Paramount is back on the hot streak it had for much of 2022 with Spyglass’ “Scream VI,” which is performing just above pre-release projections with a $19.3 million opening day and an estimated $43.5 million opening from 3,675 screens.
Heading into the weekend, the sixth installment of the late Wes Craven’s meta-horror franchise was projected for a $37-40 million launch, beating the $30 million opening of last year’s “Scream.” This result also beats the franchise opening record of $34.7 million set by “Scream 3,” though that threequel, which was released in 2000, still holds the record after inflation adjustment.
Reception for “Scream VI” has been generally positive with a B+ on CinemaScore — a solid grade on the audience poll system for horror films — to go with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 76% critics and 94% audience. While “Scream VI” will have to contend with upcoming sequels to “Shazam!” and “John Wick” for general audience attention, it has a strong chance of carving a niche for itself as a well-received horror film.
In similar fashion, MGM’s “Creed III” has found its own lane at the box office, earning a decent hold of $26.7 million in its second weekend for a 55% drop from its $58.3 million opening weekend. Sometime in the coming week, “Creed III” will have eclipsed the $115 million domestic run of its 2018 predecessor “Creed II.” MGM is now estimating a final domestic total of $150 million for “Creed III,” which would put it among the studio’s top 10 highest-grossing films of all time before inflation adjustment.
While those sequels are hitting their stride at the box office, Sony/Columbia’s sci-fi thriller “65” is struggling with an estimated $10 million opening from 3,405 theaters. With a 36% critics Rotten Tomatoes score and a poor C+ grade on CinemaScore, “65” will have a hard time making back its $45 million budget, though the financial hit on Sony will be lessened as that budget was co-financed by Bron and TSG.
The other new release this weekend that is opening outside the Top 5 is Focus Features’ “Champions,” an inspirational sports film that is estimated for a $5 million opening from 3,030 theaters. Starring Woody Harrelson, the film got mixed reviews with a 53% RT score but has won over older audiences with an A on CinemaScore.
