Cinema-goers had plenty of reasons to head to the multiplex this weekend, but one film dominated the conversation. According to Deadline, Paramount-Miramax’s Scary Movie reboot delivered the biggest opening in the franchise’s 26-year history, pulling in an estimated US$55 million at the North American box office.
The success marks a major return for the Wayans brothers, who helped launch the franchise before stepping away more than two decades ago. Their comeback clearly connected with younger audiences, with under-35s making up the bulk of ticket buyers.A social media-driven campaign helped fuel anticipation ahead of release, turning the film into one of the summer’s early box office winners.
Not every nostalgia-fuelled revival enjoyed the same momentum. Amazon MGM Studios’ Masters of the Universe opened to around US$29 million, a much softer result for a blockbuster reportedly carrying a US$170 million production budget.While the film attracted loyal fans of the original 1980s franchise and performed well on premium screens, younger viewers were slower to embrace He-Man’s return to cinemas.
Beyond the headline releases, alternative forms of entertainment continued to make their mark. The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act generated more than US$21 million across its four-day opening, proving that internet-born franchises can successfully translate online popularity into cinema ticket sales.
Horror also remained one of the industry’s most dependable performers. Backrooms added another US$25.9 million in its second weekend, while Obsession continued its impressive run with only a modest drop in ticket sales.
Taken together, the weekend paints a positive picture for cinemas. North American box office revenue approached US$184 million, making it one of the strongest early June weekends since the pandemic. With domestic ticket sales now nearing the US$4 billion mark for the year, the summer movie season appears to be gathering momentum — and audiences are showing they’re still willing to leave the sofa behind for the right film.
