Ghostface Reigns Supreme: “Scream 7” Dominates the Box Office
All hail Ghostface! Paramount’s slasher sequel, Scream 7, has officially become the highest-grossing installment in the long-running franchise, raking in a chilling $176.9 million. This surpasses the lifetime hauls of the original 1996 Scream ($173 million) and 1997’s Scream 2 ($172 million) – figures not adjusted for inflation. The film’s success is fueled by a strong $70.4 million international performance and a remarkable $106.5 million domestically.
This impressive turnout is a testament to Paramount’s successful revival of the property, which began in 2022. Box office analysts attribute the film’s popularity to a potent combination of nostalgia – particularly the welcome return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott after a salary dispute kept her out of the previous installment – and the enduring appeal of the horror genre. You can learn more about the history of the Scream franchise here.
“Hamnet” Achieves Oscar-Worthy Success
In another box office milestone, Chloe Zhao’s critically acclaimed Shakespearean tragedy, Hamnet, has surpassed the $100 million mark just in time for Oscar weekend. The film, nominated for eight Academy Awards, has earned a global total of $100.6 million, with a significant $75.2 million coming from international markets and $24.1 million from North America.
Released by Focus Features in the U.S. and Universal internationally starting last December, Hamnet has achieved impressive heights, especially considering the challenges faced by arthouse releases. The film stars Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal as Agnes and William Shakespeare, portraying their heartbreaking journey through the loss of their son.
New Releases: Mixed Results
Universal’s romantic drama, Reminders of Him, opened to $10 million across 56 international markets. However, it performed even stronger domestically, earning $18.2 million and bringing its global total to $28.2 million. This is a solid start, especially considering the film’s $25 million production budget.
Reminders of Him follows a single mother returning home after serving five years in prison for a tragic mistake. This adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel marks the author’s third successful big-screen adaptation, following It Ends With Us ($350 million) and Regretting You ($90 million). Hoover’s next theatrical venture, Verity, starring Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway, is slated for release in October by Amazon MGM.
Pixar’s “Hoppers” Continues to Leap Forward
Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers remains the top-performing international film, adding $31 million from 45 territories in its second weekend. The animated adventure has now generated $77.9 million overseas and $164 million globally, against a $150 million budget. Hoppers is looking like Pixar’s first original hit since 2017’s Coco, a welcome sign after the success of sequels like Inside Out 2 and the struggles of new ideas like Elio.
A Tragic Turn for “The Bride!”
Jessie Buckley’s box office journey has been a rollercoaster. While Hamnet soars, her latest film, The Bride!, has stumbled, adding a disappointing $1.7 million from 70 markets in its sophomore outing. With negative reviews and a poor audience reception, the R-rated The Bride! has earned a meager $9.7 million overseas and $21 million worldwide. Warner Bros. is expected to lose millions on the $90 million production and $65 million marketing spend for this 1930s reimagining of The Bride of Frankenstein.
