For a franchise as reliable as Scream, you would think Paramount might be tempted to let the latest sequel breathe a little longer in theaters. That has not been the studio’s style for a while now, though. Even when one of its movies breaks out, Paramount has kept showing that it is still far more comfortable with a shorter exclusive theatrical window than most of its rivals, and now that pattern has hit Ghostface, too.
Scream 7 is headed to premium video on demand after just over 30 days in theaters. That is a very quick turnaround for a sequel that opened to $63.6 million domestically on February 27 and has gone on to earn about $118.7 million in North America and roughly $204.1 million worldwide so far. Even with its box office slowing down, that is still a strong run for a horror title, and it keeps the Scream franchise comfortably above the $1 billion mark worldwide.
That short window is what really stands out here. By March 25, Scream 7 was still sitting at No. 7 on the daily domestic chart, pulling in another $350,256 from 2,560 theaters. In other words, this was not a movie that had completely vanished from cinemas before Paramount made its move. It was still very much in circulation when the studio chose to push it toward home viewing.
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Is ‘Scream 7’ Any Good?
Collider’s review, written by Ross Bonaime, stated that Scream 7 feels less like a fresh sequel and more like a franchise running on fumes. After all the behind-the-scenes chaos, the film arrives with a lot to prove, but instead of finding a smart new angle, it falls back on old ideas, familiar faces, and nostalgia for the first movie. That would be fine if it had something sharp to say, but this time, it really doesn’t. “By and large, however, after all the failed plans for its sequels and complications that it’s brought upon itself, Scream 7 is proof that this once-great horror franchise doesn’t have any fresh ideas to offer,” writes Bonamie. “The well is dry, and Ghostface’s games just aren’t as fun as they once were.” He continued, saying:
“By the time we get the killer reveal, and the motive is explained, it’s hard not to laugh at how far this universe has fallen from its original heights. Scream used to poke fun at the silliness of horror movies and laugh at the genre’s clichés, but now, it’s indistinguishable from the films it once gleefully lampooned, in what is easily the worst installment so far.”
Scream 7 is available on digital now.
Release Date
February 27, 2026
Runtime
114 Minutes
Director
Kevin Williamson
