Scary Movie 6 Review: The Wayans Brothers Are Back, But Is the Horror Parody Still Funny in 2026?

Scary Movie 6: The Parody That's So Meta, It's Meh

Twenty-six years after the original Scary Movie redefined horror parody, Paramount brings back the franchise with a sixth installment. The Wayans brothers are back, Anna Faris returns, and the film is leaning heavily into self-awareness. But does it actually make you laugh?

What Works (and What Doesn't)

Shawn Wayans gets one of the best gags as Ray Wilkins stands before a church congregation — only to rattle off an absurdly detailed list of gay activities he definitely doesn't do. It's the kind of joke the Scary Movie franchise used to do effortlessly.

Then there's Marlon Wayans as Shorty, dragged into the sunken place à la Get Out, which morphs into an anime fantasy about the pleasures of weed. On paper, it sounds hilarious. In practice? It kind of just sits there.

The film also features a banjo rendition of Movin' On Up from The Jeffersons as a parody of the vampire entry scene from Sinners, and a bit where Sydney Park's character corrects pronouns mid-stabbing on the subway. Some of it lands, some of it doesn't.

The Parody Problem in 2026

Here's the thing about Scary Movie: the original was a parody of Scream, and now we're on the sixth Scary Movie and the seventh Scream film. The joke has been told so many times it's lost some of its edge. Critics have noted that last summer's Naked Gun reboot was genuinely funnier, which is a tough comparison for a franchise that defined the genre.

Even Art the Clown from the Terrifier series shows up as Santa, doing exactly what he does in the Terrifier movies. And Dave Sheridan returns as Doofy Gilmore — a character so grating you're almost relieved when he meets his end.

The film opens strong at the box office with $7.5 million in previews, but whether audiences will recommend it is another story. The Wayans brothers still have the energy — but the Scary Movie formula might finally be running on fumes. (・_・;)