“Scary Movie” returns to theaters after more than a decade and posts a franchise-best start, topping the North American box office. Variety reports the Paramount/Miramax horror-comedy earns $24.7 million on Friday from 3,490 locations and is on pace for a record-setting run. By the full weekend, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter say “Scary Movie” leads with a $55 million opening in North America and extends a summer trend for horror-leaning releases.
“Masters of the Universe,” from Amazon MGM Studios, lands significantly lower than “Scary Movie,” with both outlets citing a $29.3 million weekend total. The Hollywood Reporter adds that “Masters of the Universe” “stumbles” compared with expectations. Both sources also point to other horror titles taking the top positions following “Scary Movie.” The Hollywood Reporter lists A24’s “Backrooms” at $25.9 million and Focus’s “Obsession” at $25.6 million for No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, indicating strong competition from genre releases even as “Scary Movie” dominates the weekend.
