Paramount Pictures is set to release "Scary Movie" in theaters on Friday, June 5, 2026.
The sixth installment of the horror-comedy spoof franchise brings back original cast members alongside a new ensemble.
>>> Disney Sets Toy Story 5 Theatrical Release Date for June 2026
The film parodies recent horror films and pop culture events. Initial reviews reveal a deeply divided critical reception.
Mixed Reactions from Critics
Julian Roman of MovieWeb noted that the film delivers the crude and provocative humor that defined earlier entries.
"It's just as lewd, idiotic, and patently offensive as expected," he said.
Roman added that pacing issues cause momentum to dip between major gags. However, he concluded that comedic hits outweigh the misses.
"You will laugh more than yawn, so that tips the scales to slightly positive," he stated.
Dan Bayer of Next Best Picture compared the revival to the 2000 original.
"Scary Movie isn't quite up to the level of the first film," he said, noting the humor doesn't feel as fresh.
Bayer observed that the screenplay struggles to maintain a cohesive storyline.
"No one really goes to a Scary Movie for the plot, but it would be nice if scenes actually connected," he remarked.
Despite structural flaws, Bayer acknowledged that successful jokes land with force. "The funniest bits are genuinely hilarious," he said.
However, he argued that the lack of deeper message renders the humor toothless.
Linda Marric of HeyUGuys offered a more critical perspective. She called the revival a "hollow imitation" that misses the creative spark of predecessors.
Marric strongly criticized the writing. "The screenplay seems wholly uninterested in narrative structure, character development, or even basic coherence," she wrote.
She noted that jokes arrive at machine-gun pace but almost none land.
"The film mistakes recognition for comedy, assuming audiences will laugh simply because they understand what is being referenced," she added.
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast expressed disappointment. He said the film fails to capitalize on abundant material in the modern cinematic landscape.
Schager suggested young audiences might still enjoy the mix of references and dirty jokes.
>>> Audit Report Reveals Prince Andrew Subletted Royal Cottages for Private Profit
"With young audiences starved for big-screen comedies, its hodgepodge will likely prove a winning combination," he wrote.
He noted that direction by Michael Tiddes struggles to build comedic energy. "The film strains to generate the hilarious momentum necessary to overshadow its shoddy construction," Schager said.
George Simpson of the Daily Express summarized the movie as expected. "It's mostly pretty rubbish, juvenile, and filthy, with the occasional moment of comic gold," he wrote.
Andrew J. Salazar of Discussing Film provided a more supportive assessment.
He stated that the project justifies continuing the series. "They make a pretty endearing case for why this spoof franchise deserves to live on," he said.
Salazar highlighted sequences spoofing recent franchise updates as effective. "The majority of scenes spoofing Scream (2022) are especially clever and funny," he noted.
Doug Jamieson of The Jam Report observed mixed audience reactions.
"There are sequences that had my audience laughing loudly, followed almost immediately by stretches of awkward silence," he said.
Jamieson clarified the film isn't a complete disaster. "It isn't the trainwreck some may fear.
There are laughs here. Some of them are genuinely excellent," he wrote.
Alison Foreman of IndieWire commented on physical comedy. "Physical beats play consistently better than any of the film's sharpest written satire," she said.
David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter noted that humor about the movie business works better than sketch comedy riffs.
Pete Hammond of Deadline highlighted a specific parody sequence as a standout. He described a bit involving Ghostface and The Substance that made him laugh.
The Film Verdict offered a critical assessment of social commentary.
"This is a child's idea of satire — imitations, with a funny hat and a leer," the review stated.
According to AP News, the screenplay was written by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez.
>>> Toronto Closes Dundas Street West for Annual Do West Fest
The R-rated film runs 95 minutes.
