Wikipedia

Brenda Meeks

Brenda Meeks is a fictional character of the Scary Movie franchise. She is portrayed by Regina Hall, and was created by Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Buddy Johnson and Phil Beauman. Meeks debuted as a high school student in Scary Movie (2000), parodying characters seen in the Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer franchises.

Brenda Meeks
Scary Movie character
Regina Hall as Brenda Meeks in Scary Movie
First appearanceScary Movie (2000)
Created by
Based on
Portrayed byRegina Hall
In-universe information
Occupation
  • High school student (Scary Movie (2000))
  • College student (Scary Movie 2)
  • Teacher (Scary Movie 3)
  • News reporter (Scary Movie 4)
  • Pending (Scary Movie (2026))
Family
  • Mr. Meeks (father)
  • Mrs. Meeks (mother)
  • Shorty Meeks (half-brother)
  • Unnamed half-human baby (son)
  • Brad Meeks (son)
  • Dei Meeks (daughter)
Significant others

Brenda is the best friend of Cindy Campbell, sister of Shorty Meeks, and sometimes girlfriend of Ray Wilkins. Brenda Meeks has appeared in most of the films in the Scary Movie franchise, except for Scary Movie 5 (2013). The character dies in both Scary Movie and Scary Movie 3 (2003), but returns without explanation.[1] Hall reprised her role as Meeks in the sixth installment, Scary Movie (2026).

Appearances

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Brenda Meeks is the half-sister of Shorty Meeks (Marlon Wayans) and best friend of Cindy Campbell (Anna Faris). In Scary Movie she attends high school with Cindy, Shorty, her closeted boyfriend Ray (Shawn Wayans), and her two other friends Buffy (Shannon Elizabeth) and Greg (Lochlyn Munro).[a] Brenda is killed in a movie theater by the movie-goers after she shows improper theater etiquette while watching Shakespeare in Love.[2]

Brenda inexplicably returns in Scary Movie 2. She attends college and takes part in a supernatural experiment.[b]

In Scary Movie 3 Brenda has become a teacher and remains in contact with Cindy. She is killed by a Ring-esque ghost and, at her wake, Cindy's friend George, whose niece Sue is a student of Brenda's, accidentally causes her corpse to explode after mistakenly believing she is still alive.[3]

Brenda once again inexplicably returns in Scary Movie 4 as a news reporter; in this movie Brenda and Cindy fight off aliens.[4] At the end of the film, she gives birth to a Billy the Puppet-esque baby.[5]

Brenda and Cindy are not featured in Scary Movie 5, but reappeared in Scary Movie (2026).[4] Brenda was confirmed to be returning to the franchise in August 2025 via Instagram. Hall and Faris released a joint statement to Deadline stating their excitement to reprise the roles.[6][7] In the movie trailer, Brenda is depicted as a parody of the titular character of Ma.[8]

Creation and development

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Hall in 2014

Brenda Meeks is loosely based on black characters of slasher films of the 1990s, such as Brandy Norwood's character Karla Wilson in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer[4] and Jada Pinkett Smith's character Maureen Evans in Scream 2.[9]

Aaliyah was initially considered for the part of Brenda, but turned down the role due to her thoughts on the script and friendship with Brandy Norwood.[10] Christina Milian and Lil Kim were also considered.[11]

Regina Hall ultimately landed the part, and has stated she used improvisation while playing the role, despite film director Keenen Ivory Wayans originally asking her not to "bother" the character and instead follow the script.[12]

Brenda received her own Letterboxd account to promote the sixth film.[13]

Reception

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The character of Brenda Meeks throughout the franchise has been deemed "iconic" for her comedic and memorable moments.[12][14][15] The characters pairing with Faris' character Cindy has them regarded as final girls and staples of the franchise.[16][17]

Kristin Corry of Vice praised Brenda, describing her as the "voice of reason" who expresses what viewers are thinking as they watch the film. She argues that while Maureen is a cynical Black character created for White audiences and intended to die first as part of a common horror film trope, Brenda stands apart because of her cynicism.[18]

The Statesman describes her as a "quick wit" and "sass" character that articulates "unforgettable one-liners".[19] About Brenda's unexplained returns following her deaths, Carly Levy of Cinema Blend comments that "the best parody movies" do not require continuity.[5]

Notes

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  1. ↑ As depicted in Scary Movie (2000)
  2. ↑ As depicted in Scary Movie (2001)

References

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  1. ↑ Neal, Rome (October 13, 2003). "Back From The Dead". CBS News. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Nick (September 27, 2025). "Artist Tribute: Regina Hall in the Scary Movie Franchise". The Film Experience. Archived from the original on May 18, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  3. ↑ Smart, Jack (September 23, 2025). "Regina Hall Teases Brenda's Return in Scary Movie 6: 'I Don't Know If I Have High Hopes for' Her". People. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 London, Rob (August 15, 2025). "12 Years Later, Marlon Wayans' Legendary Horror Franchise Is Bringing Back 2 Familiar Faces". Collider. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Levy, Carly (March 6, 2025). "Ahead Of Scary Movie 6, Regina Hall Asked A Relevant Brenda Meeks Question And I Hope We Get The Answer". Cinema Blend. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  6. ↑ Schonter, Allison (August 15, 2025). "Scary Movie's Best Stars Confirmed To Return for New Movie". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  7. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 15, 2025). "Regina Hall & Anna Faris Are Back For Screams In Wayans Brothers & Miramax-Paramount's 'Scary Movie' Franchise". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  8. ↑ Zhan, Jennifer (March 2, 2026). "Every Franchise Is Being Mocked in the Scary Movie 6 Trailer". Vulture. Archived from the original on June 3, 2026. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  9. ↑ Whitfill Roeloffs, Mary (August 15, 2025). "Anna Faris, Regina Hall Returning For Next 'Scary Movie': What We Know". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  10. ↑ Bricker, Tierney (July 7, 2020). "Whassup?! Check Out These 20 Surprising Secrets About Scary Movie". E!. Archived from the original on September 28, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2026.
  11. ↑ Polowy, Kevin (March 18, 2022). "Role Recall: Regina Hall on 'Scary Movie' breakout, awkward Calista Flockhart moment and white women loving 'Girls Trip'". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved April 3, 2026 – via AOL.
  12. 1 2 Young, Danielle (October 8, 2025). "Regina Hall Said Most Of 'Scary Movie' Role Was Improv". Bet.com. Archived from the original on November 16, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ Anderson, Kyle. "SCARY MOVIE 6 Gave Brenda Her Own Deeply Unfunny Letterboxd". nerdist.com. Nerdist. Archived from the original on June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
  14. ↑ McIntyre, Sydney (July 3, 2022). "9 Iconic Black Characters In Horror Movie History". collider.com. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  15. ↑ Liu, Angelina; Sengwe, Stephanie (July 7, 2025). "Regina Hall Shares the Scary Movie Lines Fans Quote to Her Most as Movie Turns 25 (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  16. ↑ Mitchell, Harriet (March 2, 2026). "Scary Movie 6 praised as "peak cinema" as hilarious first trailer is finally released". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on April 13, 2026. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  17. ↑ Qunnuell Vaughns Jr, Victor (August 18, 2025). "'Cindy, the TV's Leaking!' Regina Hall and Anna Faris Return to 'Scary Movie' Franchise". Ebony. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  18. ↑ Corry, Kristin (October 28, 2022). "Brenda Meeks from 'Scary Movie' Is My True Queen of Horror". Vice. Archived from the original on May 23, 2026. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Regina Hall on 25 years of 'Scary Movie' and why Brenda Meeks still has the last laugh". The Statesman. July 8, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
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