‘Scary Movie’ hits $1bn worldwide and fuels sequel hopes for Wayans brothers

The latest film has earned more than $215m worldwide, becoming a profitable revival for Paramount and its creators

Scary Movie has officially crossed the $1bn worldwide box office mark as a franchise, marking a significant achievement for the long running horror comedy series and reinforcing its enduring popularity with cinema audiences.

The milestone was reached after the latest instalment continued its theatrical run with steady ticket sales. According to reported box office figures, the new film has earned more than $103.5m domestically and approximately $111.8m internationally, giving it a worldwide total of more than $215.3m. Produced on a reported budget of around $30m, the film has become a highly profitable release for Paramount.

The success also lifts the combined worldwide earnings of the Scary Movie franchise to roughly $1.1bn since the original film debuted in 2000. Over more than two decades, the series has remained one of the most commercially successful comedy franchises built around parodying horror films and wider pop culture.

The newest entry reunites several familiar faces from the original films. Anna Faris returns as Cindy Campbell alongside Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks, while Shawn Wayans reprises his role as Ray Wilkins and Marlon Wayans returns as Shorty Meeks. Their reunion has been widely promoted as a nostalgic return to the characters that helped establish the franchise as a major box office success in the early 2000s.

Although the original Scary Movie remains the highest grossing single film in the series with approximately $278m worldwide, every instalment has generated substantial theatrical revenue. Even Scary Movie V, released in 2013, earned close to $79m globally despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. That consistent commercial performance has helped the franchise remain valuable for the studio.

The latest film has also surpassed the worldwide total of Scream 7, another major horror release from 2026. While the two films belong to different genres, the comparison highlights the strength of audience demand for established horror brands, whether through straightforward scares or comedic parody.

The financial performance of the newest Scary Movie has naturally prompted speculation about the franchise's future. Paramount has not officially announced another sequel, but the strong box office results have increased expectations that the studio could reunite with the Wayans brothers again for a seventh instalment. Given the profitability of the latest release, another sequel would appear to be a commercially attractive option.

The original Scary Movie became a cultural phenomenon by spoofing films such as Scream, while later entries expanded their targets to include supernatural thrillers, science fiction blockbusters and other major Hollywood releases. That formula has allowed the franchise to evolve alongside changing trends in popular cinema while maintaining its trademark mix of slapstick humour, outrageous gags and horror references.

Crossing the $1bn mark places Scary Movie among an exclusive group of comedy franchises to reach the milestone worldwide.