Twenty-six years after the original Scary Movie gleefully skewered horror films and popular culture, the franchise returns with Scary Movie 6—or simply Scary Movie as the studio prefers—and its biggest selling point is also its greatest strength: the return of the Wayans family. Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anna Faris, and Regina Hall are back, joined by familiar faces including Chris Elliott, Cheri Oteri, Lochlyn Munro, and members of the extended Wayans clan. Michael Tiddes takes over directing duties. The film largely ignores the later sequels and acts as a direct continuation of the first two movies, restoring the franchise to its original custodians.
Reviewed by Allan R. Ellenberger
The setup is familiar. Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris), Brenda Meeks (Regina Hall), Ray Wilkins (Shawn Wayans), and Shorty Meeks (Marlon Wayans) once again find themselves surrounded by masked killers, supernatural threats, and every horror cliché imaginable. This time, the targets include recent Scream entries, Smile, M3GAN, Terrifier, Final Destination, and other modern horror hits. The plot barely matters and frankly never has in these films. People don't buy tickets to Scary Movie for narrative coherence. They come for outrageous sight gags, tasteless jokes, celebrity cameos, and the hope that something will make them laugh so hard they nearly miss the next joke.
For me, the film was okay. I laughed in a few places. If you're already a fan of the series, you'll probably enjoy yourself. The opening scene is promising. Recent Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor appears as herself in a bar sequence that immediately sets an energetic tone. With a surprise appearance from Carmen Electra, Taylor attacks the material with a commitment that borders on self-parody. She understands the assignment completely and gives the film an early jolt of comic energy. It's one of those moments where the performer seems to be having so much fun that the audience can't help but come along for the ride.
After that strong beginning, the movie settles into a more uneven rhythm. That has been the consensus among many critics. Reviews have ranged from mildly amused to openly disappointed. Several critics argued that the Wayans' return brings welcome nostalgia but not sharper comedy. Others felt the satire lacked the bite and surprise that made the first two films such successes. Rotten Tomatoes scores reflected that divide, with many reviewers praising the cast's enthusiasm while questioning whether the jokes were funny enough.
There is something undeniably enjoyable about seeing this cast together again. Anna Faris remains the franchise's secret weapon. She can sell the dumbest joke through commitment and timing. Regina Hall continues to show why Brenda became one of the funniest supporting characters in modern comedy. Marlon and Shawn Wayans slide comfortably back into roles they created a quarter-century ago, bringing a familiar chemistry no reboot could duplicate. Even when a joke falls flat, the performers often rescue it through personality alone.
Audience reactions have generally been warmer than critical notices. Longtime fans appear delighted simply to have the original creative team back. Nostalgia is doing much of the heavy lifting here, but there is nothing wrong with that. The film opened strongly at the box office, delivering one of the biggest openings in franchise history and proving there is still an audience for broad, unapologetically silly parody.
What keeps Scary Movie 6 from becoming a true comeback classic is that parody has become harder. When the original film debuted in 2000, the genre felt fresh. Today, audiences are bombarded with memes, TikToks, YouTube sketches, and internet satire. A spoof movie has to work harder to surprise viewers. Too often, Scary Movie 6 settles for recognition rather than invention. The audience gets the reference, smiles politely, and waits for the next joke.
Still, I can't say I disliked it. There were enough laughs, nostalgia, and affection for these characters to make the experience worthwhile. The film isn't as sharp as the original Scary Movie and doesn't reinvent the franchise, but it reminds viewers why these characters became popular. By the time the closing credits rolled, I thought the Wayans family may not have completely recaptured lightning in a bottle, but they at least reminded us who built the bottle.
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Join us tomorrow at The Hollywoodland Revue for a look at a new book Steve Cochran: Bad Boy of Hollywood, one of Hollywood's most fascinating and enigmatic leading men whose life proved every bit as dramatic as the roles he played on screen.
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