews at 6: 30 p. m.
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Critical reception: polarized early reviews
Early reviews are mixed. One aggregated critic metric shows Scream 7 at 38% with critics and a 79% audience score, a notably harsher critics’ reception than the two prior entries: Scream VI was at 77% with critics and 90% with audiences, while the 2022 Scream registered 76% with critics and 82% with audiences.
Among named critics, reactions range from calling the film a return to form and praising Campbell’s fierce lead work, to dismissing the sequel as stale or disappointing. Some reviewers single out the film’s intergenerational dynamic and Campbell’s performance as strengths; others highlight a weak killer reveal, clumsy technical choices, or an overreliance on nostalgia. Christopher Campbell compiled a first-reviews roundup dated February 26, 2026 that captures these divergent takes.
What this means and what to watch next
The preview haul and social metrics point to robust early interest in this scary movie, driven largely by legacy casting and a nostalgia-heavy marketing push. The polarized critical response raises the prospect of a strong opening weekend followed by rapid decay if word of mouth softens. Upcoming indicators to watch are the full opening-day and three-day totals, audience retention across weekend legs, and whether preview enthusiasm translates into sustained, broad-based ticket sales.
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