The ‘Scary Movie 6’ Rotten Tomatoes Score Is Officially Here

The ‘Scary Movie’ franchise has always had a tumultuous relationship with critics. Known for its gleeful bad taste, shock humor, and a carefree approach to parody, the series became a cultural icon in the early 2000s, despite receiving reviews that rarely matched its commercial success. The franchise has grossed nearly $900 million worldwide, with the first film alone earning over $270 million globally, demonstrating that audiences and critics have often been at odds regarding the Wayans brothers’ horror spoof universe.

The latest installment, officially titled ‘Scary Movie’ but commonly referred to as ‘Scary Movie 6,’ is directed by Michael Tiddes and brings back the original cast, including Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall. This film, produced by Paramount Pictures and Miramax, is described as a spiritual sequel that continues the story of the franchise’s beloved core characters, twenty-six years after they first escaped a suspiciously familiar masked killer.

Additional filming took place in April 2026 to add parody elements for films that gained cultural traction after the main shoot concluded, including ‘Sinners’, ‘Weapons’, and ‘Michael’.

With the review embargo now lifted, the Tomatometer score has been revealed, and it’s as harsh as many anticipated. The new ‘Scary Movie’ has debuted with a 22% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 23 reviews, placing it firmly in rotten territory. For comparison, the original film holds a 52% score, while later entries like ‘Scary Movie 3’ and ‘Scary Movie 4’ sit at 36% and 34%, respectively, indicating that this latest installment falls significantly below the franchise’s most well-received entries.

The critical consensus emerging from reviews reflects a familiar sentiment. While some critics recognize genuinely funny moments, the overall impression is that much of the film misses the mark, leaving long stretches with little happening.

Timeout’s reviewer highlighted Anna Faris as a standout, noting that her deadpan delivery maximizes the manic energy on screen, although they acknowledged that some genuinely funny material is buried within the film. Several reviewers also pointed out the chemistry between Faris and Regina Hall as one of the franchise’s enduring strengths, with both actresses slipping back into their roles as if no time had passed.

On a more positive note, Nerd Reactor concluded that the film is funnier and more vibrant than expected, arguing that when the jokes land, they hit hard, and the Wayans successfully revive the franchise’s reckless, absurd spirit, even if they don’t fully reinvent it. Empire Online took a more balanced view, noting that the film closely follows the plot of the 2022 ‘Scream’ requel, restaging scenes with a wink to the audience while delivering the crude comedy footnotes the series is known for.

Prediction markets had generally expected a score in the low-to-mid 30s before reviews were released, making the actual 22% result even more disappointing than anticipated. Whether this affects audience interest remains to be seen. Historically, the franchise has outperformed its critical reception at the box office, and a built-in nostalgia for the original films could still drive strong opening weekend numbers, regardless of critics’ opinions.

For a movie that promises to cross every line, a 22% Tomatometer might just become another punchline. Are you planning to see ‘Scary Movie’ opening weekend, or has the critical reception made you reconsider?