Scary Movie (2026) Review: A Familiar Formula with New Faces
Scary Movie, set to hit theaters on June 5, is the latest installment in the long-running parody franchise. Known for its irreverent take on horror films, Scary Movie 2026 (also referred to as Scary Movie 6) is likely to deliver exactly what fans expect — a mix of clever gags, over-the-top humor, and a familiar structure. The film reunites the original creators, the Wayans brothers, who are finally back in the director’s chair after a long hiatus. Their return brings with it the same rapid-fire jokes based on well-known movie scenes, some of which are underwhelming, while others are genuinely hilarious.
A Reimagined Scream 5 Storyline
The plot follows a new Ghostface killer who begins a fresh killing spree — a storyline that closely mirrors Scream 5. The film uses this familiar framework as the backbone for its comedic moments, with new characters stepping into the roles once held by the original Scream cast. Olivia Rose Keegan and Savannah Lee Nassif take on the roles of Sara and Tuesday, substituting for the original Scream characters. Cameron Scott Robert plays Jack, taking the place of Sam’s boyfriend, Richie. The film also introduces new teen characters, including Sydney Park, Gregg Wayans, Benny Zielke, and Ruby Snowber.
One notable change is the return of Anna Faris as Cindy Campbell, the mother of Sara and Tuesday. This brings back a significant portion of the original Scary Movie cast, including Regina Hall as Brenda, Marlon Wayans as Shorty, and Shawn Wayans as Ray. This crossover of generations adds a new layer of complexity, going beyond what Scream 5 originally intended.
A Focus on Comedy Over Story
As with most Scary Movie entries, the storyline isn’t the main attraction. Instead, the film shines through its R-rated humor and numerous parodies of popular movies. It delivers a nonstop barrage of sight gags, sound gags, sex gags, and slapstick moments. Some of the funniest bits include jokes about Ray’s not-so-closeted homosexuality and Shorty’s love for marijuana. The film also includes parodies of Sinners, Weapons, Get Out, and others.
However, not all of these moments land as effectively as they could. For example, two scenes directly lifted from Sinners feel like missed opportunities. The film could have taken more liberties with the source material for a more exaggerated and comedic effect. On the other hand, some parodies, like a riff on Longlegs featuring Chris Elliot, Damon Wayans Jr., and Heidi Gardner, hit the right notes and effectively capture the essence of the original film.
A Low Success Rate for Jokes
Despite the film’s comedic potential, Scary Movie 2026 has a low success rate for its jokes, with only about 3 or 4 out of every 10 landing well. There are definitely some genuinely funny and clever moments, such as a surreal scene where a knife stabs a poster, and the poster itself reacts. However, many jokes fall flat or are just rehashes of previous movies, such as a Terrifier 3 parody that closely mirrors the original film.
Using a Scream movie as the core of a parody is inherently odd, given that the Scream franchise is already self-aware and uses humor to mock its own genre. This results in scenes that simply echo the same jokes from Scream 5 and Scream 6, like characters making pointed remarks about the legacy sequel they’re watching. The film also suffers from an overload of characters, making it difficult for the cast to share screen time effectively.
A Reunion of Comedy Legends
One of the highlights of Scary Movie 2026 is the reunion of Anna Faris and Regina Hall, who reprise their roles as Cindy and Brenda. Their chemistry remains strong, and they both deliver some of the film’s best lines. However, they don’t share as many scenes together as fans might have hoped, and they tend to pop in and out of the story.
The younger cast also shines, with Olivia Rose Keegan and Savannah Lee Nassif bringing charm and humor to their roles. Ruby Snowber stands out in a showy role that blends elements from Scream 5’s Liv and Amber. The film also features several celebrity cameos, a few of which provide some of the bigger laughs in the movie.
Expanding Beyond Horror
Interestingly, some of the best parody moments in Scary Movie 6 aren’t from horror films. The film targets a recent biopic and a huge animated sensation, offering fresh and unexpected humor. The screenplay, co-written by the Wayans brothers and their nephew Craig Wayans, along with Rick Alverez, occasionally veers away from the horror genre, delivering clever gags that break the fourth wall. This approach gives the film a broader comedic scope, making it more than just a horror parody.
