Marlon Wayans is finally reclaiming what the Weinsteins stole from him and his brothers decades ago, and the timing couldn’t be more poetic.
The comedy legend just revealed how Harvey and Bob Weinstein systematically cheated him out of royalties on the first two “Scary Movie” films, which generated over $400 million in combined revenue.
After “Scary Movie” grossed $278 million on a $19 million budget and “Scary Movie 2” pulled in $141 million on a $45 million budget, Keenen, Marlon, and Shawn demanded a proper raise for the third installment. The Weinsteins responded with a lowball offer, and when the Wayanses refused, the studio made “Scary Movie 3” without them. Beyond losing creative control, the Weinsteins allegedly used accounting tricks to ensure the Wayans family never saw their rightful royalties from the first two films.
The new “Scary Movie,” hitting theaters June 5, represents the Wayans family’s triumphant return to the franchise they created. When Jonathan Glickman took over as CEO of Miramax in 2024, he immediately reached out to Wayans about reviving the property. Glickman gave the brothers a deal comparable to what Tarantino and Rodriguez received, finally treating them like the creative powerhouses they are.
The film reunites Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen as writers, producers, and stars, fulfilling a deathbed promise Marlon made to his father. While the Wayans brothers are celebrating their creative resurrection with a franchise that defined their legacy, Harvey Weinstein’s legal empire is crumbling.
On May 15, 2026, just ten days before this story broke, a Manhattan jury deadlocked on rape charges against Weinstein in his third trial, resulting in a mistrial. The disgraced Hollywood mogul, who faces decades in prison if convicted, continues cycling through retrials while his legacy burns.