EXCLUSIVE: After becoming the lead bidder for Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount is capping off a great Thursday with $7.5M in previews for the Spyglass co-production, Scream 7, which would rep a franchise record.
Scream VI previously posted franchise records for previews ($5.7M), 3-day domestic opening ($44.4M) and global debut ($66.4M). Paramount didn’t return request for comment.
All of Scream 7‘s money is from tonight, starting with a 6PM fan preview on premium screens with extra content and tchotchkes followed by broader previews at 6:30PM. Scream 7 won’t be playing in 3D like the last 2023 title, rather will be booked in Imax and ScreenX auditoriums for the first time in the horror franchise’s history. The seventhquel is also playing D-Box and premium large-format screens.
Critics are far more severe on Scream 7 than the recent Radio Silence reboots at 38% Rotten, and an audience score of 79%. Scream VI was 77% certified fresh with critics and 90% with audiences, while 2022’s Scream was 76% with critics and 82% with audiences.
What’s the appeal of Scream 7? Why, original franchise scribe, Kevin Williamson, who is directing for the first time on the 30-year horror series. The action has Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott back in Pine Grove, Indiana with her daughter in tow (Isabel May). They’re both being threatened by Ghostface killers. Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) produce this time around after helming the 2022 reboot Scream and 2023’s Scream VI. Courtney Cox’s Gale Weathers among other Scream dramatis personae are back for part seven.
Scream 7 is the only major studio wide entry this weekend. The pic cost a net $45M before P&A, co-financed 50/50 between Spyglass and Paramount. The six previous Scream movies have grossed a combined worldwide total of $908.5M.
Scream 7 is playing 52 offshore territories this weekend including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom.
