Scream 7 expected to open with $40-45 million, potentially franchise's best debut
Neve Campbell returns to franchise after missing Scream VI
Film marks first hit for Paramount under new leadership
Several cast members from recent films not returning
📖 Full Retelling
Paramount and Spyglass's horror sequel Scream 7, starring Neve Campbell and directed by Kevin Williamson, is set to debut in theaters this weekend with an opening of at least $40 million, which could make it the franchise's highest-grossing opening to date. The slasher film is tracking even higher with some projections reaching $45 million, potentially surpassing the $44.4 million domestic launch of Scream VI in March 2023. Globally, the movie is targeting a $60 million launch weekend, marking a significant moment for the franchise that began in 1996. The film represents a crucial test for David Ellison's new regime at Paramount, as it could be the studio's first major hit since his arrival last August. Scream 7 is also notable as the first installment in the series to screen in IMAX format, with premium formats playing across all participating theaters. Neve Campbell's return to the iconic role of Sidney Prescott is particularly significant, as she sat out the previous installment due to a salary dispute, ending her streak of appearing in every film up to that point. The plot follows Sidney as she returns to her hometown with her daughter Tatum (named after Rose McGowan's character from the original 1996 film), who soon encounters a new Ghostface killer. Campbell's return completes the legacy trio alongside Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers and David Arquette as Dewey Riley, with several original franchise members also returning including Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher and Scott Foley as Roman Bridger. However, the film also marks changes to the cast, with Melissa Barrera not returning after being fired due to social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war, and Jenna Ortega having left the film voluntarily before the firing was made public. The production budget was $45 million, with Spyglass fully producing and Paramount co-financing half of that amount.
Neve Adrianne Campbell (; born October 3, 1973) is a Canadian actress. Having amassed several credits and accolades over three decades, Campbell emerged as a scream queen in the late 1990s for starring in horror films. She has also appeared in Canadian and American television, blockbusters and indep...
A box office or ticket office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a wicket. By extension, the term is frequently used, especially in the context of the film industry,...
Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Logo text Theater owners have good reason to scream for joy as the Scream 7 prepares to open in theaters this weekend. From Spyglass and Paramount, the slasher pic is expected to open to at least $40 million, which would mark the best three-day launch of the year to date. Tracking is more bullish, with the National Research Group projecting $45 million. If the leading firm is right, that would also mark the top opening of the franchise ahead of Scream VI , which launched to $44.4 million in March 2023, not adjusted for inflation. It is targeting a $60 million global launch. Related Stories Movies China Box Office: Lunar New Year Sales Fall 38 Percent From 2025 as 'Pegasus 3' Leads Soft Holiday Business Imax Posts $28 Million Chinese New Year Box Office, Down From Last Year's High The pic sees Neve Campbell return to the iconic series in the role of Sidney after sitting out Scream VI because of a salary dispute after appearing in every film up to that point. Kevin Williamson , who wrote the script for the original Scream , Scream 2 and Scream 4 , directs the seventh installment. The story follows Sidney as she returns to her hometown with her daughter (Isabel May), who soon cross paths with a new Ghostface killer. The girl is named Tatum, the same name of Rose McGowan’s character in the 1996’s Scream who was murdered. A trailer released in March focused on Ghostface targeting Sidney and Tatum, with Sidney teaching her daughter the rules of surviving the brutal killer. Another ad played during the Super Bowl , underscoring how important the franchise is to David Elllison and his new regime at Paramount. In addition to Campbell, original star Courteney Cox returns as reporter Gale Weathers. Spyglass fully produced the movie, with Paramount co-...