The 2026 Scary Movie reboot has officially landed at number one at the domestic box office, outpacing fellow newcomer Masters of the Universe on opening weekend. Thirteen years after Scary Movie 5 quietly limped out of theaters, the franchise is back with its original core cast, the Wayans brothers back at the writing table, and Michael Tiddes in the director's chair. June 5 just became the date the horror parody genre remembered it still had a pulse.

While the franchise's return was always going to turn heads, the numbers it pulled in are the kind that make Hollywood do a double take.

Scary Movie debuted to a projected $56 million domestic opening weekend, the highest opening in the franchise's history, while Masters of the Universe trailed behind at $30.1 million despite its broader PG-13 appeal. That $56 million figure topples the previous franchise record held by Scary Movie 3, which opened to $49.7 million back in 2003. The R-rating proved no obstacle whatsoever. On a reported budget of just $30 million, Scary Movie is already brushing against its break-even point after a single weekend, a position Masters of the Universe cannot claim on its $170 million price tag.

The plot reunites Cindy Campbell, Ray Wilkins, Shorty Meeks, and Brenda Meeks as a new Ghostface k***** forces the legacy crew back into action. Cindy's daughters, Sara and Tuesday Campbell, anchor the newer generation of characters caught in the mayhem. The story deliberately mirrors the structure of recent Scream films, leaning hard into the meta commentary around reboots and legacy sequels. The film even labels itself a "rebooquel," poking fun at the very trend it is participating in.

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While Scary Movie keeps audiences howling with nostalgia, the film's real trick lies in how ruthlessly it skewers modern horror.

The parody targets span recent and classic horror with impressive range, hitting Scream, Get Out, Smile, M3GAN, Terrifier 3, Sinners, The Substance, Longlegs, and Final Destination, among many others. Each reference is built into the plot rather than dropped as a throwaway gag. A post-credits sequence even teases a spoof called Brosferatu, targeting the 2024 Nosferatu remake.

Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Dave Sheridan lead the returning cast, supported by cameos from Shaquille O'Neal, Kenan Thompson, Anthony Anderson, and Damon Wayans Jr. The ensemble gives the film an undeniable sense of occasion, making the reunion feel earned rather than purely commercial. Scary Movie has proven that thirteen years away from theaters did nothing to dull its instinct for chaos.

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What are your thoughts on Scary Movie reclaiming the box office throne after thirteen years? Let us know in the comments.