The Wayans family’s horror-parody franchise returned this weekend with its biggest numbers in 25 years. Scary Movie earned $55 million domestically in its first three days. That cleared the previous franchise record of $49.7 million, which Scary Movie 4 had held since 2006. International markets added $50.5 million from 53 countries, bringing the global debut to $105.5 million.
Directed by Michael Tiddes, the film reunites Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans with original cast members Anna Faris and Regina Hall. It’s the first time all four have appeared in the same Scary Movie since 2001. Newcomers include Damon Wayans Jr., Heidi Gardner, and Sydney Park. Cameos from Kai Cenat, Anthony Anderson, and Shaquille O’Neal drove social media attention for weeks before opening day.
Miramax financed the project for $30 million. Analyst estimates had put domestic expectations in the $40 to $45 million range. The film came in about $10 million above that range, making it one of the summer’s clearer surprises.
The film opened against two other horror titles. Masters of the Universe, from Sony, earned $29.3 million for second place. Backrooms, a found-footage film built from internet mythology, pulled strong crowds among Gen Z viewers but finished well below Scary Movie.
The franchise ran five films from 2000 to 2013. Box office returns fell sharply after the second installment. Scary Movie 5 opened to only $14 million in 2013 without Faris or the original writers. The restored lineup appears to have been central to this weekend’s result. Variety reported the film cleared every domestic projection by a significant margin, calling it the strongest opener in the series’ history. Genre revivals have shown similar momentum elsewhere this year. Tamil action drama Blast recently crossed ₹50 crore worldwide by pulling in audiences who had largely moved on from the franchise.
International markets showed particular strength in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. Parody and physical comedy have historically traveled well, and recent genre films have found new reach through streaming. Chinese drama Dazzling drew international viewers earlier this year by anchoring recognizable genre storytelling to a specific regional identity. That kind of cultural specificity tends to perform well on streaming platforms looking for authentic content.
Marlon Wayans said the project was about returning to the franchise’s original spirit. He kept sequel talk cautious, saying audience response would guide any next step. Streaming rights are reportedly already under discussion. Platforms built around Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 and similar OS-level streaming integration are reshaping how audiences discover and rewatch films after their cinema run.
No sequel has been confirmed. A $105.5 million global weekend from a $30 million film tends to make that a short conversation.
