The Critics Have Spoken, and ‘Scary Movie’ Is Already Facing a Rotten Opening Day
The horror-comedy parody genre has always occupied a strange corner of cinema, beloved by audiences who want to laugh at the things that scare them, yet rarely celebrated by the critical establishment. The franchise that arguably defined that space for a generation is now making its long-awaited return, and the reception has been anything but warm.
‘Scary Movie,’ the sixth entry in the horror-comedy franchise, reunites the Wayans brothers for the first time since they were separated from the series following major financial disputes with the studio after ‘Scary Movie 2’ in 2001. Directed by Michael Tiddes and written by Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory Wayans alongside Rick Alvarez, the film brings the original core cast back together to face a threat they first encountered over two decades ago.
Returning stars include Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell, Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks, Marlon Wayans as Shorty Meeks, and Shawn Wayans as Ray Wilkins, with the two leading women making a highly anticipated comeback to the franchise. The official synopsis from Paramount Pictures sets the stage with the Core Four back in a killer’s crosshairs as ‘Scary Movie’ takes aim at reboots, remakes, requels, prequels, sequels, spin-offs, elevated horror, and everything in between.
@FilmUpdates reported that the film debuted at just 20% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 early reviews, a figure that signals a rough critical landing for what was one of the most nostalgically anticipated comedies of the year. As of the review embargo lift, the Tomatometer had climbed to 31% based on 42 reviews, still landing firmly in rotten territory. The franchise has historically struggled with critics, but the gap between fan enthusiasm and critical opinion has rarely felt this charged.
Reviewers have been pointed in their assessments, with some describing the film as a hollow imitation of its predecessors that replicates surface-level elements while missing the creative spark that made the originals work. Others called it just as lewd, idiotic, and patently offensive as expected, while noting the humor no longer feels fresh. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the film makes the perplexing choice to lean into the same overload of winking self-awareness that put the first nails in the franchise’s coffin, with nothing coming close to the inspired comedy of the earlier entries.
The harshest criticism centers on humor that feels stuck in the past, with several reviews arguing the movie is too obvious, too dated, and too reliant on simply naming or copying recent horror films rather than turning them into sharp jokes. Among the properties targeted for parody are ‘M3GAN,’ ‘Terrifier,’ ‘Get Out,’ ‘Sinners,’ ‘Longlegs,’ ‘Wednesday,’ and ‘Scream,’ among others.
For context, the franchise has never been a critics’ darling, with the original ‘Scary Movie’ sitting at 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, ‘Scary Movie 2’ at 13%, ‘Scary Movie 3’ at 36%, ‘Scary Movie 4’ at 34%, and ‘Scary Movie V’ at just 4%. Poor scores have historically done nothing to stop audiences from showing up. The original film opened at $42.5 million, marking the biggest debut for an R-rated horror film at the time, and the new entry was forecast to open between $35 and $40 million domestically.
Whether audiences decide the Wayans brothers deserve a second chance at reclaiming their franchise or whether the critical consensus convinces them to stay home is the real question this opening weekend, so if you grew up quoting Cindy and Brenda, did the reviews change your mind about seeing ‘Scary Movie’ in theaters?
