The wait is over! A little over sixteen years since Scary Movie 5 hit theaters, a new film in the franchise hits the big screen, but it does so with a return of the key creatives who started it all. Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Keenen Ivory Wayans were last involved with the franchise with the release of 2001’s Scary Movie 2, with the IP seemingly stolen from them by Harvey and Bob Weinstein beginning withScary Movie 3.
With the franchise back in their hands, is it a return to form? Will audiences be ready to laugh at offensive and politically incorrect comedy? Well, the first social reactions are in and it’s time to see if Scary Movie will live up to the hype for fans waiting for the return of the Wayans Brothers to the franchise.
What Are The First Reactions Saying?
Some of the first reactions are decidedly mixed for the latest Scary Movie offering, with some saying, like any comedy, some jokes land while others fall flat. @chrisagwrites says, “#ScaryMovie is a mixed bag: it knows what it’s making fun of, but some of the humor doesn’t hit right. It’s a savagely raucous take on “re-quel” films with a variety of jokes that vary in execution.” @bjntweets suggests the film starts on the right foot but falls off by saying, “SCARY MOVIE (6) opens strong and slowly declines. There’s some jokes that did have me laughing, but 90% still miss.” @ShowbizSimon adds to the mixed sentiment by saying “#ScaryMovie is fun and has some big laughs but it’s a mixed bad overall. The gags come thick and fast but the ones that don’t hit the target fall flat.”
Other reactions seem disappointed by the return of the Wayans Brothers overall. @Nickvandinther writes, “Much like a modern roast, SCARY MOVIE feels inauthentic compared to what came before. The Wayans have returned to the franchise with a film stuffed with lacklustre parodies, ineffective new castmates, and sparse laughter.” @TomChatalbash, while saying it’s great to see the Wayans Brothers back in charge of the IP, also expresses disappointment with the final result by saying, “As happy as I am to see the Wayans family rightfully back at the helm of the franchise, it saddens me to report that #scarymovie is quite awful. The Wayans are so preoccupied trying to poke fun at every horror film, pop culture moment and hot button topic of the past decade that they thoughtlessly throw every dart they have at the board, barely able to make anything stick, leaving so much wasted potential on the table.” @GermainLussier admits that the film is “bad,” but it might be what fans expect from the franchise. He writes, “Scary Movie is bad but that’s kind of what you expect . There are some very funny jokes, a few smart ones, lots of unfunny jokes and then lots of long, excruciating sequences of awkward. Sometimes it works, mostly it doesn’t, but the film fan in me enjoyed it in parts.”
There are some reactions that say that Scary Movie reminds us that it’s ok to laugh and will reward fans for doing so. @Peterhowellfilm says, “SCARY MOVIE: Don’t be afraid to laugh. The Wayans Brothers-spawned horror parody franchise has been about a lot of things, most them gross and dumb. But previously there’s been no whiff of nostalgia, just good bad fun as they and their co-conspirators relentlessly cackled past the graveyard. Now there’s a collective shriek of wistful joy as Marlon and Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris and Regina Hall – along with a slew of special guests – reunite for a “resetquel” that celebrates past idiocies.” @FenixDKevin celebrates the film’s fearlessness by stating, “The best part about #ScaryMovie is how unapologetic and fearless it is. Everyone is game and everyone gives and takes their licks. Nothing is off limits to comedy, everything can be funny, but doesn’t mean everyone can be funny and Scary Movie embodies it all.”@50Shadesoftayy also hints at a laugh riot by writing, “Prepare your cheeks…to be sore from smiling! Scary Movie viciously strikes at anyone & everyone. #ScaryMovie is full of gut – busting humor and crowd pleasing cameos/callbacks. @ScaryMovie is SUCH a treat for horror fans. I need the next installment asap.”
When Did The Wayans Brothers Become Involved Again?
The return of the franchise was first announced at CinemaCon in April 2024, with Miramax, under new leadership, financing the project. In October 2024, it was announced that the Wayans Brothers would be returning to the IP as screenwriters and producers, some 17 years after they last collaborated on Scary Movie 2, with Michael Tiddes serving as the film’s director. Marlon and Shawn co-wrote the first film and its initial sequel, along with co-starring in the film as Shorty Meeks and Ray Wilkins, while Keenen served as a director on both films.
When it came time for Scary Movie 3, a bitter contract dispute took place. Following Scary Movie grossing over $270 million globally on a $19 million budget, the Wayans received a raise for the sequel but were only offered a salary for the third film that matched what they earned on the first installment following the release of Scary Movie 2. Believing that to be a raw deal, they decided to pass on a third movie, but it was after they had pitched ideas for the third movie that Marlon later revealed were used by the Weinsteins.
After the Wayans Brothers turned down the lowball deal, the Weinsteins went ahead with Scary Movie 3 without them, something they learned through the press and not directly from the infamous producing brothers. Director David Zucker, best known for his spoof films Airplane! and The Naked Gun franchise, was brought on board to direct Scary Movie 3 while Craig Mazin and Pat Proft served as screenwriters, allegedly with the Weinsteins pitching them the blueprint to work from that was pitched for them by the Wayans Brothers. Zucker and the writing pair would go on to do Scary Movie 4, adding Jim Abrahams, and once again not including the Wayans Brothers.
Old Favorites And New Faces Usher In A New Scary Movie
The new Scary Movie also sees the return of Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell and Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks, both actresses having appeared in all of the Scary Movie films except the fifth installment. They’re joined by other old favorites from previous entries, including Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, Dave Sheridan, Lochlyn Munro, Jon Abrahams, and Anthony Anderson.
In the new installment, Shorty, Ray, Cindy, and Brenda reunite 26 years after surviving a murderous, yet hilarious, rampage by a masked killer and find themselves once again targets alongside a fresh new faces as reboots, legacy sequels, and elevated horror come under fire for more laugh-out-loud mayhem. New additions include Damon Wayans Jr., Kim Wayans, Heidi Gardner, Olivia Rose Keegan, Cameron Scott Roberts, and Sydney Park.
Scary Movie hits screens nationwide this Friday.
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