The good news continues for Paramount as Scream 7 blew past all expectations at the weekend box office, where the Spyglass Media pic easily opened to a franchise-best $64.1 million domestically and $33.1 million overseas for a global start of $97.2 million.

The success of the film is contributed of the return of Neve Campbell as the resilient heroine Sidney Prescott.

The comeback of Campbell, after her absence from "Scream VI" due to a salary dispute, generated significant nostalgia among fans.

Original cast members, including Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard, who 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 was a driving force behind the expanded reach of Scream 7, with Paramount Pictures leaning heavily into nostalgia and spectacle to power the campaign.

Paramount’s global marketing and distribution president, Josh Goldstine, centered the rollout around the franchise’s 30th anniversary and the highly anticipated return of Neve Campbell.

The messaging framed the film as a full-circle moment — a “destiny” narrative designed to reconnect long-time fans with the legacy of the series while drawing in a younger generation of horror viewers.

A prime-time Super Bowl spot gave the film massive visibility, positioning Ghostface back in the cultural spotlight. The campaign didn’t stop there.

Promotional stunts included Ghostface appearances at major live events such as UFC 324, blending horror branding with mainstream entertainment spaces to maximize buzz across demographics.

Premium format strategy also paid off. Imax and ScreenX screenings accounted for roughly 40% of the film’s total gross, signaling strong demand for immersive theatrical experiences.

Notably, Scream 7 marks the first entry in the franchise to receive an Imax release — a move that elevated its scale and reinforced its event-movie status.

By combining nostalgia, high-impact advertising, and premium screen dominance, the campaign turned a long-running horror property into a must-see theatrical spectacle.

Despite its strong box office debut, Scream 7 faced major problems before its release. Melissa Barrera was fired over social media posts that Spyglass called antisemitic.

After that, Jenna Ortega and director Christopher Landon also left the project.

There were protests at the Los Angeles premiere, but the controversy did not stop fans from showing up.

Critics were mostly negative, and audience reactions were mixed.

The film scored 34% on Rotten Tomatoes and received a “B-” CinemaScore. Even so, its strong opening weekend shows that people still enjoy watching horror movies together in theaters.

For Paramount, Scream 7 is especially important because it is the studio’s first No. 1 film in a year, ending a slow period since last March’s Novocaine.

This success comes at a time when Paramount recently outbid Netflix to gain control of Warner Bros. Discovery.

CEO David Ellison has promised to increase production to more than 30 films a year after the merger, but some industry experts and theater owners are unsure.

They worry there could still be fewer new movies in cinemas, especially as the box office continues recovering from the pandemic and the 2023 labor strikes.

At the global box office, other films are also performing well. Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights has earned close to $200 million worldwide after three weekends.

Sony’s animated film GOAT has reached $130.5 million globally and could enjoy a long run in theaters.

Meanwhile, Neon’s concert film EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, directed by Baz Luhrmann, earned $3.5 million over the weekend, bringing its total to $7.8 million.

Overall, despite mixed reviews and industry challenges, major films are still drawing audiences to theaters.