'Scary Movie' laughs its way to a first-place finish at the box office

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With the Wayans brothers firmly back in the driver’s seat, horror parody “Scary Movie” muscled its way past He-Man for the top spot at the box office this weekend.The reboot of the 2000s-era franchise — or “rebootiquel,” as the movie calls itself — brought in $55 million in the U.S.and Canada for a worldwide total of $105.5 million, according to studio estimates.

The movie, which had a production budget of $30 million, beat studio expectations and marks the return of the Wayans brothers to “Scary Movie.”The franchise was developed by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans and Keenen Ivory Wayans.But after 2001’s “Scary Movie 2,” the Wayans got in a pay dispute with former Miramax executives Bob and Harvey Weinstein.

The Wayans have said the Weinsteins did not tell them that 2003’s “Scary Movie 3” would be made without them.The franchise then continued with fourth and fifth installments.

Hollywood Inc.In 2023, Mattel hit box-office gold with the “Barbie” movie.

This weekend, it returns to theaters with “Masters of the Universe.”After former MGM film executive Jonathan Glickman was named chief executive of Miramax in 2024, he reached out to Marlon Wayans to see if he’d be interested in reviving “Scary Movie.”“Always dreamt of having this moment again,” Wayans said, while thanking Glickman and executive producer Marc Weinstock during a short speech at the movie’s premiere.“I thank you guys for having the vision to go, there’s only one way to do the next ‘Scary Movie,’ and that’s to bring the Wayans family back.”Miramax led the production and financing of the film, while Paramount Pictures was the distributor.Amazon MGM Studios’ “Masters of the Universe” came in second at the domestic box office with $29.3 million, in Mattel Studios’ first film in theaters since the 2023 smash hit “Barbie.” Globally, the movie made $54...