“Scary Movie” Sets Box Office Record, “Masters of the Universe” Off to a Weak Start. The “Scary Movie” franchise has returned with a record-breaking opening—$55 million over the weekend. Amazon MGM’s new attempt with “Masters of the Universe” proved to be notably weaker than expectations and budget.
In North America, the box office was unexpectedly led by the sixth installment of “Scary Movie,” which grossed $55 million in its opening weekend—marking the best debut in franchise history. According to Paramount, the film not only surpassed the previous series record, but also became the most successful global release for “Scary Movie”: $105.5 million in 53 countries. With a budget of $30 million, the project already looks profitable at launch, standing in sharp contrast to the results of other major releases of the week.
The Amazon MGM blockbuster “Masters of the Universe” took second place, debuting with $29.3 million in the US and Canada and adding just $25 million overseas. The total gross stands at $54 million, which looks modest compared to its nearly $200 million production budget. Analysts note that the film will require an extended theatrical run and increased interest beyond its fan base to justify the investment. The audience primarily consisted of men over 45, indicating limited appeal for new viewers.
Horror films also remained among the top three: “Backrooms” dropped 70% in its second weekend but still brought in $25.9 million and has already become A24’s highest-grossing worldwide release. “Obsession” holds fourth place, continuing to surprise with steady earnings and approaching the $200 million mark globally. Rounding out the top five is “The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act” with $19.4 million.
The return of the Wayans brothers, as well as Anna Faris and Regina Hall in “Scary Movie,” was a notable event for fans. The new film satirizes contemporary Hollywood trends—from sequels to remakes and spin-offs, including parodies of “Get Out,” “Weapons,” “M3GAN,” “Longlegs,” “Scream,” and even “Backrooms.” According to experts, this approach attracted not only nostalgic viewers but also a younger generation.
“Masters of the Universe” had a long journey to the screen: the adaptation rights changed hands between studios since 2007, and the final version was directed by Travis Knight with Nicholas Galitzine in the lead role. The story revolves around Prince Adam, who becomes He-Man and fights to reclaim power on the planet Eternia. Despite a large-scale promotional campaign, the opening fell short of expectations, and now the film’s fate depends on future box office returns.
Interest in the horror genre this season is confirmed not only by the success of “Scary Movie,” but also by the consistent performance of other projects. A similar trend was seen with the recent premiere of M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller, which russpain.com covered in the article on the release of “La trampa” on Spanish TV.
For reference: “Scary Movie” is one of the most recognizable parody series of recent decades, while “Masters of the Universe” is Mattel’s second attempt to bring its toys to the big screen after the success of “Barbie.” In Spain, interest in American premieres is traditionally high, but local distribution often adjusts global trends: Spanish viewers frequently prefer genre releases and original projects, which may influence the future box office of both films.
