Way back in olden times — mere months after Australia’s plot to destroy America was set in motion — I trekked to Hollywood for a holiday season chat with the folks who had this new horror film they were ready to unleash upon the world.
It starred a young actress from TV’s “Party of Five,” with one of TV’s “Friends” in support, although she couldn’t be bothered to promote this mere horror movie to the press. Drew Barrymore had a killer opening-scene cameo.
And it was presided over by the realtor from “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Wes Craven, who admitted that yes, when he first read Kevin Williamson’s script, he sent it back to him all marked up like junior college term paper — grammatical corrections by the score.
Williamson, soon to a be force in horror cinema and evening TV soaps (“Dawson’s Creek”), dished on how funny (and embarassing) that was, and on the “real age” of his East Carolina University drama classmate, Ms. New to Stardom Sandra Bullock,
Simpler times.
And here we are, 30 years later, still talking about “Scream” and Ghostface masks and Neve Campbell’s Sidney and phoned in threats and Kevin Williamson’s bank account and whatnot.
“Scream 7” did a robust $7.5 million Thursday night and that folded into what Deadline.com is calling a $28 million Friday. That points to a $58-61 million opening weekend, the best-ever for this 30 year old franchise.
The Gaza-supporting stars of the most recent “Scream” outings were ditched, and there have been calls for a boycott. That isn’t happening. Young folks would rather skip voting over a genocide than miss a an ever-recycling slasher picture sequel when the people who run Paramount fire the Gaza-protesting stars. Apparently.
And reviews be damned, because this nut-with-a-knife-and-mask franchise hasn’t had a new idea in forever. Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox are back, after all.
That’s the only wide opening this weekend, so the animated holdover “GOAT” ($11.75) is set for second, with “Wuthering Heights” ($7 million will take it over the $70 million mark), the limited release “Twenty-one Pilots” concert doc ($3.6),”EPIC: Elvis Presley in Concert” ($3.4 — well over $7 million now, because Elvis is still the King), “Crime 101” ($3.3) and “I Can Only Imagine 2” ($3.1), with Sam Raimi’s “Send Help,” Kevin James’ “Solo Mio,” “Zootopia 2” fleshing out the top ten.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” may finally exit the top ten. Maybe not. It just cleared the $400 million mark.
I’ll update these figures as more data comes in Sunday.
