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Scary Movie 6 brings back the Wayans family after 25 years away from the franchise. Directed by Michael Tiddes and written by Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Craig Wayans, and Rick Alvarez, the movie is being billed as a legacy sequel to the first two films – but does it live up to expectations?
Unfortunately, reviews for the horror parody have been decidedly negative, debuting to a low 20% Rotten Tomatoes score. While it's not being called an all-out failure, several critics have been lukewarm in their critiques, saying few jokes land and the parody doesn't always feel timely. This being said, there is a fair amount of praise for the surprise celebrity cameos and this is not the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the franchise, either.
Empire gave the movie two stars, writing that "the posters – inspired parodies of recent horror films – are wittier than the film, suggesting that maybe next time get those ad creatives into the writers' room." Their critic Kim Newman added that it's only in the last 10 minutes that the movie "almost start[s] to be funny".
IndieWire criticized the movie for not being cutting enough in its parody. "Nobody should be looking to Scary Movie for nuanced geopolitical analysis, and only a dumbass would be genuinely offended by what the Wayans didn't mock in this movie," reviewer Alison Foreman wrote. "But great satire is often defined as much by what it excludes, and refusing to engage with any actual controversy at Paramount (outside of one very weak line involving Neve Campbell), Scary Movie 6 manages to come across as thoughtless and toothless at the same time."
Variety was lukewarm on the sixth movie in the franchise, citing it having fairly few funny gags. "I didn't laugh out loud too much at Scary Movie, which is a lot less funny than last summer's Naked Gun reboot, though it's got the relentless energy of a mad-dog comedy," critic Owen Gleiberman wrote. "The majority of the jokes come off as more asserted than delighted."
Deadline's Pete Hammond says the jokes "feel as old" as the 25-year gap that the franchise has been without the Wayans family as writers. "We get a flat-footed and predictable satire that looks like the Wayans just threw whatever tired ideas they had at the wall to see what still sticks," he writes in his review.
The Wrap's William Bibbiani writes: "Sucky or not, Scary Movie is still a broad comedy, and a lot can be forgiven if it's funny. It's frequently funny. Some of the jokes backfire, horribly, and others are so tired they're pathetic, but one out of every four punchlines hits hard. The celebrity cameo in the pre-credits sketch is inspired."
For more upcoming movies, check out our guide to all the new horror movies arriving in 2026 and beyond.
