‘Scream 7’ suffers franchise’s worst second-week drop despite record opening

Scream 7 kicked off its theatrical run on February 27 with a record-shattering $63.6 million domestic opening weekend, the largest debut in the 30-year-old franchise. Globally, it earned over $97 million in its first three days, surpassing the entire run of 2011’s Scream 4.

Despite the historic start, the horror sequel has suffered a staggering projected 74% drop in its second weekend, placing it behind Hoppers, which is now topping the box office. This represents the worst sophomore weekend for the franchise, far exceeding the previous record set by Scream 4 in 2011, which fell 62.4%. Comparatively, other recent flops such as Morbius (-73.8%) and Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis (-73.3%) also fell short of Scream 7’s drop.

Analysts suggest the decline may be tied to a combination of factors, including the movie’s franchise-worst Rotten Tomatoes score of 31% and the controversy surrounding the firing of Melissa Barrera, who was let go in late 2023 after sharing pro-Palestine posts on social media. Fans had called for a boycott, adding to the movie’s baggage before its release.

Scream 7’s domestic drop, however, does not overshadow its initial success. The film has already exceeded its estimated break-even point of $112.5 million, ensuring it will turn a profit despite the dramatic decline. Historically, the Scream franchise has avoided extreme sophomore-weekend drops, making this fall particularly notable.

The franchise has a track record of strong front-loaded openings, with previous sequels like Scream 2 and Scream VI experiencing more moderate second-week declines. While Scream 7 may not retain its record-setting title for the highest-grossing installment, its initial box office performance demonstrates continued fan interest in the horror saga.

Analysts will continue monitoring its theatrical run to see if word-of-mouth or holiday boosts can stabilize its earnings.