by Chantal Ashford, Contributing Writer
After 25 years away from the franchise they helped create, the Wayans brothers have finally returned for the sixth Scary Movie—or, depending on how you look at it, their third true entry in the series. On paper, it sounded like exactly what the franchise needed. The last few installments felt increasingly desperate, relying on lazy references, tired jokes, and a complete misunderstanding of what made the original films work.
So when the Wayans announced their return, I actually had hope. Unfortunately, after watching it, I think this is the clearest sign yet that it’s time to retire the franchise for good.
The film reunites the original crew: Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris), Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall), Shorty Meeks (Marlon Wayans), and Ray Wilkins (Shawn Wayans), who find themselves pulled back together when the killer from the original film seemingly returns. While the main plot borrows heavily from Scream 5, the movie also takes aim at recent horror hits like It Follows, Terrifier, Final Destination, Get Out, Weapons, Sinners, and pretty much anything else it can cram into its runtime.
The problem is that the movie tries far too hard to be funny. Instead of genuine laughs, most of the jokes landed with little more than a pity chuckle. The humor often feels dated, relying on references that either arrived years too late or were already stale when they happened. Several jokes involving ICE, January 6th, and other real-world events felt less edgy and more desperate.
There’s even a gag involving another recent Oscar-winning film that left me more uncomfortable than amused. The series has always pushed boundaries, but the difference is that the earlier films felt clever about it. Here, it often feels like shock value for the sake of shock value.
Still, seeing Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Shawn, and Marlon Wayans together again brought a certain nostalgic charm. They remain the best thing about the movie, even if it occasionally feels like everyone showed up for a paycheck and a reunion more than they genuinely believed in the material. Their chemistry is still there, and for brief moments the film reminds you why the first two movies became comedy classics.
The supporting cast isn’t nearly as memorable, though Olivia Rose Keegan stands out as Sara. She channels some of Faris’ energy from the original films and has a few strong comedic moments, though at times her performance veers into trying too hard territory.
What ultimately hurts Scary Movie most is that it has nothing new to offer. It follows the same formula the franchise has used for 25 years but without the freshness, timing, or cultural relevance that made the originals work. The Wayans struck gold with the first two films because they understood both horror and comedy. Here, it feels like they’ve missed the train entirely.
I wanted this comeback to work. Instead, it feels like a reminder that some franchises are better left in the past. If you’re curious, wait for streaming. Honestly, Scary Movie feels more like a movie destined for a streaming service rather than something worthy of buying a ticket to the theater.
Rating: Hate It
Scary Movie is currently in theaters.
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