NEW YORK – “Scream” continues to slash its way to success.

Three decades after the iconic horror film first terrified audiences, “Scream 7” burst onto the scene with a record-breaking debut, raking in $64.1 million, as per studio estimates shared on Sunday. This unexpected triumph marks a significant milestone for Paramount, which just announced its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on Friday.

In what has otherwise been a tepid year at the box office, “Scream 7” emerged as the year’s most successful opening, dethroning last week’s top contender, the Sony Pictures animated movie “GOAT,” produced by Stephen Curry.

With a production budget of $45 million, “Scream 7” benefited from the highly anticipated return of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. After opting out of 2023’s “Scream VI,” Campbell was lured back with a lucrative $7 million offer. Joining her are original stars Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard.

The previous installment, “Scream VI,” scored a franchise record with a $44.4 million opening (not adjusted for inflation). It featured Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega alongside the series’ veterans. However, in 2023, Barrera was ousted from “Scream 7” by Spyglass Media Group following controversial remarks about the Israel-Hamas conflict, which were considered antisemitic by some. Subsequently, Ortega also exited the project.

Kevin Williamson, the creative mind behind the 1996 original and several subsequent films, took on the directorial role, crafting a narrative centered around Campbell and her co-stars. The plot follows Sidney and her 17-year-old daughter as they confront the menacing Ghostface in the quiet town of Pine Grove.

Reviews were poor (34% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) and audience scores (a “B-” CinemaScore) also weren’t great.

But the overperformance of “Scream 7″ gave Paramount more to celebrate on a potentially historic weekend for the studio. On Friday, its parent company, Paramount Skydance, announced its intention to merge with Warner Bros. Discovery after Netflix dropped out of negotiations. The deal, which forms a Hollywood colossus and remakes the media landscape, awaits regulatory approval.

“Scream 7” benefited significantly from IMAX screens and premium format screens, something no previous “Scream” movie had on opening. The movie added $33.1 million overseas.

After claiming the top spot in its second weekend, “GOAT” dropped to second place with $12 million in its third weekend. It’s so far accumulated $74 million domestically. “Wuthering Heights,” Emerald Fennell’s Emily Brontë adaptation, fell to third place with $7 million in its third weekend. Its three-week haul stands at $72.3 million.

The only new release to make a dent in theaters was the concert film “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined.” Distributed by Trafalgar Releasing, it opened with $3.7 million in 836 theaters. Another concert film also continues to perform well: “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert.” The Baz Luhrmann “Elvis” addendum added 1,615 theaters after a strong debut last week. The Neon release collected $3.5 million, pushing its two-week gross to $7.8 million.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “Scream 7,” $64.1 million.

2. “GOAT,” $12 million.

3. “Wuthering Heights,” $7 million.

4. “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined,” $3.7 million.

5. “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert,” $3.5 million.

6. “Crime 101,” $3.4 million.

7. “I Can Only Imagine 2,” $3.1 million.

8. “Send Help,” $2.8 million.

9. “How to Make a Killing,” $1.6 million.

10. “Zootopia 2,” $1.4 million.