UPDATE: Looks like it’ll be a $28M+ Friday (including previews) for “Scream 7,” exceeding expectations. A $65M weekend is now being eyed for the sequel, which would surpass the previous franchise-best opening by more than $20M.
EARLIER: Melissa Barrera fans — for which I didn’t even know she had any — are dropping spoilers and revealing the “Scream 7” killer across social media in an attempt to sabotage the film for the firing of Barrera in 2023.
This to say, this sabotage campaign doesn’t seem to be working. “Scream 7,” the latest entry in Paramount and Spyglass’ horror series — a semi-reboot with Neve Campbell back in the fray, and Melissa Barrera out — is off to a very good start at the box office.
The R-rated slasher grossed a franchise record $7.8M in Thursday previews at the box office, beating the $5.7M made by “Scream 6.” That’s an astonishing number for a franchise that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Can “Scream 7” hit $60M this weekend? — that’s what some are starting to believe — at the very least it’ll hit $50M, which will handily beat the franchise best held by 2023’s “Scream 6,” which made $44M.
Hell, it doesn’t even matter that “Scream 7” is the worst-reviewed movie of the franchise — 37% on Rotten Tomatoes. There’s just something about Ghostface, Neve Campbell’s Sidney, and horror nostalgia that has the American public once again hooked on “Scream.”
“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.