Scary Movie reboot opens strong at box office with $7.5M previews
Scary Movie reboot opens with $7.5M in previews, signaling potential R-rated comedy resurgence and major franchise revival after 13-year hiatus.
Objective Facts
The Scary Movie reboot earned $7.5M in previews that began at 2PM on June 5, 2026. The film achieved strong preview numbers for a comedy, comparable to Scream 7's $7.8M previews. The reboot is projected to open to $40M domestically with a $70M worldwide outlook, positioning it as a positive sign for comedy on the big screen. This is the sixth Scary Movie franchise entry; 2003's Scary Movie 3 holds the franchise record with a $49.7M opening, and the five previous films earned $896.3M worldwide. The film is poised to mark a major comeback for the R-rated comedy, the last genre to not score a major box office hit since the pandemic.
Left-Leaning Perspective
Nerd Reactor's reviewer celebrated that the Wayans bring back the franchise's reckless, ridiculous soul, noting that after horror became more serious and polished, watching Scary Movie act like a complete idiot again feels good. IndieWire's David Ehrlich acknowledged the Wayans display audacious willingness to wander into uncomfortable territory with jokes about Black Lives Matter, Trump, pronouns, I.C.E., and January 6, arguing there's demonstrable merit in that approach. Absolute Geeks' reviewer stated the film delivers what fans have been waiting for and successfully bridges nostalgia with contemporary relevance through standout performances and inspired parody sequences, providing escapist entertainment that's become increasingly rare. What left-leaning coverage emphasizes is the film's willingness to offend across all political lines and the cultural value of anarchic comedy at a moment when many entertainers avoid controversy. However, left outlets largely acknowledge the film's uneven execution and overstuffed nature without defending every joke.
Right-Leaning Perspective
Deadline's reviewer wrote the film is surprisingly devoid of many laughs with a flat-footed, predictable satire that looks like the Wayans threw tired ideas at the wall to see what sticks. Screen Daily's critic said the jokes come thick and fast but are so obvious, scattershot and immediately dated that nothing lands—it's not funny, not clever, not provocative or edgy, it's just boring. HeyUGuys criticized the film's dependence on shock value with homophobia, transphobia, and sexism, arguing the offensiveness appears to be the joke itself rather than serving a larger comedic purpose. Right-leaning critics see the film as relying on juvenile shock value and outdated reference humor without genuine wit. They argue the Wayans' return failed to deliver on the promise of restoring the franchise to its former quality, instead producing what some characterize as creatively bankrupt material.
Deep Dive
The Scary Movie reboot represents a convergence of commercial opportunity and creative risk. The franchise had been dormant since 2013, and Hollywood's recovery of dormant IP franchises via nostalgia has been increasingly lucrative—but also increasingly formulaic. The Wayans brothers' return is genuine: they created the original films, were forced out by Miramax before Scary Movie 3, and have now regained creative control. That narrative alone explains the strong preview numbers. However, critics across the spectrum identify a fundamental structural problem: the film attempts to simultaneously parody recent horror films (Get Out, Longlegs, Scream 7) while satirizing the notion of legacy sequels and reboots, a duality that splits its comedic focus. The preview numbers ($7.5M) suggest the audience has appetite for R-rated comedy at the box office—a genre that has genuinely struggled since the pandemic. Whether those preview viewers convert to sustained weekend legs depends on critical word-of-mouth and whether casual audiences show up Saturday/Sunday. The real disagreement isn't about box office potential (both sides acknowledge the opening will likely exceed $45M) but about whether the film's mixed critical reception signals a hollow nostalgia play or a flawed but spirited return to form.