‘Scream 8’ Looking More Likely as ‘Scream 7’ Tracks for Massive Opening Weekend

The journey to Scream 7 arriving in theaters this weekend has certainly been a messy one, with the firing of Melissa Barrera and exit of Jenna Ortega leading to a rewrite that changed up the original plans for the film. Original Scream writer Kevin Williamson became the director and Neve Campbell came back on board for a Sidney-focused seventh installment in the saga.

At the end of the day, however, all that really matters to the studios is how much the movies are making. And the tracking for Scream 7‘s debut this coming weekend is looking strong.

How much is Scream 7 tracking to make at the box office?

Scream 7 is tracking to make somewhere around $40 – $50 million at the U.S. box office this weekend, and it could climb so high that it becomes the franchise’s all-time highest opening.

That record is currently held by the Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera-starring Scream VI, which opened to $44.4 million back in 2023 and went on to scare up $166.5 million worldwide.

One year prior, Scream 5 opened to $30 million in the United States, suggesting that there’s a ravenous appetite for this franchise that is only growing as the years go on. At this point, the Scream saga has proven itself to be Wes Craven’s most enduring creation, with Ghostface constantly finding new audiences while Freddy Krueger continues lying dormant in Hell.

What’s the production budget for Scream 7?

In large part due to the rewrites and rising costs due to inflation, the Scream 7 production budget is a reported $45 million, but it should have no problem turning a massive profit in the coming weeks. It could very well exceed its production budget in the opening weekend alone.

Variety notes this week, “The seventh chapter carries a $45 million budget, up from the sixth film’s $35 million price tag. One source notes that inflation, which has impacted everything from set construction to travel expenses, is partly responsible for the bigger budget.”

What are the chances of Scream 8 at this time?

If Kevin Williamson’s Scream 7 does indeed blow up the box office in the way it’s expected to in the coming weeks, there is a HIGH likelihood that Scream 8 won’t be far behind.

Variety even notes in today’s previously linked-to report about Scream 7, “Insiders suggest plans are already in place for the killer’s lethal return in an eighth film.”

“If people turn out for [Scream 7],” Kevin Williamson himself notes in a new interview, “we can talk about a trilogy.” That’s always how it works in Hollywood, after all.

The latest entry in the slasher saga opens in theaters — including IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and other premium large formats — beginning on February 26, 2026.