AceShowbiz - Scream 7 has stormed the global box office with an impressive $97.2 million in ticket sales during its opening weekend, setting new franchise records both internationally and domestically. The latest chapter in the long-running slasher series from Paramount and Spyglass Media earned $33.1 million overseas and $64.1 million in North America, marking the highest debut for the franchise since its 1996 inception.

The film, directed by Kevin Williamson who also penned the original Scream, centers on a new Ghostface killer targeting the daughter of Sidney Prescott, the character famously portrayed by Neve Campbell. Campbell returned to the franchise after missing the sixth installment due to a salary dispute, and her comeback alongside other legacy stars such as Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard is credited with helping drive the strong box office turnout.

A significant factor in the film’s success was the contribution from premium viewing formats. For the first time in the franchise’s history, Scream 7 was released in IMAX as well as ScreenX and other higher-priced formats, which accounted for 40% of total gross revenue. This premium offering helped boost overall earnings beyond expectations.

Spyglass Media’s chairman and CEO, Gary Barber, praised the film’s performance, stating, "This historic, franchise record-breaking box office performance is a testament 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 acknowledged the efforts of Paramount executives Josh Greenstein, Dana Goldberg, Josh Goldstine, and Shaun Barber for their roles in the film’s success.

The marketing campaign for Scream 7 was notably extensive, including a Super Bowl spot and Ghostface appearances at major events such as UFC 324 in Las Vegas. Paramount aimed to appeal not only to longtime fans but also to younger horror enthusiasts who might be new to the franchise.

Paramount’s president of global marketing and distribution, Josh Goldstine, described the challenge of promoting the seventh film in a series: "It's a daunting task to market the seventh film in a franchise. We focused on bringing in the nostalgia. This is 'Scream's' 30th anniversary, and we have Neve back. We focused the promotion on this sense of destiny and 'it's all led to this.'"

Internationally, the film’s start exceeded the performance of 2023’s Scream VI by 35% across the same markets. The previous installment opened to $22.6 million in 53 territories and finished with $58 million overseas and $166 million worldwide. Scream 7 had its largest international debut in the United Kingdom with $5.3 million, followed by France with $4.2 million, Mexico with $3 million, Australia with $2.5 million, and Germany with $2.4 million. It is scheduled to open soon in Singapore, Malaysia, and Hong Kong.

After a challenging year in 2025, Scream 7 represents Paramount’s first No. 1 box office release since the action comedy Novocaine in March. The studio recently surprised Hollywood by outbidding Netflix to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that has raised concerns among theater owners about the potential impact on theatrical releases amid an already difficult market.

Elsewhere in the global box office landscape, Wuthering Heights is quickly approaching the $200 million mark after three weekends in theaters. Directed by Emerald Fennell, the film has earned $119.7 million internationally from 78 territories and $72.3 million in North America. With a production budget of $80 million, Wuthering Heights continues Warner Bros.’ strong box office streak following hits like Sinners, A Minecraft Movie, and Weapons last year.

Sony’s original animated feature GOAT has also maintained solid box office momentum, accumulating $130.5 million worldwide. This includes $56.6 million from 53 international markets and $73.9 million domestically. With an $80 million budget, GOAT faces upcoming competition from Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers, which is set to release next weekend.