Scary Movie (2026) - Movie Review

The Scary Movie franchise has had a long and inconsistent history since its early successes, with many fans wondering if a modern revival could capture the same chaotic energy that made the originals so memorable. Surprisingly, Scary Movie (2026) manages to do exactly that. While it doesn't hit every joke it throws at the wall, enough of them stick, and when they do, they hit with incredible force.

The film reunites Cindy Campbell and her friends Ray Wilkins, along with siblings Shorty and Brenda Meeks, when the same masked killer from the first film mysteriously resurfaces. What follows is a rapid-fire barrage of horror, pop culture, and internet-age satire that feels much closer in spirit to the original movies than many probably expected.

The biggest strength of the film is its cast. Anna Faris slips back into the role of Cindy effortlessly and remains the comedic heart of the movie. Her talent for delivering absurd dialogue with complete sincerity continues to be one of the franchise's greatest assets. Marlon Wayans is equally entertaining, bringing endless energy to every scene he's in. Most of the returning cast members feel genuinely happy to be back, and that enthusiasm translates directly onto the screen.

The film's humor can be inconsistent early on, but when it works, it's absolutely hilarious. Several sequences had me laughing harder than I expected from a modern spoof comedy. Without getting into spoilers, the KPOP Demon Hunters parody is one of the funniest scenes in the entire movie, perfectly skewering current entertainment trends while maintaining the franchise's trademark absurdity. A sequence involving Doofy and Ghostface is another standout, and the entire third act becomes increasingly ridiculous in the best possible way, delivering some of the biggest laughs of the film.

Another pleasant surprise is the direction. Modern spoof comedies have often been atrocious and struggled to find the right balance between parody and storytelling, but the director demonstrates a solid understanding of pacing and comedic timing, which is shocking considering this is from the director of the god-awful Fifty Shades of Black. The movie never feels lazy, and even weaker jokes are delivered with enough confidence to keep things moving.

Unfortunately, not everything works. The first act contains a significant number of jokes that really don't land. The film spends a little too much time finding its rhythm, resulting in an opening stretch that feels uneven compared to the stronger material later on. The biggest disappointment, however, is Doofy. Given how hilarious the character is in the original film, his role here feels surprisingly underwhelming for most of the runtime. While he gets a few memorable moments, the movie never fully capitalizes on his potential until much later.

Still, these shortcomings don't derail the overall experience. Once the film settles into its groove, it becomes one of the funniest entries the franchise has produced in years. It understands what audiences loved about the original films while updating its targets for a modern era.

Conclusion

Scary Movie (2026) is a surprisingly successful revival that delivers plenty of laughs, strong performances from its returning cast, and several genuinely unforgettable parody sequences. Not every joke lands, and some fan-favorite characters are underused, but the film ultimately succeeds because its best moments are so outrageously funny.

Rating: 8/10

Review by Dylan Goebel