Scream 7 Box Office Plummets with Franchise’s Worst Second Week Drop

The latest installment in the iconic slasher series, ‘Scream 7’, burst onto screens on February 27, 2026, raking in an impressive $63.6 million domestically over its opening weekend. That figure set a new record for the highest domestic debut in the 30-year history of the franchise. Globally, it pulled in more than $97 million in just three days, easily surpassing the total theatrical earnings of ‘Scream 4’ from 2011. Fans seemed eager to return to Woodsboro, but the excitement appears to have cooled quickly.

Projections for the second weekend show ‘Scream 7’ slipping to second place at the domestic box office, trailing behind Pixar’s animated adventure ‘Hoppers’. Experts estimate it will earn about $16.3 million over the three-day period, marking a staggering 74 percent decline from its opening haul. This drop stands out as the harshest second-week fall the series has ever seen, far outpacing the previous low set by ‘Scream 4’ with its 62.4 percent dip. Even so, the movie is expected to hold strong against newcomers like ‘The Bride!’, which is forecasted to open between $8 million and $10 million in third place.

Horror movies often experience sharp drops after their debuts because audiences rush to see them right away, leading to frontloaded earnings. The Scream franchise has generally bucked this trend with more moderate declines in the past. For instance, the original ‘Scream’ from 1996 actually saw a 42.8 percent increase in its second weekend after a modest $6.3 million start, eventually grossing $173 million worldwide. ‘Scream 2’ in 1997 opened to $32.9 million but fell 57.7 percent the following week, wrapping up with $172.4 million globally.

Other entries followed similar patterns. ‘Scream 3’ from 2000 debuted at $34.7 million and dropped 53 percent in week two, totaling $161.8 million around the world. The 2022 reboot ‘Scream’ kicked off with $30 million and saw a 59.3 percent decline, reaching $138.8 million overall. ‘Scream VI’ in 2023 started stronger at $44.4 million but dipped 61 percent, ending with $169.1 million worldwide. ‘Scream 7’s projected slide puts it in company with recent disappointments like ‘Morbius’, which fell 73.8 percent, or ‘Megalopolis’ at 73.3 percent.

Several factors might explain this steep downturn for ‘Scream 7’. It holds the franchise’s lowest Rotten Tomatoes score at just 31 percent, which could have turned off potential viewers through poor word of mouth. Boycott calls also surfaced after the controversial firing of Melissa Barrera in late 2023. Barrera, who starred in the 2022 ‘Scream’ and ‘Scream VI’, was let go following her social media posts supporting Palestine. Despite the backlash, the film has already crossed its estimated break-even threshold of $112.5 million and should turn a profit by the end of this weekend.

Directed by Kevin Williamson, who also co-wrote the script alongside Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, ‘Scream 7’ brings back familiar faces. Neve Campbell reprises her role as the resilient Sidney Prescott, while Courteney Cox returns as the determined journalist Gale Weathers. The movie clocks in at 114 minutes, offering a mix of suspense, satire, and scares that the series is known for. Producers William Sherak and Paul Neinstein helped bring this chapter to life, aiming to blend nostalgia with fresh twists.

Even with the box office stumble, ‘Scream 7’ proves the enduring appeal of the franchise, which has evolved over decades while staying true to its meta-horror roots. Its strong opening suggests there’s still plenty of life in Ghostface’s story. As the film continues its run, it will be interesting to see if it can rebound or if this signals a need for reinvention. The slasher genre thrives on surprises, after all.

What are your thoughts on ‘Scream 7’s box office journey so far? Share them in the comments.