Scream 7 sets franchise box office record with $97 million at global box office

Scream 7 carved out a franchise-best debut at the global box office, raking in $97.2 million worldwide in its opening weekend.

The seventh chapter in the beloved horror saga earned $64.1 million domestically and pulled in another $33.1 million overseas. 

Those figures mark the strongest global, international and North American opening in the history of the franchise, which first terrified audiences with 1996's Scream.

The story follows a new Ghostface killer who targets the daughter of Neve Campbell's iconic heroine Sidney Prescott.

Campbell returned to the series after passing on the sixth film amid a salary dispute, and industry analysts have pointed to audience nostalgia for her comeback - along with appearances from Courteney Cox, David Arquette and Matthew Lillard.

'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,' Spyglass Media chairman and CEO Gary Barber said in a statement obtained by Variety. 'We are truly grateful to audiences around the world who enthusiastically showed up to theaters, ready for another thrilling Ghostface experience.'

Kevin Williamson, the writer behind the original film, stepped into the director's chair for the latest installment. 

Scream 7 hit U.S. theaters on February 27, 2026. 

The franchise began with the 1996 original directed by Wes Craven and written by Williamson. 

That film, which also starred Rose McGowan and Drew Barrymore, was set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California and followed high school student Sidney Prescott and her friends as they became targets of a masked serial killer on the anniversary of her mother's murder.

Scream 7 is directed by Williamson and stars several of the original cast members as well as Isabel May and Mckenna Grace.

The horror film centers on a new Ghostface killer who emerges in the quiet town where Sidney has built a new life. Her darkest fears, however, are realized as her daughter Tatum (May) becomes the next target.

'Determined to protect her family, she must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all,' the synopsis reads.

Campbell is reprising her role as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7, but has said she has no regrets about not featuring in the 2023 Scream' flick as she felt 'undervalued' by the salary offered by movie bosses.

'When I made that decision, I just didn't think I could live with myself walking on set. I just didn't feel right. I just knew that my value to this franchise was bigger than what had been offered. For me, I needed to make that choice,' Neve told CBS Mornings.

The Lincoln Lawyer star admits that she initially feared the pay dispute would spell the end of her time in the Scream franchise.

'When I said goodbye to it, I thought that was it. I knew that there was a good chance that would be it,' Campbell said.

Asked if she was OK with the decision, Neve added: 'Well, I had to be. I mean, I was sad. When I knew they were having their first day of shooting and I wasn't there, I was like, "That sucks." But at the same time, I knew that my decision was right.  

'And when I spoke out about it, it wasn't really to sort of rally everybody. It was really just my truth at the time, and the fact the people got behind me, I got lovely support, and that was nice. And I do feel that other people need to make those choices.'