At the center of it all is Scary Movie, which stormed to an impressive $55 million domestic opening. The result not only secured the top spot but also delivered the strongest debut in the franchise’s 25-year history, surpassing the long-standing $49.7 million benchmark set by 2006’s Scary Movie 4 (not adjusted for inflation).
The film, financed by Miramax for $30 million, is already positioned as a major financial win. Globally, it has accumulated $105.5 million across 53 markets, signaling strong international appetite alongside domestic enthusiasm.
Industry analyst David A. Gross of FranchiseRe described the performance in emphatic terms:
“This is an outstanding opening for a comedy sequel this far into its series.”
He added that the result marks a notable rebound for the franchise:
“It’s also a huge bounce-back after the last [installment] in 2013 crashed when Anna Faris and Regina Hall were excluded.”
The return of long-associated cast members and creators, including the Wayans family, has clearly re-energized audience interest. The film leans heavily into meta-humor, parodying modern horror hits and Hollywood’s obsession with sequels, reboots, and spin-offs.
Horror Momentum Extends Beyond a Single Film
The success of Scary Movie was part of a broader genre surge that saw multiple horror titles outperform expectations simultaneously.
In second and third place, two breakout hits—Backrooms and Obsession—continued to draw strong Gen Z audiences, reinforcing the genre’s unusual dominance during the summer season.
Backrooms experienced a sharp 70% drop in its second weekend but still delivered a strong $25.9 million haul from 3,565 theaters. Its cumulative domestic total has reached $135 million, with $212.6 million globally, making it A24’s highest-grossing worldwide release to date, surpassing Marty Supreme.
Meanwhile, Obsession proved far more resilient. In its fourth weekend, it declined just 7% to earn $25.6 million, pushing its North American total to $152.1 million and setting it up to cross $200 million worldwide imminently.
The film’s sustained performance is especially notable given its modest budget and growing word-of-mouth traction, with analysts pointing to its unusual weekend-to-weekend growth patterns earlier in its run.
Big-Budget Gamble Falls Short
While horror flourished, blockbuster fantasy struggled to keep pace. Masters of the Universe opened in second place with $29.3 million domestically—well below expectations for a production that cost nearly $200 million before marketing.
The film, based on Mattel’s iconic He-Man toy line, represents a major investment from Amazon MGM Studios. Despite its recognizable IP, early audiences were largely composed of nostalgic fans of the 1980s cartoon and toy line, suggesting limited broader appeal at launch.
Kevin Wilson, Amazon MGM’s domestic distribution chief, defended the studio’s long-term approach, stating:
“[Director] Travis Knight and the entire cast and filmmaking team have delivered something truly special, and this opening is exactly the kind of critical first moment that validates our holistic distribution strategy—building awareness and engagement that will carry well beyond the theatrical window.”
Still, analysts remain cautious about the film’s profitability path, noting that theatrical exhibitors typically retain about half of ticket revenue, leaving a steep climb toward recouping costs.
Other Notable Performers in a Crowded Top Five
The weekend’s remaining top performers also reflected the continued diversity of audience tastes.
Fathom Entertainment’s The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act secured fourth place with $19.4 million, while Disney’s The Walt Disney Company contributed to the chart through Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, which earned $10 million in its latest frame, bringing its domestic total to $155.8 million and $293.6 million globally.
A Genre Moment Few Saw Coming
The simultaneous success of multiple horror titles has created an unusually concentrated box office pattern, with studios and analysts pointing to Gen Z audiences as a key driver of demand. The combination of nostalgia, viral marketing, and social media buzz has helped elevate both legacy franchises and new experimental horror concepts.
As one industry observer summarized, the weekend wasn’t just strong for horror—it was dominated by it.