'Scream 7' Slashes Franchise-Best $64.1M Domestic Bow; 'GOAT' Holds Strong With $12M – Box Office.

Thirty years after the original Ghostface killer first terrorized audiences, Paramount and Spyglass Media's "Scream 7" has proved the slasher franchise is still making a killing, easily scoring the biggest opening of 2026 so far.

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'Scream 7' Slashes Franchise-Best $64.1M Domestic Bow; 'GOAT' Holds Strong With $12M – Box Office.

The horror sequel debuted with a massive $64.1M domestically across 3,540 theaters. Adding an estimated $33.1M from 52 international markets, Scream 7 carved out a spectacular $97.2M global launch. This immediately covers its conservative $45M production budget, setting the stage for a highly profitable theatrical run and giving theaters a much-needed boost during a previously sluggish winter box office.

"The stellar box office performance comes on a historic weekend for the studio. On Friday, parent company Paramount Skydance announced its intention to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery. The overperformance of Scream 7 gives the newly proposed Hollywood colossus plenty to celebrate."

The Return of Sidney Prescott

A major driver for this record-breaking weekend was the highly anticipated return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott. Campbell famously sat out 2023’s Scream VI over a salary dispute but was drawn back for the seventh installment with a reported $7M payday. She is joined by original legacy cast members Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard.

The $64.1M 3-day gross didn't just shatter franchise records; it also marks the biggest domestic opening ever for a February/March horror release, surging past titles like Hannibal ($58M), Shutter Island ($41M), and the Friday the 13th remake ($40.5M). It is currently tracking to easily topple Scream VI’s $108.3M domestic total for franchise supremacy.

'GOAT' and 'Wuthering Heights' Hold Steady

In second place, Sony Pictures Animation's Stephen Curry-produced GOAT continued to show strong legs in its third weekend. The animated feature held impressively, adding another $12.0M to bring its domestic running total to nearly $74M. Globally, the sports-themed family pic has now crossed the $130.5M mark.

  • Wuthering Heights: Warner Bros.' gothic drama took third place with $7.1M. The Emerald Fennell-directed adaptation continues to draw steady crowds, closing in on the coveted $200M milestone at the worldwide box office.
  • International Footprint: Offshore, Scream 7’s $33.1M launch represented 90% of its international footprint, performing 35% above Scream VI in like-for-like markets. The film will roll out in remaining Asian markets next week.

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