The Scary Movie franchise returns to cinemas after 10+ years, hoping to recapture the success that made the original films parody classics. Directed by Michael Tiddes (A Haunted House) and released by Paramount Pictures, this latest entry once again blends horror parody, gross-out humour, and pop culture satire into a frantic comedy package. Bringing back many of the franchise’s most beloved characters, the film banks heavily on nostalgia while attempting to modernise its formula for a new generation.
Twenty-six years after outrunning the infamous masked killer, Shorty (Marlon Wayans), Ray (Shawn Wayans), Cindy (Anna Faris) and Brenda (Regina Hall) find themselves targeted by yet another mad slasher. As the body count rises, the group must once again navigate a series of increasingly ridiculous situations, encountering bizarre pop culture parodies, modern social commentary, and plenty of fourth-wall-breaking chaos along the way in an effort to discover who the killer is.
Going into Scary Movie, I was quite excited. I’m a huge fan of the first two films, which remain some of the best parody comedies ever made. However, after those initial entries, the formula became increasingly stale, relying more on random references than clever satire. In fact, I don’t think I even saw Scary Movie 5, which says a lot about how disconnected I became from the franchise. Still, the return of the original cast gave me hope that this could be a genuine return to form.
The film’s biggest strength is undoubtedly its returning cast. Seeing Cindy, Brenda, Ray and Shorty back together again immediately injects the movie with a sense of familiarity and charm. Their chemistry remains intact, and every performer seems genuinely invested in making this comeback work. Even when individual jokes fail, the cast’s enthusiasm helps keep the film watchable. The movie understands that audiences are here primarily for these characters, and thankfully they remain the highlight.
I also found myself enjoying the film’s surprisingly self-aware approach to the franchise’s history. Some of the strongest material comes from the meta comedy surrounding the later Scary Movie sequels and the reasons they failed to connect with audiences. Rather than ignoring the franchise’s decline, the film openly embraces it and turns it into part of the joke. Those moments often felt sharper and more creative than many of the actual parody sequences.
Unfortunately, that’s where much of my praise ends. Despite an endless barrage of jokes, the film simply isn’t very funny. I chuckled a handful of times throughout the runtime, but very little felt memorable once the credits rolled. There is one particularly outrageous R-rated gag that had my entire audience in hysterics and easily generated the biggest laugh of the screening. However, one standout joke isn’t enough to carry an entire feature.
Another issue is the film’s reliance on topical humour. Many of the jokes target current trends, viral moments, and recent cultural talking points. While some of these references land today, they feel destined to age poorly. I can imagine five years from now, many viewers may struggle to remember what the film is even referencing, significantly limiting its rewatchability.
The biggest problem, however, is the film’s complete lack of structure. There is barely a plot holding everything together, with the movie often feeling like a collection of unrelated comedy sketches awkwardly stitched into a feature-length runtime. The editing is genuinely bizarre at times, abruptly jumping between scenes and jokes with little regard for pacing or narrative flow. Several sketches feel randomly inserted with no clear purpose, while none of the new characters leave any lasting impression. As a result, the entire film rests almost exclusively on the shoulders of the legacy cast.
While it’s undeniably enjoyable to spend time with these classic characters again, Scary Movie ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. The returning cast gives it energy, the meta humour occasionally hits its target, and there are a few genuinely funny moments scattered throughout. However, weak new characters, an almost non-existent plot, dated topical humour, and wildly inconsistent comedy prevent the film from becoming the triumphant return fans like me were hoping for.
Rating 3/10
