The Scary Movie Films, Ranked by Laughs and Legacy
Few parody franchises have managed to stay this visible, or this profitable, for so long. What began as a sharp send-up of hit horror films grew into one of cinema’s most successful spoof series, with nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box office across six films and a 2026 revival. From the Wayans brothers’ original hit to the later entries that kept audiences coming back, here is how the Scary Movie films rank by laughs and legacy. Did your favorite make the list?
6. Scary Movie 5 (2013)
@thedisturbingdissector Ranking all 5 Scary movies before Scary movie 6 releases next week! 👀 With the the return of the Scary Movie franchise, I feel it only appropriate to rank this iconic horror comedy series from least to most funny! #Scarymovie6 #scarymovie #horror #ghostface #horrortok
Released on April 12, 2013, Scary Movie 5 landed at the bottom of the franchise box office, despite a $20 million production budget. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee and distributed by The Weinstein Company, it became the lowest-grossing film in the series with $78.4 million worldwide. It is also the only installment not to feature original franchise stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall. Instead, the film leaned on a different ensemble led by Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex, with celebrity appearances from Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan.
5. Scary Movie 4 (2006)
Scary Movie Ranking
Scary Movie 4 arrived on April 14, 2006, with spoof veteran David Zucker at the helm. Made on a $40 million budget, it proved to be a solid commercial performer, grossing $178.7 million worldwide. The film opens with a cameo sequence that places Shaquille O'Neal and Dr. Phil McGraw in a parody of Saw, setting the tone for its celebrity-heavy humor. It also holds a notable place in the series as the final franchise appearance for Anna Faris and Regina Hall before their return in the 2026 revival.
4. Scary Movie 2 (2001)
@rp_filmreviews Ranking The Scary Movie Franchise #scarymovie #scarymovie6 #marlonwayans #scarymoviefranchise #scarymovie2
Released on July 4, 2001, Scary Movie 2 followed quickly after the success of the original. Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, the sequel shifted from teen slasher spoofs to haunted house parodies, giving the series a different comic target. Its ensemble cast included Tim Curry, Tori Spelling, Chris Elliott, and James Woods. The film was also a financial success, earning $141.2 million globally. Behind the scenes, it became the final entry to involve the Wayans family until the franchise returned in 2026.
3. Scary Movie (2026)
@trickortravis Here’s my official scary movie franchise ranking! What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments! - ##horror##horrormovies##scarymovie##scarymovie6##horrorfilm@@Scary Movie@@Paramount Scares@@Paramount Pictures
After a 13-year hiatus, the franchise returned on June 5, 2026, when Paramount Pictures released a new legacy sequel directed by Michael Tiddes. The film marked the comeback of creators Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory Wayans after a 25-year absence from the property. It also reunited original stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall as Cindy and Brenda, restoring familiar faces to the series. The highly anticipated slasher spoof was projected to earn a franchise-record $56 million opening weekend at the domestic box office.
2. Scary Movie 3 (2003)
@movietalkwithbrock Replying to @khy with the release of scary movie 6 this weekend. It is time to rank the franchise from worst to best. #scarymovie6 #scarymovie #marlonwayans
Scary Movie 3 brought a major creative overhaul when it opened on October 24, 2003. With the Wayans family gone, Airplane. director David Zucker took over for his first time directing the series, steering the franchise toward a PG-13 spoof of early 2000s blockbusters like The Ring, Signs, and 8 Mile. The film generated $220.7 million worldwide and held the franchise opening weekend record at $48.1 million until 2026. Anna Faris and Regina Hall returned, joined by Charlie Sheen, Simon Rex, Kevin Hart, Queen Latifah, and Leslie Nielsen.
1. Scary Movie (2000)
@theycallmedigio Scary Movie Rankings 🔪 #scarymovie #movies #fyp
The original Scary Movie remains the franchise foundation. Released on July 7, 2000, and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, the comedy was created by the Wayans brothers as a direct parody of '90s teen slashers like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Made on a modest $19 million budget, it became the highest-grossing film in the series, earning $278 million worldwide. At the time of its release, it also held the record for the highest-grossing opening weekend for an R-rated comedy, helping establish its lasting place in modern spoof cinema.
