An anticipated 2026 horror sequel may be facing competition due to its recently announced release date. After theaters reopened following global shutdowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020s have seen a number of major horror hits grace theaters. This includes original movies such as Jordan Peele's Nope (which grossed $171.1 million against a reported budget of $68 million) and Parker Finn's Smile ($217.4 million against $17 million) and new installments in major franchises including A Quiet Place: Day One ($261.8 million against $67 million), Scream VI ($169.1 million against $35 million), and The Nun II ($269.5 million against $38.5 million).

Although there are also some promising original movies on the schedule, 2026 is set to be a particularly robust year for horror franchises. At the time of writing, the slate for 2026 includes the M3GAN spinoff Soulm8te, the post-apocalyptic trilogy midpoint 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Lee Cronin's monster reboot The Mummy, the slasher sequel Scream 7, the standalone sequel Evil Dead Burn, a new Scary Movie installment, the untitled sixth Insidious movie, and Zach Cregger's reimagining of Resident Evil. However, there are two movies whose proximity to one another on the schedule may pose a particular problem.

Ready Or Not 2 Has Secured A Spring 2026 Release Date

Stars Samara Weaving And Kathryn Newton Featured In A First Look Image Sharing The News

One more major horror sequel now due in 2026 is the Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Searchlight Pictures just announced that filming has concluded on the project, which is a follow-up to 2019's Ready or Not, and that the sequel is set to premiere on April 10, 2026. Below, see their announcement, which features an image of returning star Samara Weaving handcuffed to incoming co-star Kathryn Newton, hinting at the mayhem that is to come:

So far, most details have been kept under wraps about Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, which was helmed by returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, working from a script by returning screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy. However, it has been confirmed that Weaving will be reprising the role of Grace, who was most recently seen surviving her wealthy new in-laws' deadly game of hide-and-seek, resulting in them all exploding in an outrageously bloody fashion for failing to carry out the traditions of their ancestors' supernatural benefactor.

While the identities of the new characters that surround Grace remain unknown, the new ensemble cast also includes Sarah Michelle Gellar, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Kevin Durand, Shawn Hatosy, Olivia Cheng, and Néstor Carbonell.

Ready Or Not 2 Will Release On The Heels Of Scream 7

The Two Movies Have A Lot In Common

One potential issue for Ready or Not 2 is the fact that it is set to come out less than two months after the similarly anticipated sequel Scream 7. The new Scream movie, which was directed by original franchise screenwriter Kevin Williamson and features the return of legacy stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Mason Gooding, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley, is set to premiere on February 27, 2026.

The Scream 7 cast also includes newcomers to the franchise such as Isabel May, Joel McHale, Mckenna Grace, Anna Camp, Ethan Embry, Mark Consuelos, Michelle Randolph, and Jimmy Tatro.

The two movies have many commonalities. In addition to the fact that they will be bloody horror sequels with high body counts, Radio Silence, the filmmaking collective behind the Ready or Not movies, created the previous two Scream installments. While Radio Silence is not directly involved in Scream 7, the two movies still have many crew in common, including producer James Vanderbilt and screenwriter Guy Busick. Additionally, Ready or Not 2's Samara Weaving and Sarah Michelle Gellar both played roles in the Scream franchise, appearing in the sixth and second installments respectively.

Will 2026 Be Scream Vs Ready Or Not?

Or Will They Both Help Each Other?

It remains to be seen if the close proximity of Scream 7 and Ready or Not 2 sees either eating into the other's profits. However, there is precedent for major slashers to perform well when scheduled closely together. For instance, in 1988, Friday the 13th Part VII debuted on May 13, followed by A Nightmare on Elm Street 4 on August 19 and Halloween 4 on October 21. All three releases turned a profit, with the two earlier titles grossing more than five times their reported budgets.

Major horror titles can still co-exist in the modern era...

Additionally, in spite of the crowded horror schedule in 2025, both April's Sinners and May's Final Destination Bloodlines have had record-breaking grosses, proving that major horror titles can still co-exist in the modern era. This could mean that Scream 7 and Ready or Not 2 will both have solid runs, potentially even propping one another up given their behind-the-scenes connections.

Source(s): Searchlight Pictures/X