Scream VI scares off a series-best opening of $43.5 million from 3,675 theaters at the domestic box office after opening Friday with about $19.3 million, including $5.7 million in the Thursday premiere.
The film — which is earning strong exits and received a B+ CinemaScore — will easily win the weekend thanks to moviegoers between the ages of 18 and 34.
The last Scream film, released in January 2022, opened to $30 million domestically in an impressive performance for the pandemic. The biggest North American start of the franchise belongs to the 2000s Scream 3 ($34.7 million), not adjusted for inflation.
Scream VI, which cost a reported $33 million to make before marketing, follows the survivors of last year’s installment as they leave Woodsboro for New York City. Unfortunately, the menacing killer Ghostface is not far behind. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who run Radio Silence Productions with Chad Villella, returned to direct.
Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox star alongside franchise newcomers Dermot Mulroney, Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra and Samara Weaving.
MGM and Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III will come in at a strong No. 2 with an estimated second-year gross of $26.8 million from 4,007 locations, down a respectable 54 percent and enough to leap over $100 million in just 10 days at the domestic box office. The film grossed $7.5 million on Friday.
Both Scream VI and Creed III stomps over Sony’s sci-fi dinosaur picture 65, which is eyeing a third-place opening of $10 million to $11 million from 3,405 theaters after being pummeled by poor reviews and a C+ CinemaScore. The elevated genre picture grossed about $4.5 million on Friday. (However, all three films are competing for younger moviegoers Creed III plays slightly older.)
Directed by A quiet place authors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods65 stars Adam Driver as an astronaut who crash-lands on a mysterious planet, only to realize he’s been abandoned on Earth 65 million years ago. With only one chance for salvation, Mills and the only other survivor, played by Ariana Greenblatt, must cross an unknown landscape infested with dinosaurs and other dangerous prehistoric beasts in a fight for survival.
The Sony pic cost $45 million to make and was co-financed by Bron Studios and TSG. It earned $1.2 million in previews.
The third nationwide release this weekend is Focus Features’ heartwarming sports comedy Master, starring Woody Harrelson as a minor-league basketball coach condemned to lead a team of disabled players. The film is based on the award-winning Spanish film from 2018 masterwhich was released by Universal Pictures International.
Master earned an A CinemaScore and is looking at a $5 million weekend gross after earning $1.8 million on Friday. More than 60 percent of ticket buyers were over the age of 35, including 21 percent over 55. The film, which is playing in 3,030 theaters, is looking at seventh place.