Scream 7 Box Office: Franchise-Record $60–$66 Million Opening Weekend — Ghostface Is Review-Proof

The scary movie that critics tried to bury is laughing all the way to the bank. Scream 7 is on track for a franchise-record opening weekend of $60 to $66 million — despite the worst reviews in the franchise's 30-year history. Here is the full box office picture as of Saturday morning ET.

Scream 7 Box Office Numbers: $28.8 Million Friday, $60–$66 Million Weekend Projected

After earning $28.8 million on opening day — including $7.8 million from Thursday previews — the slasher film is headed for a $60 million-plus opening weekend from 3,540 locations. Industry estimates have the film earning as much as $66.5 million this weekend, blowing past the previous franchise record of $44.5 million earned by Scream VI in 2023.

That's an astonishing number for a franchise that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Scream is review-proof. Boycott-proof. It just goes to further prove that the online world is just not the real world. Social media outrage, spoiler campaigns, and hashtag activism rarely translate into real-world behavior at the box office. General audiences show up for what they recognize, what feels familiar, and what promises a fun night at the movies.

Why Scream 7 Is Outperforming Despite Terrible Reviews

What's clear is the absence of Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera hasn't hurt ticket sales. Scream on its old guard of Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox prevails. In Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak exits, 56% came to the movie because it's part of a franchise they love, while 30% came specifically for the cast.

Despite the controversies surrounding it and a contingent of fans boycotting the movie over Barrera's firing, Scream 7 is looking to deliver more than $60 million in its domestic debut. This marks a massive jump from the previous franchise-best debut of $44 million held by Scream VI. The new movie brings back Mason Gooding and Jasmine Savoy Brown from the previous two installments, while introducing two new stars from the Taylor Sheridan stable — Isabel May from 1883 and Michelle Randolph from 1923 and Landman.

Audience Score vs. Critics: A Massive Gap

The divide between critics and audiences is the defining story of Scream 7's commercial performance. Definite recommend on PostTrak stands at 61% — very good for any movie, but lower than the 74% of Scream VI which starred Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera. Kevin Williamson brought in a very sad 34% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences apparently liking it more than they say — the audience meter sits at 78.

The gap between a 34–42% critics score and a 78% audience score is one of the widest critic-versus-audience splits in recent horror history. It mirrors the pattern seen with Scream 3 in 2000, which also divided critics but kept audiences coming back for the Ghostface formula they already loved.

Scary Movie Franchise: Scream 8 Confirmed as Greenlight Inevitable

There will be a Scream 8, and probably 9 or 10, based on this weekend's performance. This strong opening weekend is a great start for Paramount, which sports a franchise-heavy 2026 slate with sequels for series like Jackass, Angry Birds, Scary Movie, and Paw Patrol. The confirmation that Paramount's 2026 slate includes a new Scary Movie entry — the parody franchise that launched alongside the original Scream in 2000 — adds a delicious meta layer to the box office story.

The win is being seen as a big one for David Ellison's Paramount, right as his company's merger with Warner Bros. Discovery has been confirmed. Ellison now controls CBS, CNN, HBO, Paramount+, and the Scream franchise simultaneously — and Ghostface just handed him one of his best opening weekends of the year on day one.

Full Weekend Box Office Top 5 — February 28, 2026