After more than a decade, the parody franchise returns with Scary Movie 6, bringing back legacy characters and aiming its satire squarely at the modern horror boom. The trailer alone confirms that the film will spoof a wide range of horror hits from the last decade, including social thrillers, supernatural horrors, and ultra-violent indie slashers.

The Scary Movie franchise has always worked best when audiences recognize the films being parodied. The first movie famously mocked Scream and The Blair Witch Project, while later installments targeted everything from The Ring to Saw.

This time, the target list is heavily focused on modern horror from 2017–2025—the era that redefined the genre with elevated storytelling, psychological themes, and viral marketing campaigns.

If you want to catch every reference in Scary Movie 6, here are the key movies you should watch beforehand.

1. Get Out (2017)

Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Genre: Social thriller / horror

Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

• Metacritic: 85

• CinemaScore: A-

Why It’s Important

Few modern horror films have had the cultural impact of Get Out. Directed by comedian-turned-filmmaker Jordan Peele, the film blends psychological horror with commentary on race and social dynamics.

The story follows Chris, a Black photographer who visits his white girlfriend’s family only to discover a disturbing conspiracy involving hypnosis and body possession.

The Scene Being Parodied

The trailer for Scary Movie 6 recreates the famous “Sunken Place” hypnosis scene, where Chris sinks into a chair and loses control of his body. In the parody version, the moment is exaggerated into absurd slapstick comedy.

Why It Became a Horror Landmark

• Won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay

• Redefined modern “social horror”

• Inspired a wave of politically themed horror films

Expect Scary Movie 6 to exaggerate the film’s symbolism and social commentary for comedic effect.

2. Smile (2022)

Smile

Genre: Supernatural psychological horror

Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

• Metacritic: 68

What the Movie Is About

Smile follows a therapist who begins seeing people with disturbing smiles after witnessing a patient’s traumatic death. The smiles signal the presence of a supernatural curse that spreads through trauma.

Why It Went Viral

The film became famous for its marketing campaign. Actors with eerie smiles appeared in the background of live sporting events and TV broadcasts to promote the movie.

The Joke in Scary Movie 6

In the trailer, a returning character from the original Scary Movie films appears with the same creepy smile, prompting Cindy to knock him out while yelling at him to stop smiling.

The gag works because the original film relies on unsettling imagery—something parody thrives on.

3. Terrifier (Series)

Terrifier 3

Genre: Extreme slasher

Estimated Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes: ~70% range (varies by installment)

• Audience scores often higher among horror fans

What the Series Is Known For

The Terrifier franchise centers around Art the Clown, one of modern horror’s most brutal villains. The films are known for:

• Graphic practical effects

• Extremely violent kills

• A cult following in the horror community

The Scene Being Mocked

The trailer shows a Santa-themed killer handing out body parts to children—a clear parody of Terrifier 3’s Christmas setting.

Because Terrifier is already exaggerated and grotesque, the parody pushes the gore even further into absurdity.

4. Longlegs (2024)

Longlegs

Genre: Psychological serial-killer horror

What It’s About

This film follows an FBI agent investigating a series of ritualistic murders tied to a mysterious killer known as Longlegs.

The film gained attention for its creepy marketing campaign and a disturbing performance by Nicolas Cage.

How Scary Movie 6 References It

The trailer shows a returning Scary Movie character dressed similarly to the killer from Longlegs, exaggerating the unsettling aesthetic.

Expect the parody to mock the film’s extremely serious tone and cryptic storytelling.

5. The Substance (2024)

The Substance

Genre: Body horror

Plot

This film revolves around a mysterious chemical that allows people to create a younger version of themselves—at horrifying physical cost.

Why It Became a Talking Point

The Substance sparked conversation because of its grotesque transformation sequences and commentary on beauty standards.

The Parody

In the Scary Movie 6 trailer, a character is injected with a glowing substance that clearly mirrors the movie’s body-horror premise.

Body horror tends to translate well into comedy because of its over-the-top visuals.

6. Weapons (2025)

Weapons

Genre: Supernatural mystery

Plot

The film centers on a strange event where groups of children leave their homes simultaneously in the middle of the night and disappear.

The Scene Being Spoofed

The trailer recreates a scene where children run outside with their arms stretched outward—only for the parody version to escalate the moment into slapstick chaos.

The eerie imagery of synchronized behavior becomes comedic once exaggerated.

7. Scream VI (2023)

Scream VI

Genre: Slasher

Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes: ~77%

• Box Office: $169 million worldwide

Why the Franchise Matters

The entire Scary Movie series originally began as a direct parody of Scream. That relationship continues in the sixth installment.

The Scene Being Parodied

The trailer recreates the subway chase scene from Scream VI, but with exaggerated costumes and comedic timing.

This reference works as both nostalgia and satire since Scream itself is a meta-horror franchise.

8. Sinners (2025)

Sinners

Genre: Supernatural horror

Plot

The film features a vampire storyline centered around a mysterious club and supernatural forces tied to a religious setting.

The Parody

The trailer includes jokes about a vampire trying to enter a building uninvited—something rooted in classic vampire lore.

The satire here seems aimed at the film’s dramatic tone and heavy symbolism.

9. M3GAN (2022)

M3GAN

Genre: Tech horror / AI thriller

Ratings

• Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Why It Was a Hit

M3GAN went viral thanks to the killer robot doll’s dance scenes and meme-worthy marketing.

The Parody

The Scary Movie 6 trailer opens with a creepy doll dancing before attacking a character—clearly spoofing M3GAN’s famous choreography.

Why Modern Horror Is Perfect for Parody

The films being targeted by Scary Movie 6 represent several major trends in modern horror.

1. Elevated Horror

Movies like Get Out and Smile emphasize psychological themes and social commentary.

2. Viral Marketing Horror

Films such as Smile and M3GAN became cultural phenomena through social media campaigns.

3. Extreme Horror

The Terrifier franchise shows how indie horror has pushed violence to new extremes.

4. Mystery-Driven Horror

Movies like Longlegs and Weapons focus on unsettling mysteries and slow-burn storytelling.

Parody thrives on exaggerating trends—and modern horror has plenty of them.

The Watchlist Before Seeing Scary Movie 6

If you want to fully understand the references, here’s the recommended watch order:

1. Get Out (2017)

2. Scream VI (2023)

3. Smile (2022)

4. M3GAN (2022)

5. Terrifier 2 or Terrifier 3

6. Longlegs (2024)

7. The Substance (2024)

8. Weapons (2025)

9. Sinners (2025)

Watching these films first will make many of the jokes land better when the parody twists them into absurd scenarios.

Final Thoughts

With the return of the original cast and the Wayans brothers behind the writing, Scary Movie 6 aims to revive the classic parody formula for a new generation. The trailer suggests that the movie will target everything from modern “elevated horror” to viral horror hits and cult indie slashers.

For longtime fans, the film will likely feel like a nostalgic return to the early 2000s comedy style. For newer audiences, it offers a humorous introduction to some of the most influential horror movies of the past decade.

Either way, if you want to get the most out of the jokes, watching these horror films beforehand might be the best way to prepare for the franchise’s chaotic comeback.

By [Tommy Thounaojam] Editor TrendBrewers