The seventh installment of the iconic Scream franchise is shaping up to be a major box office event, with industry tracking pointing toward a domestic opening weekend in the mid-$30 million range when the film arrives in theaters on February 27. If projections hold, Scream 7 could challenge the franchise record of $44.4 million set by Scream VI in 2023, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

Pre-Sale Records and Strong Demand

Advance ticket sales for Scream 7 have been slashing through franchise records since going on sale following the film’s pre-game Super Bowl spot. The horror sequel is performing exceptionally well among the coveted 17-34 demographic, with definite interest and first-choice positioning tracking at levels that suggest the film could outperform initial conservative estimates.

The Super Bowl ad blitz appears to have been a shrewd marketing play by Paramount, capitalizing on the massive television audience to build awareness and urgency around the film’s late February release. Early pre-sale figures indicate that horror fans and franchise loyalists are eager to return to Woodsboro.

Neve Campbell’s Return Drives Anticipation

A significant factor in the heightened anticipation is the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, the franchise’s original final girl. Campbell sat out 2023’s Scream VI over a pay dispute, and her absence was widely noted by fans and critics alike. Her return to the fold has been a central selling point for the marketing campaign and appears to be translating directly into ticket demand.

The film also marks a creative retooling for the franchise, with filmmaker Kevin Williamson — who wrote the original 1996 Scream — stepping into the director’s chair for the first time in the series. The combination of Campbell’s return and Williamson’s involvement has generated a wave of nostalgia-fueled excitement that the franchise has not seen in years.

A Historic Franchise Reaches a Milestone

The Scream series holds a unique place in horror history. Launched in 1996 by director Wes Craven and writer Kevin Williamson, it revitalized the slasher genre with its self-aware humor and meta-commentary on horror film conventions. Over six previous entries spanning nearly three decades, the franchise has grossed over $900 million worldwide.

Scream 7 will be the first entry in the series to receive an IMAX release, as well as a 4DX rollout, signaling Paramount’s confidence in the film’s theatrical potential. The expanded format availability could provide an additional boost to opening weekend numbers beyond what traditional tracking models project.

Where It Stands in the 2026 Horror Landscape

The projected opening would place Scream 7 among the strongest horror debuts of 2026 thus far and reinforce the genre’s continued commercial viability in theaters. Horror has been one of the most reliable genres at the box office in recent years, with audiences consistently showing a preference for the communal theatrical experience over streaming for fright-focused fare.

Industry analysts note that the mid-$30 million projection could prove conservative given the strength of pre-sales and the franchise’s track record of exceeding early estimates. Scream VI outperformed its own tracking by a significant margin in 2023, and similar audience enthusiasm could push Scream 7 past the $40 million threshold, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

The final numbers will depend on several factors, including critical reception once the review embargo lifts, word-of-mouth from early screenings, and competition from other February releases. Regardless of where the opening weekend lands, Scream 7 has already demonstrated that the Ghostface killer remains one of horror cinema’s most bankable villains.