The sixth installment of the Scary Movie franchise is set to premiere in U.S. cinemas this Friday, with its creators positioning the film as a response to what they describe as today’s increasingly censorious cultural climate. Nearly three decades after launching the politically incorrect spoof series, the Wayans family returns to the screen with a project that uses exaggerated horror parody and irreverent humor to challenge contemporary “cancel culture.”

At the Los Angeles premiere, Shawn Wayans emphasized the film’s cultural relevance, stating that it offers a new way of confronting the pressures of cancel culture through comedy. “Just because cancel culture exists, it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have laughter anymore... it’s healing, it’s medicine,” he said. His sister, Kim Wayans, echoed this viewpoint, asserting that society should allow more space for humor, even on sensitive topics. “Tonight we’re going to cancel cancel culture — that’s what this movie is going to do,” she added.

Director Michael Tiddes highlighted the challenge of balancing multiple elements in the film’s production. The project blends a satire of recent horror movies with the distinctive comedic style the Wayans family is known for, all while maintaining a coherent storyline. “You had to find a balance between the movies we were spoofing... and also our own story,” Tiddes explained.

The film reunites several members of the Wayans family—Shawn, Marlon, Kim, and Damon—alongside returning actors Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Jon Abrahams, and Cheri Oteri. Among familiar characters revived for this installment is Doofy, originally from the first Scream parody.

Staying true to its roots, the latest Scary Movie lampoons a range of recent horror titles, including The Substance, Sinners, Smile, Weapons, Longlegs, Terrifier, and the Wednesday series. This installment signifies a full family reunion behind the scenes as well, with multiple Wayans siblings contributing to the script and younger relatives like Gregg Wayans joining the production team.

Gregg Wayans, 37, described the franchise’s longevity as stemming from its willingness to push boundaries. “People want to laugh... they’re just waiting for filmmakers like my family to stop abiding by all the rules,” he said, referring to the film’s release as a “first step” toward reviving “rule-breakers” in comedy.