Scream VI Headed to Franchise's Best Opening Weekend at the Box Office

Jamie Lovett

03/11/2023 02:49 pm EST

Scream VI is headed toward the series' best opening weekend ever at the box office. Scream VI opened with $19.5 million on its first day, including $5.7 million in early preview screenings (another franchise best). That set it on pace for a higher-than-projected $43.5 million opening weekend at the box office. That's a franchise high (not adjusted for inflation), beating the $34.7 million high mark previously posted by Scream 3 in 2000 (which is still the highest opening once inflation is factored into the equation). Early projections for Scream VI had the film earning $40 million at most.

Scream VI has enjoyed a generally positive reception from audiences and critics. It carries a B+ CinemaScore and a "fresh" Rotten Tomatoes score of 76% positive. The "critics' consensus" on the site reads, "Certain aspects of horror's most murderously meta franchise may be going stale, but a change of setting and some inventive set pieces help keep Scream VI reasonably sharp. Read critic reviews."

ComicBook.com's Charlie Ridgley awarded a score of 4-out-of-5 in his Scream VI review. He writes, "Scream VI, the second entry from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett... is an absolute blast, making good use of its New York City locale and delivering some of the most intense (and gruesome) sequences of the entire franchise... No franchise like Scream has to constantly reinvent itself with meta narratives while also keeping direct connections to its original installments. As time goes on, that balancing act becomes more and more difficult, but these filmmakers have proven themselves more than up to the challenge. Scream VI is a mean, nasty, rollicking good time at the movies, just as Wes Craven always intended."

Scream VI is the first entry in the series not to feature Syndey Prescott, the character played by Neve Campbell (though Campbell reportedly "loves" the movie), and moves the slasher action to New York City. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed the film from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. Scream VI's cast includes returning stars Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, and Courteney Cox, along with newcomers Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.

Scream VI is now playing in theaters. A complete list of the top 10 films at the box office this weekend is in the works.

1. Scream VI

(Photo: Paramount)

Opening Weekend
Total: $43.5 million

Four survivors of the Ghostface murders leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. However, they soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when a new killer embarks on a bloody rampage.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett directed Scream VI from a screenplay written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. The film stars Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, Courteney Cox, Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, and Samara Weaving.

2. Creed III

Week Two
Weekend: $26.7 million
Total: $100.9 million

Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he's eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.

Michael B. Jordan directed Creed III from a screenplay written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin. Jordan stars with Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad.

3. 65

(Photo: Sony Pictures)

Opening Weekend
Total: $10.5 million

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills quickly discovers he's actually stranded on Earth -- 65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at a rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa, must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures.

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods wrote and directed 65. The film stars Adam Driver and Ariana Greenblatt.

4. Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania

(Photo: Disney)

Week Four
Weekend: $6.8 million
Total: $197.7 million

Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures, and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.

Peyton Reed directed Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania from a screenplay by Jeff Loveness. The film stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, Katy O'Brian, William Jackson Harper, Bill Murray, Michelle Pfeiffer, Corey Stoll, and Michael Douglas, and is playing in theaters now.

5. Cocaine Bear

(Photo: Universal Pictures)

Week Three
Weekend: $6.35 million
Total: $51.8 million

After a 500-pound black bear consumes a significant amount of cocaine and embarks on a drug-fueled rampage, an eccentric gathering of cops, criminals, tourists, and teenagers assemble in a Georgia forest.

Elizabeth Banks directed Cocaine Bear from a screenplay written by Jimmy Warden, loosely based on a true story. The film stars Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Christian Convery, Alden Ehrenreich, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, and Ray Liotta.

6. Jesus Revolution

(Photo: Lionsgate)

Week Three
Weekend: $5.3 million
Total: $51.8 million

In the 1970s, Greg Laurie and a sea of young people descend on sunny Southern California to redefine truth through all means of liberation. Inadvertently, Laurie meets a charismatic street preacher and a pastor who open the doors to a church to a stream of wandering youth. What unfolds is a counterculture movement that becomes the greatest spiritual awakening in American history.

Jon Erwin and Brent McCorkle directed Jesus Revolution, which is based on the book of the same name by Greg Laurie and Ellen Santilli Vaughn. The film stars Joel Courtney, Kelsey Grammer, Anna Grace Barlow, Jonathan Roumie, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

7. Champions

(Photo: Focus Features)

Opening Weekend
Total: $4.77 million

A former minor-league basketball coach receives a court order to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Despite his doubts, he soon realizes that together they can go further than they ever imagined.

Bobby Farrelly directed Champions from a screenplay by Mark Rizzo as an English-language remake of the 2018 Spanish film of the same name. It stars Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olson, Ernie Hudson, and Cheech Marin.

8. Avatar: The Way of Water

(Photo: 20th Century Studios)

Week 13
Weekend: $2.7 million
Total: $674.7 million

Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

James Cameron directed Avatar: The Way of Water from a screenplay he co-wrote with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. The film's cast includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao, and Matt Gerald.

9. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village-

(Photo: ufotable)

Week Two
Weekend: $1.7 million
Total: $14.1 million

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba -To the Swordsmith Village shows Entertainment District Arc Episodes 10 and 11 featuring the fierce battle between Tanjiro, Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, and their comrades against Upper Six, Daki and Gyutaro in theaters for the first time. Swordsmith Village Arc Episode 1, featuring the encounter of Mist Hashira, Muichiro Tokito and Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji at their newly assigned dispatch location and Upper Rank Demons assembled at the Infinity Castle, is shown for the first time.

Haruo Sotozaki directs, based on the manga series by Koyoharu Gotoge. The English voice cast includes Zach Aguilar, Natsuki Hanae, Aleks Le, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Bryce Papenbrook, Erica Lindbeck, Griffin Burns, and Kira Buckland.

10. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

(Photo: Dreamworks)

Week 12
Weekend: $1.64 million
Total: $179.6 million

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burnt through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

Joel Crawford directed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, with Januel Mercado co-directing, from a screenplay by Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow. Its voice cast includes Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Anthony Mendez.

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