The 'Scary Movie' franchise is staging a triumphant return with the original creative team intact. The Wayans brothers haven't helmed one of these since 2001's 'Scary Movie 2,' and their ousting by the Weinsteids has become Hollywood lore. Now they're back on their own terms — and exhibitors are genuinely excited about what they bring to the table.
Industry insiders note that Paramount is being cautious with its $40 million internal projection, deliberately underselling expectations while Miramax publicly targets $45-50 million. The split suggests some nervousness about whether parody films can still land in 2026 — especially given how sophisticated horror has become since the last installment dropped in 2013.
Miramax financed 'Scary Movie' for just $30 million, making it a relatively low-risk play compared to its competitors. Meanwhile, Amazon MGM's 'Masters of the Universe' carries a hefty $200 million price tag — and has been in development since 2007, cycling through Netflix, Warner Bros., and Sony before landing at Amazon.
The real story might not be who wins this weekend — it's whether Miramax can turn a $30 million bet into franchise resurrection while Mattel's theatrical ambitions face their toughest test yet with He-Man's $200 million gamble.
Paramount and Miramax are betting that audiences have been waiting 13 years for the Wayans brothers to return to the 'Scary Movie' franchise — and this weekend, we'll find out if they're right. The R-rated parody is targeting $45 million to $50 million from 3,400 North American theaters in its opening frame, according to industry estimates. Should ticket sales reach that higher end, it would set a new franchise record, eclipsing 2006's 'Scary Movie 4' and its $49.7 million debut (not adjusted for inflation).
The studio is being characteristically cautious with internal projections — Paramount itself is reportedly estimating a more conservative $40 million start. But exhibitors are bullish on the newest installment in the 25-year-old parody series, particularly since horror and nostalgia have been powering the box office all year. There's so much fresh material to spoof this time around: 'Get Out,' 'Weapons,' 'M3GAN,' 'Longlegs,' 'Scream' — even A24's breakout hit 'Backrooms' gets its moment in the parody crosshairs.
The real intrigue, though, is that 'Scary Movie' faces unexpected competition from Gen Z horror favorites. Kane Parson's 'Backrooms' obliterated expectations last weekend with $81 million domestically and is eyeing another $48-50 million in its sophomore frame. Meanwhile, Curry Barker's 'Obsession' has shown unprecedented week-to-week ticket sales increases, amassing $105 million in North America and $150 million globally after just three weekends of release.
The saving grace for all three films? They operate in completely different tonal universes — parody, found-footage existential dread, and erotic thriller respectively — so industry watchers believe they can coexist rather than cannibalize each other's audiences. The Wayans brothers — Marlon, Shawn, Keenen Ivory, and Craig — wrote the script alongside Rick Alvarez, with Marlon and Shawn co-starring as Shorty and Ray.
This marks their first involvement since 2001's 'Scary Movie 2,' after they were pushed out of the franchise by Harvey and Bob Weinstein when Miramax was under their control. Anna Faris and Regina Hall are also back as Cindy Campbell and Brenda Meeks, characters absent since 'Scary Movie 4' in 2006. This weekend's other major release is Amazon MGM's 'Masters of the Universe,' a sword-and-planet adventure based on Mattel's iconic He-Man toy line.
The PG-13 film is targeting $30 million to $35 million from 3,500 locations — but carries a staggering $200 million budget that demands strong legs to turn profitable. Word-of-mouth will be critical for its box office longevity, and Amazon MGM is hoping the property can galvanize family audiences who have largely snubbed Disney's 'Star Wars' spinoff 'The Mandalorian and Grogu,' which suffered a catastrophic 70% drop in its second frame after opening over Memorial Day weekend.
'Masters of the Universe' has been in development since 2007 — longer than Prince Adam seems to have been separated from his home planet of Eternia. The property cycled through several studios, including Netflix, Warner Bros., and Sony Pictures, as well as countless writers, directors, and stars such as Jon M. Chu, McG, and Noah Centineo at various points.
When Amazon MGM acquired the rights in 2024, they hired Travis Knight ('Bumblebee') to direct and Nicholas Galitzine to portray the titular blond-haired god. Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, Alison Brie, and Jared Leto round out the cast as Man-at-Arms, Teela, Evil-Lyn, and Skeletor, respectively. Amazon MGM is hoping to extend a commercial streak after March's astronaut epic 'Project Hail Mary' earned a sterling $678 million worldwide to date.
For Mattel, 'Masters of the Universe' represents the toy company's second theatrical film following 'Barbie,' which became a staggering success with $1.44 billion worldwide. Post-'Barbie,' Mattel has been raiding its toy chest for franchise material — commissioning movies based on Polly Pocket, American Girl, Barney, Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, and the card game Uno.
