The Scary Movie in order by release date is Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Scary Movie 4 (2006), Scary Movie 5 (2013), and Scary Movie (2026), the sixth film. Each movie works as a standalone parody, so you can start anywhere. Still, the early films build running gags that pay off later. All six films stream on Paramount+ right now, and the 2026 movie also has an extended cut. Below, I break down every film, share box office numbers, and list the best places to watch. I also add my top 10 scariest movies all time for fans who want real chills after the laughs.
Scary Movie Key Facts at a Glance
- Films in the franchise: Six, from 2000 to 2026
- Genre: Horror comedy and parody
- Core cast: Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Marlon Wayans, and Shawn Wayans
- Newest film: Scary Movie (2026), directed by Michael Tiddes, in theaters June 5, 2026
- Streaming: All six films on Paramount+, including a theatrical and an extended cut of the 2026 movie
- Franchise total: About $1.1 billion worldwide across six films
The Scary Movie in Order by Release Date
Release order and story order match, so you never need a separate chronological list. This table shows each film, its main spoof targets, and its worldwide box office.
| # | Film | Year | Main Spoof Targets | Worldwide Gross |
| 1 | Scary Movie | 2000 | Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer | About $278 million |
| 2 | Scary Movie 2 | 2001 | The Haunting, The Exorcist | About $141 million |
| 3 | Scary Movie 3 | 2003 | The Ring, Signs | About $221 million |
| 4 | Scary Movie 4 | 2006 | War of the Worlds, The Grudge, Saw | About $178 million |
| 5 | Scary Movie 5 | 2013 | Paranormal Activity, Mama, Black Swan | About $78 million |
| 6 | Scary Movie | 2026 | Scream, Sinners, Smile, The Substance, Weapons | About $232 million |
The numbers tell a clear story. The original film cost $19 million and earned $278 million. The first five films grossed about $896 million combined. The 2026 film added roughly $232 million on a $30 million budget, which made it the second highest grossing film in the series.
Notice one title quirk. The 2026 movie carries the plain title Scary Movie, not Scary Movie 6. Fans use the number because it is the sixth film. It also opened big. Deadline reported a $55 million domestic opening weekend, the best debut in franchise history.
Scary Movie in Order: Film by Film Guide
Here is a quick look at each movie, so you know what to expect before you press play.
Scary Movie (2000)
The film that started it all introduces Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris) and her friends Brenda (Regina Hall), Ray (Shawn Wayans), and Shorty (Marlon Wayans). A masked killer stalks the group after they cover up a hit-and-run. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed, and he co-wrote the script with his brothers. The jokes target Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Many fans still rank it highest.
Scary Movie 2 (2001)
The sequel trades the masked killer for a haunted house. The gang joins college students at Hell House for a paranormal experiment led by Professor Oldman (Tim Curry). The film spoofs The Haunting and The Exorcist. It also marks the last time the Wayans family worked on the series until 2026.
Scary Movie 3 (2003)
Cindy investigates a cursed videotape and strange crop circles. She teams up with farmer Tom Logan (Charlie Sheen). The movie riffs on The Ring and Signs. Airplane! co-director David Zucker took over the franchise here, and the film earned about $221 million.
Scary Movie 4 (2006)
Cindy now works as a caretaker, and strange events hit her neighborhood. The film pulls from War of the Worlds, The Grudge, and Saw. Anna Faris and Regina Hall still lead the cast. This film earned about $178 million.
Scary Movie 5 (2013)
Stylized as Scary Movie V, the fifth film brings an all-new main cast. Jody (Ashley Tisdale) and Dan (Simon Rex) move into a home and spot strange activity on security cameras. The story mimics Paranormal Activity. It also mines gags from Mama, Evil Dead, and Black Swan. Anna Faris and Regina Hall do not appear.
Scary Movie (2026)
The core four return: Shorty (Marlon Wayans), Ray (Shawn Wayans), Cindy (Anna Faris), and Brenda (Regina Hall). Michael Tiddes directed, and the Wayans family wrote the script with Rick Alvarez. A familiar masked killer resurfaces, and the film spoofs Scream, Sinners, Smile, The Substance, and Weapons.
Two versions stream on Paramount+. The theatrical cut runs 1 hour 35 minutes. The extended cut runs 1 hour 44 minutes. Critics were harsh, and the film holds a 23% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences still showed up, and it earned $231.9 million worldwide.
Why Fans Search for Scary Movie in Order in 2026
The franchise just returned after a long break, and that creates confusion. Scary Movie 5 opened in 2013, so fans waited 13 years for the next film. The Wayans family also returned for the first time since Scary Movie 2 in 2001, which made the 2026 film a real event. Anna Faris and Regina Hall came back as Cindy and Brenda, along with Marlon and Shawn Wayans. New viewers now ask where to begin. Older fans want to rewatch the jokes before they see the new film. Everyone also wonders which streaming service has each movie. I hear these questions from friends and readers all the time, and I understand the problem. The films live on different services, the titles look alike, and many online uploads look suspicious.
Do You Need to Watch Scary Movie in Order?
Not strictly, but I recommend it. Each film parodies different horror hits, so you can jump in anywhere. Still, the early films share characters. Cindy and Brenda appear in the first four movies. Shorty and Ray anchor the first two.
The Wayans family left after Scary Movie 2 because of creative conflicts, so the later films feel different. Scary Movie 5 even swapped in a new cast. Many reviewers call the 2026 film a spiritual sequel to the first two movies. Watching Scary Movie in order helps you catch those callbacks, so I suggest at least watching the first two before the new one.
Where to Stream Every Scary Movie Film in 2026
Paramount+ is the easiest starting point. The Paramount+ Scary Movie Collection lists all six films in one place. The 2026 movie reached digital platforms on July 21, 2026, and it joined Paramount+ on September 3, 2026. To watch Scary Movie in order without hopping between apps, I start there.
Paramount+ offers two plans. Essential includes ads, and Premium skips most of them. Either plan lets you stream the films on demand. This table compares your main options.
| Option | What You Get | Best For |
| Paramount+ Essential | All six films, with ads | Budget viewers |
| Paramount+ Premium | All six films, fewer ads | Marathon fans |
| Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home | Rent or buy single films | One-off viewing |
| Hoopla and Kanopy | Some older titles, free with a library card | Free viewing |
| Netflix | Rotating catalog | Checking before you pay |
Netflix scary movies shift every month. Netflix and Max carried some early Scary Movie titles in March 2026, but by August 2026 JustWatch listed the original on Paramount+ instead. Check JustWatch before you subscribe to anything.
YouTube Movies and Trending YouTube Movies
YouTube helps too. You can rent or buy many films through YouTube Movies and TV, and official trailers for trending YouTube movies appear daily. Many viewers type “YouTube Scary Movie in order” into the search bar and hope for a playlist. You will find trailers and clip reviews, which are fun. Skip full-movie uploads, though. They often break copyright rules and sometimes push spam links. If you want offline viewing, read how to save permitted videos for offline viewing the safe way.
Plan Your Marathon Schedule
Most of the older films run under 90 minutes, so a full marathon takes about nine hours. That sounds like a lot, but it fits into two relaxed weekends. I like to watch two films on Friday night and one on Saturday afternoon. Then I save the rest for Sunday. Pick a streaming app, load your queue, and stock your snacks before the first film starts. A little prep keeps you from scrolling for twenty minutes between movies.
Top 10 Scariest Movies All Time That Inspired the Parodies
Scary Movie works best when you know what it spoofs. The Scary Movie in order also shows how the parody targets changed over 26 years. Here is my top 10 scariest movies all time list, in rough order of how much each one rattled me. Scariness is personal, so treat this as my take.
- The Exorcist (1973): Scary Movie 2 spoofs its possession scenes.
- Halloween (1978): The 2026 film pokes fun at the 2018 sequel.
- Psycho (1960): The shower scene still shocks me.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974): Raw, loud, and relentless.
- The Shining (1980): Slow dread beats a cheap jump scare.
- A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984): Freddy Krueger turned sleep into a threat.
- Scream (1996): The main target of the 2000 original.
- The Ring (2002): Scary Movie 3 mocks its cursed tape.
- Saw (2004): Scary Movie 4 turns its traps into slapstick.
- Paranormal Activity (2007): Scary Movie 5 spoofs its found footage style.
What to Watch Next: Horror Movies and Netflix Scary Movies
Many fans search “what to watch horror movies” right after a marathon. I follow a simple plan. First, I open Netflix and browse the Horror row, since Netflix scary movies rotate monthly. Next, I check Paramount+ for slashers, because Paramount says you can stream the first six Scream movies there. Finally, I scan YouTube Movies for free ad-supported options.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake I see is searching without a plan. Use a Scary Movie in order checklist, and tick off each film as you go. Here are other errors to avoid:
- Mixing up titles. The 2026 film is simply Scary Movie, so add the year to your search.
- Trusting random uploads. Pirated copies can carry malware and break the law.
- Expecting real scares. These films mock horror. They do not copy its dread.
- Picking the wrong cut. The extended cut runs longer, so choose based on your time.
- Ignoring streaming changes. Catalogs change monthly, so confirm availability first.
Pro Tips From My Experience
My best tip for any Scary Movie in order marathon is to pair each parody with its source. Watch Scream first, then the 2000 film. The jokes land twice as hard.
Here are more habits that work for me:
- Space the films over two weekends. Back-to-back viewing wears the gags thin.
- Watch the first two films together. They share the same writers and tone.
- Turn on captions. Fast jokes hide in background dialogue.
- Watch official trailers on YouTube first. They show how each film mocks its targets.
- Save the 2026 extended cut for last. It adds new footage and an alternate ending.
More Movie Night Ideas From Collab Medium
Horror comedy can leave you craving something smarter. If that happens, try our list of the best time travel movies of all time for a very different kind of movie night.
Curious about the money behind Hollywood? Read our guide to Ryan Seacrest net worth in 2026 to see how a TV host built his entertainment empire.
After your Scary Movie in order marathon, you will spot parody jokes in every horror trailer you watch. That makes trending YouTube movies and new releases far more fun.
FAQs
What is the Scary Movie in order?
Watch Scary Movie (2000), Scary Movie 2 (2001), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Scary Movie 4 (2006), Scary Movie 5 (2013), then Scary Movie (2026). The 2026 film is the sixth entry.
Where can I stream every Scary Movie film?
Paramount+ lists all six films, including both cuts of the 2026 movie. Availability changes, so check JustWatch before you press play.
Do I have to watch Scary Movie in order?
No, because each film parodies different horror hits. Still, the first four share main characters, so release order works best.
Is Scary Movie (2026) the same as Scary Movie 6?
Yes. Its official title is Scary Movie, but fans call it Scary Movie 6 because it is the sixth film.
