The box office landscape shifts dramatically this weekend with the arrival of Paramount Pictures’ Scream 7, poised to potentially deliver a franchise-best opening of around $45 million. The latest installment in the long-running horror series arrives as the second and third highest-grossing films of the past two weeks, GOAT and Wuthering Heights, respectively, begin to cede ground.
Scream 7’s debut could challenge the $44.4 million opening of 2022’s Scream VI, marking one of the strongest starts in the series’ 30-year history. Though, the film carries some narrative baggage, resetting the story around Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott while largely sidelining characters introduced in the previous two films. This creative pivot followed the departures of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, a decision that has sparked division among fans. Critical reception has been similarly mixed, with the film currently holding a 42 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 36 on Metacritic, according to boxofficepro.com.
Despite the divided critical response, horror films have consistently proven capable of driving late-winter box office rebounds, and Scream 7 is expected to continue that trend.
Behind Scream 7, Sony Pictures Animation’s GOAT is projected to land in second place with approximately $12 million, continuing to offer family-friendly counterprogramming. Warner Bros.’ Wuthering Heights is forecast to follow in third with around $6 million, as momentum from its Valentine’s Day release begins to wane. Deadline.com reported that through Tuesday, Wuthering Heights had earned $41 million domestically, while GOAT had taken in $38 million.
Lionsgate’s faith-based sequel, I Can Only Imagine 2, is pacing for about $3.5 million, while Amazon MGM’s Crime 101 is close behind at just over $3 million. Disney’s Send Help is projected to earn around $2 million, potentially placing it just outside the top five.
A potential wildcard in the weekend’s box office performance is Neon’s expanded release of Baz Luhrmann’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert. After a strong debut in IMAX, the documentary could make a run at the lower end of the chart if nostalgia-driven turnout remains strong. The film has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, earning a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 87 on Metacritic.
Likewise opening in limited release are Greenwich Entertainment’s Dreams, starring Jessica Chastain; Seismic Releasing’s Undercard, featuring Wanda Sykes in her first leading dramatic role; and Magnolia Pictures’ The Napa Boys, all targeting specialty audiences. Dreams has received mixed reviews, with a 57 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and a 61 on Metacritic. The Napa Boys currently holds a 55 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Gold Derby’s predicted box office rankings for the February 27 – March 1 weekend are as follows:
- Scream 7 — $45 million
- GOAT — $12 million
- Wuthering Heights — $6 million
- I Can Only Imagine 2 — $3.5 million
- Crime 101 — $3 million