Neve Campbell returns as Scream 7, eyes up to £3m opening weekend

One of Hollywood’s most dependable horror franchises, Scream returns to theatres in the U.K. and Ireland this weekend courtesy of Scream 7, starring Neve Campbell and directed by original Scream scribe Kevin Williamson.

The fifth film in the franchise, 2022’s soft reboot Scream, secured £7.6 million at the U.K./Ireland box office. One year later, Scream VI would earn an almost identical £7.7 million, highlighting a consistent built-in audience that can be expected to show up for Scream 7. Rather than running on fumes and goodwill, the series continues to turn in solid and well-received films that generate audience excitement. Scream (2022) and Scream VI both scored solid critical responses and fantastic audience reactions, with the former boasting a 76% positive critical and 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and Scream VI holding 77% critical and 90% audience approval.

The absence of Scream and Scream VI stars Jenny Ortega and Melissa Barrera places one question mark over the film. With the pair absent, Scream 7 has re-centred itself around Neve Campbell as mainstay Sidney Prescott, who this time around must fight to protect her daughter from Ghostface’s blade. It’s a strong generational hook that could keep Scream 7’s earnings steady despite the cast shakeup.

From a market perspective, the first quarter of the year has increasingly proven fertile ground for horror releases. With relatively light blockbuster competition and strong word-of-mouth potential, genre titles often overperform expectations. The Scream franchise, in particular, has demonstrated remarkable consistency in the U.K. and Ireland market, holding steady totals even amid changing casts and shifting audience trends.

Advance tracking suggests that opening weekend figures between £2 million and £3 million are realistic, positioning the film within the performance range of its immediate predecessors. If audience response mirrors that of the previous two entries, a theatrical total between £7 million and £8 million appears achievable.

Brand recognition remains one of the franchise’s strongest assets. Few horror series have maintained cultural relevance across nearly three decades while continuing to refresh their formula. With Williamson returning to the helm and Campbell back at the centre of the story, Scream 7 leans into legacy appeal while introducing heightened personal stakes.

While the cast shakeup presents some uncertainty, the franchise’s track record suggests that loyal horror fans will turn out. If early reactions are positive and momentum builds, Scream 7 looks set to become another solid Q1 horror performer in the U.K. and Ireland.