Remember when I told you Jurassic Park was my favorite film and one of my favorite franchises? Well, the first Scream movie is my second favorite film of all time, but the series overall is my #1. (A sentiment that's just been reaffirmed by Scream VI.) The Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson collaboration was a genre game-changer back in the mid-90s. Just when the slasher sub-genre felt like a dying breed, Ghostface came roaring in with his bowie knife and meta spin, paying homage to the icons of the 70s and 80 while also reinventing the formula with new rules, tools, and talent.
That 1996 film inspired countless creators to run wild with new possibilities while the Scream series itself continued to grow. Only a year after the release of the first film, we got a successful sequel, and then soon after that came a third installment that stopped the franchise dead in its tracks. But, as Craven and Williamson taught us in that first film, the killer always comes back and, sure enough, Scream 4 hit theaters in 2011, and then 2022 kicked off the Radio Silence era of the franchise with Scream 2022 followed by 2023's Scream VI.
Now that Scream is a six-film series, we've got to do a ranking reassessment to not only see where that new movie lands, but also to check in and see if anything has changed. Yes, I may like one Scream film more than another, but I do truly love them all and that tends to mean my preference changes depending on mood, viewing experience, and even the current state of the horror genre.
6. Scream 3
Probably one of the most predictable spots on the list here, right? As much as I love the entire Scream film franchise, I must admit, it’s a challenge to defend certain elements of this one. Scream 3 does have many highlights though. Parker Posey, for one, is electric as Jennifer Jolie. Her timing and delivery are spot-on, and she’s also the focus of one of the best set pieces in the movie -- and one of the best of the franchise, for that matter.
But ultimately, Scream 3 is the Roman (Scott Foley) of the series. It’s the result of a Craven and Ehren Kruger collaboration, not Craven and Williamson. It’s the installment that feels like it's trying to claw its way into the club. Whereas its predecessors nail the balance between sheer terror and meta humor, Scream 3 tends to spiral via its wildly different tone. For example, even though there is value to the plot digging deeper into Sidney’s (Neve Campbell) family history, the uncharacteristic melodrama of that material, in particular, does take away from its impact and significance, especially when it comes to the Roman of it all.
So no, Scream 3 isn't the greatest movie; there’s no getting around that. But Scream 3 does have a number of things going for it that feel as though they're often overlooked simply because Scream 3 sticks out tonally. The attachment to the lore and returning characters is there, it's shockingly insightful in its assessment of the Hollywood system, a Scream movie about making a Stab movie is mighty appropriate for this franchise, and also, simply put, the camp is fun!
Scream 3 reminds me a lot of how Jurassic Park 3 fits into its franchise. While it may be weaker than its predecessors, its wacky sense of adventure makes another jaunt on Isla Sorna quite entertaining, and it also offers up some plot points with real weight that bolster the themes of the franchise. Scream 3 is the Jurassic Park 3 of the Scream series. It can't match the other films, but it does have a lot to offer; those highly entertaining and winning qualities are just different from the ones we get in the other films.
5. Scream 2
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first; it’s nearly impossible for a sequel to compete with its iconic original. And that exact point is stated multiple times in this movie. But what still makes Scream 2 a stellar sequel is the time and care it takes to embrace and build upon the foundation started in the first film. It’s staying within the confines of a formula (a very specific formula), but isn’t that the point in a sense?
One of the core ideas of the 1996 original was that horror movies could influence killers. (Not create them, but make them more creative, according to Billy Loomis.) So now in Scream 2, not only do you have the high-profile news story covering what really happened to Sidney and her friends, but you’ve also got a movie based on their experience with Stab. That’s two sources of inspiration right there. Within the rules of the Scream franchise, it makes all the sense in the world for both of those things to motivate others.
There are tons of smart threads all throughout the film that keep you guessing, and take the main ensemble a major step forward. You’ve got the film turning the tables on Sidney as far as the boyfriend goes. Is Derek (Jerry O’Connell) another Billy or does he really have a heart of gold? Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) is finally forced to see the difference between star-making sensationalism and respectable, game-changing journalism. And then there’s one of my favorite creative choices, keeping Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) in the mix. There’s no leaving the trauma of her past behind; Sidney will carry all of it with her, and that includes falsely accusing Cotton of her mother’s murder.
But the main element that makes Scream 2 much more than just a decent sequel is its killer reveal. The first Scream begs the question, can scary movies create killers? The ending of Scream 2 digs into that extremely well on three levels. You’ve got film-obsessed Mickey (Timothy Olyphant) who plain old wants to prove that theory true. You’ve also got Debbie Salt/Mrs. Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) who’s driven to kill not by the movies, but by the real-life events that took her son from her. But the real kicker of Scream 2 is that Sidney is the one who stops them from creating their own movies by making her own. With an assist from Gale and Cotton, Sidney stages - literally on a theater stage - her own big finish. Scream 2 isn’t just another solid thrill in the vein of the original; it’s a movie that truly takes the themes and the character development from that first film to a new level.
4. Scream 4
I've always felt Scream 4 deserved way more credit than it got upon release, but I find myself loving it more and more every time I watch it. Back when the movie came out in 2011, slasher sequels were in a rough spot and the whole “passing the baton” concept was feeling quite tired, but this was a horror sequel that subverted those expectations big time.
In fact, it did so within the first few minutes of the movie with that downright genius opening sequence. It was like a big old bloody hug for anyone who’s been thinking about movies influencing slashers non-stop since 1996 thanks to Billy and Stu (Matthew Lillard). And that’s just one example of Craven and Williamson taking a concept they started back in the mid-90s and modernizing it for a younger viewership without ever sacrificing the characters and thematic pillars from the first film. In fact, Scream 4 bolsters them.
Scream 2 is largely an exploration of the art of crafting a sequel, and then Scream 4 gave that same treatment to remakes and reboots. Not only are there new rules in play, but there are new tools too, and in that respect, Scream 4 was a little ahead of its time. Yes, Charlie (Rory Culkin) was the one with more horror movie expertise who was getting a thrill out of playing by the rules which heavily contributed to Scream 4 feeling firmly tied to the original, but it’s Emma Roberts as Jill that really makes Scream 4 a genre revelation.
First off, I’ll never forget my jaw hitting the floor the first time I witnessed Jill’s wild third act meltdown, but that character is essentially challenging everything we know about the slasher genre in the process. Here’s someone who fits the mold of the traditional final girl, but she’s got a completely different agenda that we don’t see coming. On first watch, not for a second did I think Jill was one of the film’s big bads and when her true intentions were revealed, I was shocked, to say the least, but they make so much sense.
Scream 4 really digs into that desperation to get our 15 seconds of fame. Yes, that means something different now courtesy of social media and live-streaming than it did back in the 90s, but it’s an idea that’s been present in the franchise from the very beginning. Billy and Stu play into the media hype in the first film and were as showy as they could be with every single kill. Then in Scream 2, we get Mickey’s goal of being immortalized by the media. Scream 3 gives us Roman’s warped attention-seeking mash-up of sibling rivalry and movie-making. And now we’ve got Jill who uses new tools to take this familiar endeavor in a new and disturbingly creative direction.
3. Scream (2022)
The pressure was on when Scream arrived in January 2022. It had been 11 years since we got a new installment, the state of the genre had changed drastically, and we lost the legendary Wes Craven. Could Ready or Not filmmakers Radio Silence really swoop in and deliver a new installment that respected the past while encouraging Scream newcomers to join the fandom? Two films later, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. In fact, I'm a big believer that the franchise couldn't be in better hands.
Scream 2022 is an ideal sequel. It's one that delivers the best of both worlds. It’s a film with deep reverence for the original, but it’s also one that very successfully does what Scream movies do best — reassess the horror genre and use that analysis to take the franchise a meaningful step forward. By putting the focus on the concept of a “requel,” screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick are able to make the 2022 installment feel like a loving celebration of the past, but while effectively highlighting how things need to change.
The whole idea of a "requel" demands a combination of the franchise's Big Three -- Sidney, Gale, and Dewey (David Arquette) -- and a cast of newcomers meant to carry the series forward. Successfully "passing the torch" in a beloved franchise is a tall order, especially for an audience member who's been mighty attached to Sidney, Gale, and Dewey since 1996. But directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett manage to pull it off by starting to offer a sense of closure for the legacy characters while teeing up a group of newcomers with great promise.
Scream 2022 is absolutely brimming with stellar performances, smart storytelling, and killer set pieces, but the main reason it managed to snag the #3 spot from Scream 2 and Scream 4, which flipflop for me often, is because I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie celebrate its franchise quite like this. You know that speech Jasmin Savoy Brown’s Mindy gives to the group in the Meeks house? It felt a whole lot like she was talking to me in that scene. I’ve never seen a movie that taps directly into my personal passion for a series quite like this. Scream 2022 made me prouder than ever to be a lifelong Scream fan and also quite proud to be part of the franchise’s extremely enthusiastic fan base.
2. Scream VI
You know what else makes me proud to be a Scream fan? Scream VI. As someone who adores Ready or Not and their segments in Southbound and V/H/S, I had a ton of faith in Radio Silence going into the 2022 film, but if you told me that their Scream movies would wind up so high on this list, I don't know if I'd believe you.
Radio Silence, Vanderbilt, and Busick set an ideal foundation for the new characters in Scream 2022. That movie introduced new elements, but was also heavily rooted in the past, the 1996 original in particular. That firm footing allowed the team to take some significant swings with this new movie, a movie that leans heavily into subverting expectations and changing the rules. Whether it's a horror expert like Mindy or a character who's been through this many times before like Gale, your know-how and experience playing the game is only going to get you so far.
In fact, that idea is at the core of one of the film's best set pieces, and one of the best set pieces of the entire franchise for that matter -- Gale vs. Ghostface. Not only does that scene benefit from expert choreography, A+ stunt work, and a deep emotional attachment to Gale, but it's also a piece that reflects where the franchise as a whole is right now by showing off everything Gale's learned from the past five films while also highlighting that this Ghostface is operating by a different set of rules.
Scream VI rocks a very unique feel for that reason and also due to how it's exploring the Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Billy connection. The rules of surviving a horror movie aren't the only things that are changing. So is the definition of a final girl. It isn't easy joining a beloved franchise in the fifth installment as a new main character, but on top of that, Barrera also had to convince an audience she's the daughter of an OG Ghostface and has visions of her dead serial killer dad. If you need proof she set that up as needed in Scream 2022, just look at what she accomplishes in this new movie. As she further explores the character, Barrera delivers a one-of-a-kind horror hero backed by a brilliant blend of sincere love for her sister (Jenna Ortega) and bloodlust making Sam one of the most exhilarating characters to track throughout the film.
In addition to Sam's storyline soaring, Scream VI also firmly plants its flag in terms of establishing a new heart and soul for the franchise, a group of characters meant to take the series into the future, The Core Four -- Sam, Tara, Chad (Mason Gooding), and Mindy. There will always be echoes of Sidney, Gale, and Dewey in the Scream franchise, but if Scream 2022 set up the potential to "pass the torch," Scream VI is proof that the filmmakers have earned it.
Scream VI is absolutely packed with clever and very well-executed kill and attack scenes, but there's no denying that the tension is especially high here courtesy of the sky-high heart and deep attachment to the characters.
1. Scream
You had to know that the original Scream was going to be my #1, right? Similar to something I said in my Jurassic Park ranked list, 1996’s Scream isn’t just my favorite film of this franchise; it’s my second favorite movie of all time. (Behind Jurassic Park, of course.) It’s one of the movies that I credit with shaping my storytelling taste, and also with making me a die-hard horror genre fan with a major soft spot for the slasher sub-genre.
Everything works in Scream -- the performances, the one-liners, the soundtrack, and then some. There are loads of moments of pure terror -- that vicious opening kill sequence, Tatum’s (Rose McGowan) death via garage door, and Billy (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu’s (Matthew Lillard) stab session during the film’s big finish, just to name a few. But, the special thing about Scream is, it’s never just a kill for the sake of a quick thrill. The film is so well written that even the tensest moments come with a spirited quality to them that pays homage to the genre.
Sitting in the theater watching Scream -- when I was way too young to be doing so -- was the very first time I can remember being completely blown away by the range of emotions one could conjure with a good horror movie, and I became quite addicted to that feeling. I’ll never say no to experiencing a fleeting wild and dangerous ride while safe and sound in a movie theater, but what puts Scream on another level is its ability to deliver that while making a lasting impression for a number of reasons.
First off, Craven and Williamson don’t have cannon fodder in this movie. Every character serves a purpose and makes an impression, down to poor Kenny the cameraman (W. Earl Brown), and Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker who you’re intensely rooting for mere minutes after meeting her. And then, of course, we’ve got an iconic heroine like Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell). Sidney goes through a lot over the course of this film -- and before it, too -- and every single step of the way Campbell brings a pitch-perfect mix of sensitivity, conviction, and fight to the role so that you not only believe she’s got a fighting chance, but also believe that she’s fighting for something important.
Scream was also a reverse slasher genre education for me. While I already knew I had a taste for the scary stuff at that point, seeing a movie that oozed respect for genre history and the rules of it sparked a need to learn more about it all. My first exposure to John Carpenter’s Halloween? Seeing the clip that played during Stu’s party. And guess what I just had to watch after hearing Billy say, “We all go a little mad sometimes?” Scream truly made a difference in my life and I firmly believe that there’s still loads of value in the meta-slasher movie format going forward. Radio Silence is proving as much by delivering not one, but two fantastic new Scream movies that can satisfy hardcore fans and also pack the power to inspire another generation of slasher genre lovers to learn more about the movies that got us here.
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