Review: ‘Scary Movie’ returns with sixth installment in the franchise

“Scary Movie” is back with the sixth installment in the franchise. #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos has the scoop.

Michael Tiddes directed from a screenplay by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez. It will be released on June 5th, 2026 via Paramount Pictures in association with Miramax.

The synopsis is: Twenty-six years after outrunning a suspiciously familiar masked killer (“Ghostface”), the Core Four are back in the killer’s crosshairs and no horror movie IP is safe. Marlon Wayans (Shorty), Shawn Wayans (Ray), Anna Faris (Cindy), and Regina Hall (Brenda) reunite in “Scary Movie” alongside returning favorites and fresh faces to slash through reboots, remakes, requels, prequels, sequels, spin-offs, elevated horror, origin stories, anything with the word legacy in it, and every “final chapter” that absolutely isn’t final. Nothing is sacred. No trope survives. Every line gets crossed.  The Wayans are back to cancel the Cancel Culture. 

“Scary Movie 6” is exactly what you’d expect from a long-running parody franchise: loud, ridiculous, eccentric, and occasionally hilarious. The return of familiar faces like Cindy, Brenda, Ray, and Shorty brings a welcome dose of nostalgia, and a handful of jokes genuinely land. The movie throws rapid-fire spoofs at modern horror hits and internet culture, keeping the pace moving even when the material is hit-or-miss.

That said, the film struggles to balance fresh satire with recycled humor. Some gags feel dated, and several jokes rely on shock value rather than clever writing.

While the cast’s chemistry remains strong, the script often settles for easy laughs instead of the sharper parody that made the early entries memorable. Critics have similarly noted that the movie leans heavily on nostalgia and familiar franchise formulas.

Fans of the series will probably have a good time revisiting the chaos, but newcomers may find the humor inconsistent. It’s not the triumphant comeback some were hoping for, but it’s entertaining enough for a casual movie night.

Conclusion

Overall, “Scary Movie 6” is entertaining, and it garners three out of five stars. It delivers a few big laughs and plenty of nostalgic callbacks, even if it never quite recaptures the magic of the originals.