Ranking the Highest-Grossing Movies of the Scary Movie Franchise

Scary Movie 4 Photocall

The Scary Movie film franchise is a series of five American comedy films created by Keenan Ivory Wayans and his younger brothers, Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans who wrote, directed, and starred in the first two films before leaving the franchise. The films mainly specialize in parodying various modern horror films and have grossed over $818 million at the box office worldwide. The first four films featured two main recurring actors–Anna Farris and Regina Hall–and a large cast of new and recurring actors, including Charlie Sheen, Simon Rex, Carmen Electra, Chris Elliott, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, and Leslie Nielsen, while the rebooted fifth installment in the series disregarded the events of previous movies and started an entirely new storyline. Read on for the top five highest grossing movies of the Scary Movie franchise.

5. Scary Movie 5 – $72.99 million

Released in 2013, directed by Malcolm D. Lee, and written by David Zucker, Scary Movie 5 is the least successful film of the Scary Movie film series. A relaunch of the Scary Movie franchise, Scary Movie 5 stars Ashley Tisdale, Simon Rex, Molly Shannon, Charlie Sheen, and Lindsey Lohan and parodied films like Paranormal ActivityBlack Swan, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The film was the worst reviewed film in the franchise.

4. Scary Movie 2 – $141.22 million 

Released in 2001, Scary Movie 2 parodies a number of horror and thriller films, including The ExorcistThe HauntingThe Amityville HorrorPoltergeist, and Hannibal. The film was the last in the series to star Marlon and Shawn Wayans–and the last to be directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans–and starred Anna Farris, Regina Hall, David Cross, Tim Curry, and Tori Spelling. Scary Movie 2 was a box office hit, yet the film received overall negative reviews.

3. Scary Movie 4 – $178.05 million

Directed by David Zucker, Scary Movie 4–originally intended to be the final film in the franchise–was the last film in the series to star Anna Farris and Regina Hall and concludes the original film series’ story arc. Starring Leslie Nielsen, Bill Pullman, Carmen Electra, Craig Robinson, and many others, the 2006 film’s cast was one of the series’ largest and featured numerous cameos. The film–which parodied SawThe VillageThe Grudge, and War of the Worlds–was a box office smash yet received negative critical reviews.

2. Scary Movie 3 – $220.67 million

Released in 2003, the third installment of the Scary Movie film franchise parodied a number of horror, science fiction, and mystery films, including The RingSignsThe MatrixThe Matrix Reloaded, and even 8 Mile. Directed by David Zucker and written by Craig Mazin and Pat Proft, the film stars Leslie Nielsen, Anna Farris, Anthony Anderson, Charlie Sheen, Simon Rex, Regina Hall, and Kevin Hart. Scary Movie 3 was a box office success and opened to mixed critical reviews.

1. Scary Movie – $278.02 million

Scary Movie, the first film in the franchise, is also the film series’ most successful installment both critically and financially. Released in 2000 and directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans, Scary Movie spoofed mid and late 1990s films including ScreamI Know What You Did Last SummerBuffy the Vampire SlayerThe Sixth SenseThe Matrix, and The Blair Witch Project. Starring Anna Farris, Regina Hall, Shawn and Marlon Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, Jon Abrahams, and Carmen Electra, Scary Movie received relatively positive reviews and was a box office smash.

Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Written by Derrick Krom

Derrick is a recent graduate of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia where he received a B.A. in English and Communication Studies. Throughout his life, Derrick has traveled the country and even got to study abroad in London, England for four amazing months. He's a guitar player, avid music fan and lover of literature, film, and all things entertainment.