'Scream VI' slashes its way into sequel-heavy movie March
A month of hot sequels at the movie box office is set to continue this weekend as a well-known slasher looks to bleed out a sports-movie hit.
Paramount's Scream VI (NASDAQ:PARA) (NASDAQ:PARAA) drew $5.7M in Thursday previews and seems pointed toward an opening in the high $30M to $40M range. The last film in the six-film series, released just over a year ago, opened to just over $30M on a path toward an eventual domestic gross of $81.6M and a worldwide $137.7M. The original Scream, in 1996, opened to just $6.35M en route toward a cumulative worldwide $103.1M.
That suggests the new slasher is likely to topple Creed III (United Artists/AMZN), last weekend's champion - which opened to a sports-movie-record $58.4M but seems likely to face a typical second-weekend drop-off. Creed III has proved to be the cream of the Rocky/Creed franchise, and has drawn a total $71.2M domestically and $114.3M worldwide so far.
Another reason Creed III is likely to relinquish its top spot are the choices on offer. Adam Driver stars in 65 (SONY), a sci-fi dinosaur adventure that is likely to be reaching for double-digit millions over the weekend.
And Woody Harrelson stars as a coach with a court order to manage a team with intellectual disabilities in sports dramedy Champions (CMCSA).
In any case, it's time for some films to make bank while the getting's good: Next week brings Shazam! Fury of the Gods from DC and Warner Bros. (WBD).
Cinema tickers: AMC Entertainment (NYSE:AMC); Cineworld (OTCPK:CNNWQ); Cinemark (CNK); (IMAX); Marcus (MCS); Reading International (RDI); Cineplex (CGX:CA); National CineMedia (NCMI).