full image - Repost: Those concerned about Scream 7 most likely not getting a second trailer should be more focused on how they’re already marketing it. (from Reddit.com, Those concerned about Scream 7 most likely not getting a second trailer should be more focused on how they’re already marketing it.)
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There are horror films that receive second full trailers, such as Bring Her Back, Companion, Weapons, Together, and Nosferatu, but there are just as many horror and thriller releases that were promoted with only one primary theatrical trailer and still managed to do well, like Send Help, Primate, The Substance, Saw X, and others. The number of horror films that receive only one trailer versus two is essentially an even split and the number of trailers released has no basis in a studio’s confidence in the film or the quality of the film itself.Keep in mind, Paramount released only one full theatrical trailer for Scream (2022). The later “Get Tickets Now” spot, released a few days prior to its premiere, was not a second trailer in the traditional sense, but functioned as a last-minute sales push and was rolled out online rather than as a true theatrical preview. A single trailer release, especially within this genre, does not signal a lack of studio confidence. Because of that, the fact that a second full-length trailer has not come out yet, and likely will not, should not be treated as a red flag. If anything, it should redirect attention toward whether the marketing is escalating in ways that actually matter. A second trailer is not especially consequential at this stage and it has never been a deciding factor for horror films and if they’re able to garner commercial success. What would matter far more is whether or not they’re going to do a Super Bowl ad, ideally one that actually airs during the game rather than just being dropped online the same day. Scream VI had a Super Bowl day spot, which definitely helped its ticket sales and will probably help the same for 7. Beyond that, a sustained Facebook advertising push aimed at older audiences would be far more effective, especially given the draw of Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and Matthew Lillard.They could also make a stronger effort to promote the film to Gen Z despite the fact that a loud subsection of them, particularly the terminally online, are boycotting. At the end of the day, a large portion of that demographic really liked 5 and 6 and will see 7 out of pure interest alone, not caring about how the Israel-Palestine conflict ties into Melissa and Jenna no longer being involved. They could also push McKenna Grace more aggressively as their primary Gen Z draw. With the success of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Regretting You, and Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, not to mention her role in the upcoming Hunger Games installment, it would make sense to put her front and center in marketing aimed at younger audiences, given that she is one of the biggest rising stars of her generation right now.What is genuinely questionable are the marketing choices we already know about. The UFC collaboration felt very random and bizzare as that audience does not meaningfully overlap with the Scream fanbase in a way that would justify the spend. Putting Neve Campbell on The View, especially given that she’s set to appear just two days before 7’s release, is similarly misguided given that it’s middle-aged soccer mom audience is not the core demographic for Scream and it also raises the risk of her being put on the spot about the Spyglass versus Melissa controversy. Depending on whether her response comes off as carefully PR-trained or as an off-the-cuff misstep, it could easily generate even more negative attention around 7 right before release. (For Neve’s sake, this should have already been discussed and made a nonnegotiable prerequisite for her appearance.)If this campaign were being handled more intelligently, the focus would be on high-visibility late-night appearances, major network exposure, and culturally aligned platforms that actually overlap with the franchise’s audience. Securing Neve or Courteney spots on Kimmel and Fallon, having Courteney host SNL, or even placing one of them as a guest judge on Drag Race would make far more sense given the franchise’s massive queer fanbase and Paramount’s ability to cross-promote internally.In short, people should stop fixating on whether a second trailer is coming and what that supposedly signals. A single trailer has worked repeatedly for this genre, including for Scream itself. The real issue is the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of the promotional avenues the studio is already choosing.
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