It all started nearly 30 years ago when audiences found themselves on the edge of their seats, wondering who was beneath the terrifying Ghostface mask and responsible for the brutal Woodsboro murders. Since 1996, we’ve seen multiple characters take on the slasher role, each time more surprising — or at least attempting to be — than the next.
Starring Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in almost every Scream film, along with Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers and David Arquette as Dewey Riley, this film franchise continues to produce quality terror. Intent on breaking the classic horror film mold, Scream and its sequels have stuck to the original plan for the most part. Slash on to find out our ranking of the Scream movies and see where your favorite falls on the list!
6. ‘Scream 3’ (2000)
Designed to be the last of the film trilogy, Scream 3 sees the return of your favorite characters facing yet another serial killer in the form of Ghostface. But this time, the plot is a film within a film. As Stab 3, the movie based on the Scream franchise, gets ready for production, the cast is murdered one-by-one in the order of their deaths in the movie.
5. ‘Scream 4’ (2011)
It’s been 10 years since the events that unraveled in Scream 3 and Sidney is back, but this time as a self-help book author. Returning to Woodsboro to promote her book, Sidney’s arrival sets off another Ghostface and even more murders. You’d think after setting off so many murderous sprees, Sidney and the gang would stay away from Woodsboro, but as we all know there’s no place like home (just ask Dorothy Gale)
4. ‘Scream VI’ (2023)
Tara (Jenna Ortega) and Sam (Melissa Barrera) return following the events of Scream (2022) as they venture to New York City for a fresh start. But in typical Scream fashion, a new Ghostface appears, setting off another string of murders. Joined by newcomers Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed and Jack Champion as Ethan Landry, the newbies and original stars deal with this reimagined murderous foe.
3. ‘Scream’ (2022)
By this point, Sidney Prescott, along with Gale and Dewey, have been through quite a few traumatic killings and attempted murders, but they’re back, along with a few new faces and, obviously, a new Ghostface. After Tara is targeted and attacked by the killer, her sister Sam returns, revealing herself to be the daughter of the original Ghostface, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich).
Woodsboro experiences a new string of murders after the serial killer works their way through the town, taking down new and old faces. But while this 2022 version encapsulates the horror fans expect from a Scream film, it also has quite a few new elements that differentiates it from the others.
2. ‘Scream 2’ (1997)
Just one year after the massive global success of Scream, iconic horror movie director Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson (known for Dawson’s Creek, I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and The Vampire Diaries) reunited to create Scream 2. Set two years after the original murders, just as Sidney is growing used to college life, a new Ghostface appears, setting off a new string of killings.
Once again starring Campbell, Arquette and Cox, this sequel also features Sarah Michelle Gellar as Cici Cooper and Timothy Olyphant as Mickey Altieri.
1. ‘Scream’ (1996)
And, of course, nothing can truly beat an original film, especially when the first in the Scream franchise. This 1996 movie introduced audiences to Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley, as well as the start of a long line of psychotic killers — kicking off with Billy Loomis. This film is so surprising and thrilling, mostly because at the time nobody would have expected the boyfriend to be the culprit, along with his best friend, who joined in due to peer pressure.
The film was directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, marking the beginning of an extremely successful film franchise.
