Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

'Scream VI' tops box office with franchise-best US$44.5M

Share
LOS ANGELES -

Oscar weekend belonged to "Scream VI" in theaters, as the horror sequel notched a franchise-best US$44.5 million in domestic ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group co-production sailed past expectations, easily surpassing the previous series high of US$32 million that "Scream 2" opened with in 1997. The film's robust debut, coming as Hollywood prepared to gather for the 95th Academy Awards, was yet another reminder of how horror has come to be one of the industry's few sure things at the box office.

After lying dormant for more than a decade, the "Scream" franchise, previously directed by Wes Craven and released by Dimension Films, has found a ripe revival with a young cast led by "Wednesday" star Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have brought back the 27-year-old series' meta slasher storylines and serial killer Ghostface, and it's paying off. Last year's "Scream V" grossed US$137 million worldwide on a production budget of US$24 million. In the latest chapter, Courtney Cox returns as reporter Gale Weathers, as does Hayden Panettiere, a veteran of "Scream IV." But it's the first "Scream" movie without Neve Campbell.

"Scream VI," quickly greenlit after the success of "V," has also fared fairly well with both critics and audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 75% fresh rating. Moviegoers gave it a "B+" CinemaScore, a decent grade for a horror film. The sixth "Scream," which cost US$33 million to make, added US$22.6 million overseas.

Last week's top film, "Creed III," slid to second after its above-expectations launch. Michael B. Jordan's MGM "Rocky" spinoff, starring him and Jonathan Majors, earned US$27.1 million in its second weekend. It has rapidly passed US$100 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters.

Columbia Pictures' "65," a science-fiction thriller starring Adam Driver as a space explorer stranded on prehistoric Earth, opened in third place with an estimated US$12.3 million from 3,405 locations, and an additional US$7.2 million internationally. That might be better than expected, too, for a film that got terrible reviews from critics. (It scored just 35% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.) But "65" reportedly carried a hefty production budget of about US$90 million, though tax rebates roughly halved that cost to financiers including Sony, Bron Studios and TSG.

Bobby Farrelly's "Champions," starring Woody Harrelson as a disgraced coach trying to lead a basketball team to the Special Olympics, opened with US$5.2 million in 3,030 locations. Audiences (an "A" CinemaScore) have liked it more than reviewers (53% on Rotten Tomatoes).

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "Scream VI," US$44.5 million.

2. "Creed III," US$27.1 million.

3. "65," US$12.3 million.

4. "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," US$7 million.

5. "Cocaine Bear," US$6.2 million.

6. "Jesus Revolution," US$5.2 million.

7. "Champions," US$5.2 million.

8. "Avatar: The Way of Water," US$2.7 million.

9. "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: To the Swords," US$1.9 million.

10. "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish," US$1.7 million.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A 15-year-old boy from Kitchener, Ont. is facing a long list of criminal charges as the Waterloo Regional Police Service wraps up a lengthy swatting investigation.

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus was among approximately 120 people who gathered Sunday night for a candlelight vigil near the scene of a vicious attack against a 16-year-old in Cobalt.

A B.C. woman who stole more than $14,000 in volunteer-raised funds that were supposed to be spent on school supplies and programs – including hot meals for vulnerable kids – won't spend any time in jail.

A team of tornado experts are investigating a path of damage through Wellington County.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.