More than ten years after the previous installment, Scary Movie has demonstrated the franchise’s enduring appeal, claiming the top spot at the weekend box office with an estimated $55 million in domestic ticket revenue during its opening weekend.
Finishing in second place was the weekend’s other major newcomer, Masters of the Universe, which generated $29.3 million domestically. Following closely behind was A24’s horror hit Backrooms with $25.9 million, while Focus Features’ genre offering Obsession earned $25.6 million.
Directed by Michael Tiddes, Paramount and Miramax’s Scary Movie marks the return of franchise stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall. The R-rated comedy revives the long-running spoof series known for parodying horror film conventions, pop culture, and contemporary events. Produced in association with original studio Miramax, the movie serves as the sixth entry in the franchise and the first in more than two decades to reunite the series’ creators, the Wayans brothers.
Alongside its $55 million domestic launch, Scary Movie brought in an additional $50.5 million from international markets across more than 50 territories, resulting in a worldwide debut of $105.5 million. The audience breakdown was relatively balanced, consisting of 55 percent men and 45 percent women, though younger moviegoers dominated attendance, with 62 percent of ticket purchasers under the age of 30.
Internationally, Masters of the Universe collected $25 million across more than 80 territories, delivering a global opening weekend total of $54 million.
Amazon and Mattel Films’ Masters of the Universe stars Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam/He-Man, the iconic toy-inspired animated hero from the 1980s. After becoming separated from his home planet, Adam returns to Eternia, where he must stop the evil Skeletor, portrayed by Jared Leto. Other familiar characters, including Teela (Camila Mendes), Duncan/Man-at-Arms (Idris Elba), and Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie), join the adventure directed by Travis Knight.
Masters of the Universe, which holds a Metacritic score of 54 and a B CinemaScore, debuted across 3,677 theaters and attracted an audience that skewed heavily male, with men accounting for 66 percent of attendees compared to 34 percent women. Reflecting nostalgia for the original He-Man and the Masters of the Universe animated series, which aired from 1983 to 1985 before continuing in syndication, the largest audience segment was adults aged 45 to 54, representing 29 percent of ticket buyers.
Discussing the film’s performance, Amazon MGM Studios head of domestic theatrical distribution Kevin Wilson emphasized its long-term prospects, stating, “Travis Knight and the entire cast and filmmaking team have delivered something truly special, and this opening is exactly the kind of critical first moment that validates our holistic distribution strategy — building awareness and engagement that will carry well beyond the theatrical window.”
Backrooms, the $10 million horror film inspired by director Kane Parsons’ viral YouTube short-film series, and Obsession, the horror thriller centered on a man whose desire for romantic affection leads to devastating consequences, have already set notable box office records. After only two weekends in theaters, Backrooms has become the highest-grossing release in A24’s history, surpassing Timothée Chalamet’s Marty Supreme. Meanwhile, Curry Barker’s Obsession became the first movie since 1982’s E.T.: The Extraterrestrial outside the Christmas season to post second- and third-weekend grosses that exceeded its opening weekend performance.
Despite experiencing a 70 percent decline in domestic ticket sales, Backrooms continues to perform strongly. Its worldwide total has now reached $212 million.
Meanwhile, Obsession continued its impressive run, slipping just 7 percent compared to the previous weekend. The film’s domestic earnings have climbed to $152 million, and it is projected to exceed $200 million globally by the end of the weekend. It now stands as the highest-grossing release in Focus Features’ history.
Claiming fifth place was Fathom Entertainment’s The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act, a theatrical adaptation of the cult-favorite Australian adult web series, which earned $19.5 million from 2,200 locations.
Among holdover titles outside the horror genre, Star Wars feature The Mandalorian and Grogu generated $10 million domestically, raising its North American total to $155.8 million and its worldwide earnings to $293.6 million.
In seventh position was the Michael Jackson biographical drama Michael, which brought in an estimated $7.7 million over the weekend. Its domestic total now stands at $354 million. The film, currently in its seventh week of release, is expected to become the highest-grossing movie in Lionsgate’s history.