Home Movies

The latest chapter in a resurgent horror franchise laughs in the face of history to mutilate a #1 streaming spot

Franchise fatigue? Never heard of it.

scream VI
via Paramount

The law of diminishing returns is a thing that few franchises manage to avoid, and it’s even rarer for one to return after a lengthy sabbatical and take its place back at the top of the cinematic totem pole, especially when it comes to horror. And yet, Scream VI has continued the iconic IP’s resurgence as one of the most popular properties in modern-day Hollywood.

Recommended Videos

After the fourth installment ended up as Ghostface’s lowest-grossing installment yet – as well as securing some of the saga’s most tepid reviews – the short-lived TV series looked to mark the end of the line for Woodsboro’s status as a relevant slasher brand. Absence does make the heart grow fonder, though, with last year’s fifth installment stabbing its way to critical acclaim and commercial success, leading to another outing being plunged into development almost immediately.

Ghostface in 'Scream VI'
Image via Paramount Pictures

With a new creative team in place that features directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett steering the ship alongside writers Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt, Scream is back and arguably better than ever depending on who you ask. The previous two chapters have combined to net almost $350 million at the box office, with Scream VI‘s recent arrival on streaming and on-demand furthering the reinvigoration of the legendary mythology.

Per FlixPatrol, the sixth entry has been reigning supreme as the number one most-watched feature among iTunes and Paramount Plus subscribers in the United States, meaning that it’s only a matter of time before the seventh outing gets a green light as Scream continues to cement its reputation as one of the greatest long-running horror hit factories of all-time.