Paramount and Spyglass’ Scream debuted on VOD this past weekend, immediately vaulting to the top (or near the top) of the charts on all relevant VOD platforms. Vudu lists it as the top title over the weekend, but as of now it’s second to Sing 2 on Vudu, Google and iTunes. It’s tops on YouTube but third on Amazon behind Sing 2 and Blacklight, which is arguably about the Liam Neeson actioner playing better to the deluge of Amazon subscribers who spent all of summer 2020 devouring episodes (and entire seasons) of Paramount’s Yellowstone. Regardless, Scream arrives on VOD (priced to rent for $5 and buy for $20) after successfully rejuvenating a seemingly dead franchise. Scream has thus far earned $80 million domestic and $138 million worldwide on a $24 million budget.
That’s, in terms of “rate of return,” more profitable than Scream 4 ($38 million domestic and $98 million worldwide on a $40 million budget) in 2011 and Scream 3 ($89 million/$161 million/$40 million in 2000. The film earned around 80% domestic/worldwide of what Scream ($103 million/$173 million/$15 million in 1996) and Scream 2 ($102 million/$172 million/$24 million) grossed in their initial runs. Yes, rising ticket prices complicate the comparison (Scream and Scream 2 would both be over $200 million domestic when adjusted for inflation), but a hit is a hit is a hit. Thanks to just being a better, more disciplined movie than the last two sequels, as well as capitalizing on now-hip legacy sequels while taking earned shots at toxic fandom, Scream pulled of the trick of playing to the fans while being of-the-moment relevant.
Moreover, it pulled this off amid a pandemic with a shorter theatrical window. The film arrived at home closer to 45 days than 90 days. Yet, like…