‘Scream IV’ Sets Franchise Record With $44.5 Million U.S. Debut

Topline

Scream VI, the latest installation of the long-running horror movie franchise, grossed an estimated $44.5 million domestically in its opening weekend, Paramount said Sunday, setting a record for the film series and blowing past expectations.

Key Facts

The sixth Scream film was expected to gross between $35 and $40 million between Friday and Sunday, according to Variety.

The film cost $33 million to make, according to Paramount.

It earned the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office this weekend.

The film grossed $22.6 million this weekend outside the United States, adding up to a worldwide gross of $67.1 million, according to Paramount.

Scream VI’s franchise-high opening comes after Creed III set a record within its own franchise last weekend, raking in $58.6 million domestically in its debut weekend.

Weekend Domestic Box Office Estimated Grosses

  1. Scream IV, $44.5 million
  2. Creed III, $27.1 million
  3. 65, $12.3 million
  4. Ant Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, $7.0 million
  5. Cocaine Bear, $6.2 million

Key Background

Scream VI featured franchise staples like Courtney Cox and Hayden Panettiere and, of course, villain Ghostface. It was the first movie without Neve Campbell, who played Sidney Prescott. Campbell departed the series because “I did not feel that what I was being offered equated to the value that I bring to this franchise, and have brought to this franchise, for 25 years.” The sixth film also starred Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who recently starred in the Netflix hit TV series Wednesday.

Tangent

Scream VI topped a franchise record previously set in 2003 by Scream III, which had a $34.7 million opening. 1997’s Scream II had a $32.9 million domestic debut, followed by Scream (2022) with $30 million, 2011’s Scream IV with $18.6 million and 1997’s Scream, with $6.3 million. The original Scream is the highest-grossing film in the franchise, with $173 million.

Further Reading

Weekend Box Office: Michael B. Jordan’s ‘Creed III’ Soars Past Expectations—And Sets Franchise Record (Forbes)

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2023/03/12/weekend-box-office-scream-iv-sets-franchise-record-with-445-million-us-debut/