Anna Faris is celebrating the return of the Scary Movie franchise as the sixth installment achieved a franchise-best $55 million opening at the box office last weekend. The actress and comedian, who previously starred in the series, came back for this latest horror-spoof entry alongside fellow returning cast members Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, and Shawn Wayans.
The film marks a significant moment for the franchise, which was creatively reclaimed by the Wayans family after they had been excluded from earlier installments. Marlon and Shawn Wayans, who co-created the original series, returned as both writers and performers, bringing the project back under their creative direction. The studio's decision to rehire the Wayans brothers and reunite Faris and Hall represented a full restoration of the franchise's original vision.
In the new film, Faris plays Cindy Campbell, the protagonist from earlier movies, as she reunites with her former sidekick Brenda, played by Hall. Their characters reunite to help defend a new generation of heroes against a masked killer. The cast also includes new younger stars Olivia Rose Keegan and Savannah Lee Nassif, who play Sara and Tuesday Campbell, the estranged daughters of Faris's character.
The 2026 Scary Movie heavily focuses on parodying recent horror films, with the Scream franchise serving as a primary target. The film references multiple recent horror releases including Terrifier, Nosferatu, Longlegs, Smile, and Ma, showcasing the variety of horror content that has emerged in recent years. The movie also includes elaborate parody sequences, such as a John Wick-inspired climactic scene and an extended joke about the Final Destination series.
Despite the franchise's history of parodying multiple horror and thriller films, this installment concentrates more narrowly on the Scream series than previous entries. The filmmakers borrowed heavily from the structure and scenes of the fifth Scream movie, incorporating specific moments and dialogue to twist and comedically exaggerate.
The record-breaking opening weekend surpassed all previous entries in the Scary Movie franchise, demonstrating audience enthusiasm for the return of the series under the Wayans' leadership. The 96-minute film maintains the broad comedic style the franchise is known for, with numerous sight gags and character-based humor throughout.
The success of this sixth installment suggests that audiences continue to embrace horror-comedy as a genre, particularly when the franchise returns to the creative team that originally established its tone and comedic sensibility. The Wayans family's reclamation of the series appears to have resonated with viewers seeking this particular brand of satire and parody in the current horror landscape.