Scary Movie 6 topped the box office this weekend with $55 million. The opening marks the highest debut in the 25-year-old franchise. The previous record was Scary Movie 4 in 2006 with $49.7 million.

The film made $24.7 million on Friday alone. This included $7.7 million in Thursday night previews. The strong opening suggests audiences wanted to revisit the horror-comedy series after years away.

The franchise had gone dormant since 2013. Scary Movie 5 underperformed that year. Studio executives wondered if audiences still cared about the spoof format. But this weekend proved the appetite for laughs at horror’s expense remained strong.

Internationally, the numbers climbed higher. Scary Movie 6 earned $50.5 million abroad in its opening. This foreign haul ran 75% higher than the original Scary Movie’s international opening decades ago.

Mexico led the international charge with $6.7 million. The UK contributed $5.5 million. Brazil brought in $5.1 million, marking Paramount’s biggest opening ever in that country across all films.

The strong debut came after mixed summers for horror comedies. Audiences had abandoned many spoof films over the past decade. But Scary Movie held cultural weight. The series remained recognizable and beloved by fans who grew up watching it.

The film’s timing helped. Summer moviegoing had cooled in recent weeks. Audiences were eager for something that delivered both scares and laughs. Scary Movie 6 filled that gap.

The production had enlisted a new cast alongside returning performers. This blend of fresh and familiar faces drew both longtime fans and new audiences. Word of mouth suggested the film hit its comedic targets consistently.

Box office analysts noted the result showed strong life for horror-comedies. The spoof format had seemed dead. But Scary Movie 6 proved the format still worked when executed well. Budget matters less when a film finds its audience.

The opening will likely give the franchise a future. Studios now consider a Scary Movie 7 possible. The franchise could expand beyond annual releases into something more strategic.

This weekend also saw Masters of the Universe open to $29.3 million. That superhero origin story landed softly, suggesting audiences still prefer comedy to big action spectacle on certain weekends.

Scary Movie 6 should hold the top position for at least two more weeks.