Scream 6‘s domestic opening weekend box office projections are in, and the movie is expected to break a Ghostface franchise record. The upcoming sixth installment in the popular horror franchise is expected to serve as a follow-up to 2022’s well-received Scream. The sequel, again directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet, will feature Courteney Cox as the only original core cast member, with Hayden Panettiere, Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy-Brown, and Mason Gooding also returning.
According to new box office projections shared by Deadline, Scream 6 is expected to rake in $37 million domestically in its opening weekend. This would be a new franchise high, with 2000’s Scream 3 holding the previous record at $34.7 million. Last year’s installment, while performing well overall, didn’t quite reach this in its debut, enjoying a $30 million 3-day opening.
Scream 6 Could Determine The Franchise’s Future
Although their opening weekends may differ, the first Scream still has the highest box office total at $173 million. From there, the franchise saw diminishing returns with each subsequent installment, with Scream 4 disappointing with only $95 million worldwide. The fourth installment performed so poorly, in fact, that the franchise lay dormant for more than 10 years.
2022’s Scream was a big improvement in terms of box office, earning almost $139 million worldwide, spurring a fast-tracked development on the sixth film. If Scream 6 can improve on the previous film’s numbers, it seems very likely that the franchise will continue for subsequent movies. The upcoming sequel will be an interesting test in the sense that neither David Arquette’s Dewey nor Neve Campbell’s Sidney are returning, with the film serving as a test in terms of how effectively new cast members like Barrera, Ortega, Savoy-Brown, and Gooding can carry the franchise forward.
Cox has been a franchise staple as Gale Weathers, but Panettiere’s Kirby represents an interesting inclusion. The character was presumed dead at the end of Scream 4, but she could potentially end up playing a significant role moving forward, perhaps in a seventh film and beyond. There’s also the possibility that Campbell will eventually return since Sidney isn’t actually dead in the world of the films. If Scream 6 succeeds without Campbell, however, executives could be more interested in pushing ahead without the actor and the heftier salary she likely commands compared to her newer costars.
Source: Deadline
