The cinematic landscape was dramatically reshaped this past weekend, not only by the thunderous opening of Scream 7 but also by the seismic news of a potential merger that could redefine Hollywood’s power structure. Paramount Pictures, under the strategic guidance of David Ellison, finds itself at the nexus of both triumphant box office success and a colossal corporate transaction. Scream 7 defied all projections, launching to a franchise-best $64.1 million domestically and an additional $33.1 million internationally, culminating in a staggering global debut of $97.2 million. This performance marks a significant milestone, representing the largest opening for any horror film in February and the highest debut of 2025 to date, even before accounting for inflation.
The strong opening day figures, with Friday’s domestic take reaching $28.8 million including $7.8 million from Thursday previews, coincided with the momentous announcement that Paramount-Skydance’s path has been cleared to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. This potential $100 billion-plus deal, reportedly the largest leveraged buyout in history, sent shockwaves through the industry, particularly after Netflix withdrew from its previous acquisition discussions. The consolidation, while promising significant synergies for Paramount, also signals a somber contraction within the legacy studio system, inevitably leading to substantial layoffs across all sectors of film, television, and corporate operations.
Scream 7‘s Box Office Triumph: A Testament to Genre Resilience
The overwhelming audience turnout for Scream 7 underscores the genre’s remarkable resilience and its often "review-proof" nature. Despite a franchise-low 33 percent critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film resonated strongly with audiences, achieving a respectable 78 percent audience score and a B- CinemaScore. This demonstrates a consistent trend for the Scream franchise, where predecessors have also earned B-range CinemaScores, considered a strong indicator of audience satisfaction within the horror genre.
The film’s demographic breakdown further amplifies its success. A near-even split between male and female audiences, coupled with notable diversity, highlights its broad appeal. Crucially, the younger demographics, particularly Gen Z and younger Millennials, turned out in force, with the 18-24 and 25-34 age groups comprising the majority of ticket buyers. This sustained engagement from younger viewers is a vital indicator for the long-term health of cinematic franchises.
Paramount Pictures co-chairs Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein, appointed by Ellison, alongside newly installed marketing head Josh Goldstine, successfully navigated the project to its blockbuster conclusion. Spyglass Media fully produced the film, with Paramount co-financing half of the $45 million net budget. This collaborative effort proved instrumental in bringing the latest installment to screens.
The $64.1 million domestic opening handily surpassed the previous franchise record set by Scream VI in March 2023, which debuted with $44.4 million. This considerable leap signifies not only the enduring popularity of the Scream brand but also the effective marketing and strategic release of the latest installment.
Gary Barber, CEO of Spyglass, lauded the film’s "historic, franchise record-breaking box office performance," attributing it to "the enduring legacy created by our director Kevin Williamson 30 years ago, led by the incomparable Neve Campbell, breakout star Isabel May, legacy stalwart Courteney Cox, and the entire cast." Barber also extended his gratitude to the new leadership at Paramount, emphasizing their pivotal role in the film’s success.
Strategic Release and Premium Format Impact
Paramount had initially projected a $40 million launch for Scream 7, a figure that would have still secured its position as the year’s best three-day opening to date. More bullish tracking from the National Research Group had anticipated a $45 million debut. However, the film’s performance was significantly boosted by its strategic presence in IMAX and other premium formats. This marks the first time a Scream installment has been released in IMAX, a format that typically accounts for a substantial portion of a film’s gross revenue. Combined, premium formats are contributing approximately 40 percent of the film’s total earnings, with IMAX alone representing 9 percent. This strategic decision, particularly in a year with a relatively sparse slate of major studio event films, allowed Scream 7 to command significant screen real estate and audience attention.
A New Chapter for the Scream Saga
The seventh installment is directed by Kevin Williamson, the mastermind behind the original Scream, Scream 2, and Scream 4. The narrative centers on Sidney (Campbell) as she returns to her hometown with her daughter (Isabel May), only to find herself confronting a new iteration of the Ghostface killer. The character of Tatum, played by May, shares her name with Rose McGowan’s iconic character from the original 1996 film, a poignant nod to the franchise’s roots.
An October trailer unveiled the core conflict, depicting Ghostface targeting Sidney and Tatum, with Sidney imparting the crucial "rules" of survival to her daughter. A subsequent Super Bowl advertisement further amplified the film’s significance to Paramount’s new leadership, underscoring the franchise’s importance to the studio’s strategic vision. Alongside Neve Campbell, original star Courteney Cox reprises her role as the tenacious reporter Gale Weathers.
While Campbell’s return was a major draw for longtime fans, the film’s production was marked by significant casting controversies. Melissa Barrera was controversially fired from Scream 7 due to her social media posts concerning the Israel-Hamas war. Jenna Ortega had already departed the project voluntarily prior to Barrera’s dismissal, a fact that was not publicly revealed until after the latter’s firing. Director Christopher Landon also exited the sequel amidst intense fan backlash following Barrera’s dismissal, despite not being directly involved in the decision to terminate her contract.
Despite these setbacks, other beloved franchise veterans are returning, including David Arquette as Dewey Riley, completing the original legacy trio alongside Sidney and Gale. Matthew Lillard, who portrayed Stu Macher, one of the original Ghostface killers, is also making a comeback. Additionally, Scott Foley returns as Roman Bridger, Sidney’s half-brother and the Ghostface from Scream 3. Siblings Chad and Mindy, portrayed by Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown respectively, are also featured in Scream 7.
Holdover Performance and Competitive Landscape
In the competitive weekend box office, Sony Pictures Animation’s GOAT demonstrated remarkable staying power, experiencing only a 29 percent drop to an estimated $12 million. This secured its second-place finish, positioning it ahead of Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights, with both films now in their third weekend of release. GOAT‘s success with family audiences, both domestically and internationally, has contributed to a global gross of $130.5 million, with its domestic total reaching $73.9 million.
Wuthering Heights also continues its strong performance, nearing the $200 million global mark. The film earned an estimated $6.9 million domestically this weekend, bringing its North American total to $73.9 million. Its international performance is even more robust, with an additional $15.6 million this weekend, contributing to a foreign tally of $119.7 million and a worldwide total exceeding $194 million.
Following these frontrunners, a close race ensued for the fourth position. The new concert documentary Twenty Pilots: I Can’t Believe This is My Life appears to have edged out the competition. Neon and Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert followed with an estimated $3.7 million, bringing its 10-day domestic total to $7.8 million. Amazon MGM’s holdover Crime 101 garnered another $3.4 million, boosting its domestic tally to $38.1 million. Lionsgate’s I Can Only Imagine experienced a significant 60 percent tumble in its second weekend, earning an estimated $3.1 million for a 10-day domestic total of $13.3 million.
Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, from Neon, expanded nationwide this weekend after a strong $3.3 million opening from 325 IMAX runs the previous week. Now playing in 1,608 locations, the film received an A+ CinemaScore, following critical acclaim. This release comes four years after Luhrmann’s highly successful biopic Elvis, starring Austin Butler, which became a major cultural talking point.
This story was originally published Feb. 27 at 8:59 a.m. Updates were made on Feb. 25 at 7:20 a.m. with revised estimates and on Feb. 26 at 9:30 a.m. with further domestic estimates and international grosses.
