"Scream 7," the latest installment in Paramount and Spyglass Media's long-running slasher series, has made a sensational debut at the box office, generating a record-breaking $97.2 million in worldwide ticket sales during its first weekend. This impressive figure includes $64.1 million domestically and $33.1 million overseas, setting new global, international, and North American records for the franchise that began in 1996.

The film's success is attributed to several key factors, most notably the highly anticipated return of Neve Campbell as the resilient heroine Sidney Prescott. Campbell's comeback, after her absence from "Scream VI" due to a salary dispute, generated significant nostalgia among fans. Other legacy cast members, including Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard, also contributed to the record turnout. Kevin Williamson, who penned the original "Scream," directed this seventh entry, which sees a new Ghostface killer targeting Sidney Prescott's daughter, adding a layer of generational trauma to the beloved storyline.

Marketing played a crucial role in amplifying the film's reach. Paramount's global marketing and distribution president, Josh Goldstine, emphasized focusing on nostalgia for the franchise's 30th anniversary and Campbell's return, promoting a sense of "destiny." The campaign included a prime Super Bowl spot and Ghostface appearances at events like UFC 324, aimed at exciting both long-time fans and younger horror enthusiasts. Additionally, premium screens, such as Imax and ScreenX, accounted for a substantial 40% of total grosses. "Scream 7" is notably the first film in the franchise to be offered in Imax, further enhancing its theatrical appeal.

Despite its box office triumph, "Scream 7" navigated a series of significant challenges prior to its release. These included the controversial firing of previous stars Melissa Barrera (over social media posts deemed antisemitic by Spyglass) and the subsequent departure of Jenna Ortega, as well as director Christopher Landon. A vocal backlash and protests at the Los Angeles premiere did not deter fans, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the horror genre and the "Scream" property. While critics were generally "down" on the film and moviegoers had a "mixed" reception (evidenced by a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes and a "B-" CinemaScore), the film's strong opening weekend indicates that the communal experience of scary movies on the big screen remains a powerful draw.

For Paramount, "Scream 7" marks its first No. 1 release in 12 months, breaking a drought since last March's "Novocaine." This win comes amidst significant industry news, as Paramount recently outbid Netflix for control of Warner Bros. Discovery. While Paramount CEO David Ellison has promised an increase to over 30 films annually post-merger, industry executives and theater owners express skepticism, fearing fewer new films on the big screen during an already challenging period for the box office, still recovering from the pandemic and 2023 labor strikes.

Elsewhere at the global box office, other films continued their runs. Emerald Fennell's literary adaptation "Wuthering Heights" is nearing the $200 million mark, having grossed $119.7 million overseas and $72.3 million in North America after three weekends. The $80 million-budgeted film extends Warner Bros.' recent streak of hits. Sony's animated adventure "GOAT" legged out to $130.5 million worldwide, including $73.9 million domestically. With its strong holdovers, "GOAT" appears to have the potential for a lengthy theatrical run, reminiscent of other successful original animated films. Neon's concert film "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert," crafted by Baz Luhrmann from never-before-seen footage, also performed solidly, moving to the No. 6 spot with $3.5 million over the weekend and a cumulative $7.8 million.