The beloved horror classic “Scream 2” may have thrilled audiences, but the financial returns for its actors, even decades later, tell a different story.
Actor Craig Shoemaker, known for his role in the 1997 film, recently shared on Instagram that he received a mere $34.09 in residuals. This revelation sparked a flurry of reactions from fans in the comments section.
One follower expressed skepticism, saying, “So you had a bit part in one sequel of a multi-movie franchise a quarter-century ago. Not sure if you’re rage baiting or legit complaining.”
Shoemaker, now 61, responded with a touch of humor, stating, “How about none of the above, and the rage inside of you is the only baiting? Lol.”
Another commenter chimed in, “Better than nothing. Would better negotiations have changed that? You were a day player, after all.”
“It’s said with humor, and nothing else. If you don’t get it, then move on,” Shoemaker clapped back.
Others found the humor in Shoemaker’s post, with one fan chiming in, “Now now now…don’t get crazy…that’s $34 before taxes taken out. Soooo $25 bucks?”
“S–t,” the actor responded. “I didn’t think about that. I’m down to a hotdog and a lemonade now.”
“In 1997 I was cast in the role of the film professor in the sequel of the original Scream movie, Scream 2, where I lead a conversation in class about film sequels,” Shoemaker originally wrote on Tuesday alongside a shot of the letter.
“The residuals keep rolling in, baby! What should I buy with my 34 bucks?” he teased.
“Scream” premiered in 1996 and starred Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich, Rose McGowan, Matthew Lillard and Jamie Kennedy.
The sequel hit theaters a year later in 1997 and followed Sidney Prescott (Campbell) at college.
Along with Campbell, the cast included Arquette, Cox, Kennedy, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laurie Metcalf, Jerry O’Connell, Timothy Olyphant, Jada Pinkett Smith and Liev Schreiber.
Shoemaker is listed as having played “Artsy Teacher” in the film, according to IMDb.
In 2022, Campbell, 52, decided to walk away from the franchise’s sixth movie due to a salary dispute.
“Sadly, I won’t be making the next ‘Scream’ film,” she said in a statement to Page Six at the time.
“As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to ‘Scream.’”
The franchise made headlines once again in 2023 after Melissa Barrera was fired from “Scream 7” following a series of comments about the Israel-Hamas war.
Jenna Ortega, who starred in 2022’s “Scream” and 2023’s “Scream VI,” with Barrera, 35, revealed she also exited the franchise.
Ulrich, 56, meanwhile, confirmed to The Post that he was supposed to be in “Scream 7″ — despite dying in the first movie — until Barrera was axed.
The actress played his on-screen daughter in the films.
However, nearly 30 years after the iconic slasher franchise first debuted, most of OG cast reunited for “Scream 7,” which premiered this past February.
Campbell and Cox made a comeback alongside Lillard, 56, and Arquette, 54 — despite their character’s being killed off. Metcalf, 71, and Scott Foley also reprised their roles from past films.
The film marked frequent “Scream” creator/writer Kevin Williamson’s first time directing, following the 2015 death of Wes Craven, who directed the first four films in the franchise. Williamson took over after Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, who directed the 2022 and 2023 installments, exited.
“Oh, it’s been awesome [to return],” he gushed to The Post last summer. “I’ve always been on the fringes of the last few ‘Scream’ movies, as sort of the granddaddy of the franchise.”