WBD - 'Scream VI' slashes its way into sequel-heavy movie March

2023-03-10 16:02:35 ET

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 ).

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