The Wayans Brothers departed, leading to the franchise’s downfall, and now “Scary Movie” has just issued a $100 million wake-up call
After more than twenty years away from the franchise they created, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and Keenen Ivory Wayans have made a remarkable return to “Scary Movie,” capturing the attention of Hollywood once again. The sixth installment in the beloved horror spoof series premiered with an impressive $55 million domestically and $50.5 million internationally during its opening weekend, surpassing $100 million globally within just a few days in theaters. It marks the largest opening in the history of “Scary Movie” by a significant margin, and analysts indicate that it is the biggest debut for a traditional parody comedy film in more than ten years.
The accomplishment is particularly notable when considered within the broader financial trajectory of the franchise, which has experienced fluctuations and now seems to be on an upswing once more, closely aligned with the Wayans family’s participation.
The original “Scary Movie,” directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans in 2000, with brothers Marlon and Shawn writing the script and starring alongside Regina Hall and a then-unknown Anna Faris, was an unexpected success that surprised everyone. Produced with a budget of only $19 million, the film achieved a remarkable worldwide gross of $278 million, establishing itself as one of the most lucrative horror comedies ever made, with an impressive earnings-to-budget ratio of approximately 14.6x. It continues to be the top-grossing installment in the franchise’s history.
The 2001 sequel, “Scary Movie 2,” maintained the Wayans brothers in charge but saw its budget soar to $45 million, more than twice that of the original. The film ultimately achieved profitability, earning $141.2 million worldwide; however, the declining ratio sparked tensions between the family and producers Harvey Weinstein and Bob Weinstein, who held control over the franchise through their studio Miramax. As the Wayans pursued higher pay for a possible third installment, the Weinsteins allegedly responded with their initial offer. The family strolled.
“It was stripped from us,” Marlon Wayans, 53, stated in a recent interview with Variety, clearly expressing his thoughts on the circumstances that led to their departure.
Even in the absence of the Wayans brothers, the franchise persisted and continued to generate revenue. Director David Zucker, known for his work on “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun,” took the helm for “Scary Movie 3” (2003) and “Scary Movie 4” (2006). Together, the two films debuted with $48.1 million and $40.2 million, respectively, accumulating approximately $200 million domestically and nearly $400 million globally. Charlie Sheen took on a leading role, and the films parodied a range of topics from “The Ring” to “War of the Worlds.”
However, by the time “Scary Movie 5” was released in 2013, under the direction of Malcolm D. Lee and notably lacking Anna Faris or Regina Hall, the formula had begun to feel stale. The film debuted with a modest $14.1 million in the domestic market and struggled to reach a total of $78.4 million globally, despite a budget of $20 million. It received a 4% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, positioning it alongside some of the most poorly received wide-release films in history. The franchise fell silent.
“This weekend’s result represents a major turnaround following the previous installment in 2013, which faltered due to the absence of Anna Faris and Regina Hall,” stated box office analyst David A. Gross, who publishes the newsletter FranchiseRe.
Marlon announced in 2024 that he and his brothers were returning, and the reception has confirmed all the excitement surrounding it. The latest installment of “Scary Movie,” helmed by Michael Tiddes and produced in collaboration with Miramax and Paramount, brings together the original cast members—Faris, Hall, and both Wayans brothers—for the first time since “Scary Movie 2. ”Keenen Ivory Wayans, 67, comes back as a driving creative force behind the project.
The domestic box office result surpassed the previous franchise record of $49.7 million established by “Scary Movie 4” in 2006. Globally, the $50.5 million overseas earnings from 53 markets surpassed any previous international opening in the series by 75 percent. With a combined global debut of $105.5 million, the “Scary Movie” franchise has officially surpassed the $1 billion mark in total worldwide earnings. The series needed approximately $103 million from its sixth entry to achieve this milestone.
“This is an exceptional start for a comedy sequel at this point in its series,” Gross remarked.
Interestingly, the film attracted a notably youthful audience: 62 percent of “Scary Movie” ticket buyers over the weekend were under the age of 30, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This indicates that the franchise has effectively reached an entirely new generation, rather than solely appealing to nostalgic viewers who supported it in 2000.
The new “Scary Movie” remains connected to its context. Its release coincides with what appears to be one of the most commercially successful horror seasons in recent memory. “Backrooms,” directed by 20-year-old Kane Parsons, earned an extra $25.9 million this weekend and has now become A24’s highest-grossing release ever, surpassing Timothée Chalamet’s “Marty Supreme” from last December. Meanwhile, “Obsession,” directed by Curry Barker, garnered $25.6 million in its fourth weekend, marking the highest fourth-weekend performance for a horror film in theaters to date, surpassing “The Blair Witch Project” from 1999, and has exceeded $200 million globally.
In contrast, Amazon MGM’s “Masters of the Universe,” featuring Nicholas Galitzine, premiered the same weekend as “Scary Movie” and had a production cost of nearly $200 million. It opened to a modest $29.3 million domestically and $54.3 million globally. The horror genre currently stands unmatched at the multiplex.
Arriving this Friday, Steven Spielberg’s science fiction thriller “Disclosure Day” and the RuPaul Charles-produced comedy “Stop! That! Train!” will enter the summer’s already bustling marketplace. For the moment, the Wayans brothers have regained something significant, and the box office is clearly indicating that audiences are pleased with their return.
