The Scream movies are consistently enjoyable – none are truly awful or hard to watch. While some installments are stronger than others, the series avoids the pitfalls of other horror franchises like Halloween: Resurrection, Jason X, or the 2010 Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Scream stands out for its cleverness, alongside its memorable killer masks, the engaging mystery of ‘who’s next?’, and the fantastic connection between the main actors. This strong cast chemistry is so important that the upcoming Scream 7 will even feature returning characters – including some who previously died!
Were the original ‘Scream’ movies, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, actually the strongest installments? Or have the newer sequels managed to surpass them? Let’s take a closer look.
6) Scream 3
As a huge fan of the first two Scream movies – seriously, I think they’re some of the best horror sequels ever made – Scream 3 always felt like it had an impossible act to follow. I don’t think anyone really failed at making it, but looking back, it feels like the timing was just off. Maybe it needed a bit more time to breathe. Delaying it could have helped avoid the shadow of the Columbine tragedy and maybe even brought Kevin Williamson back on board, but then there was a real risk of losing the audience that loved the first two films. It was a tricky situation, that’s for sure.
Despite its flaws, Scream 3 was long considered a disappointing conclusion to what had been a fantastic horror series. While later Scream films have lessened the impact of its shortcomings, it remains the weakest installment in the franchise. Compared to the original two movies, it simply lacks the same level of suspense, clever writing, and impactful scares.
Stream Scream 3 on Peacock.
5) Scream 4
As a horror fan, I was thrilled to see Wes Craven back at the helm for Scream 4, especially after Scream 3 didn’t quite hit the mark. But honestly, while it’s great he got to revisit Woodsboro, this installment doesn’t feel like a massive improvement. My biggest problem with it is how… polished it looks. Everything’s so bright and overexposed that it really kills any sense of dread. And that opening scene? It’s just a bit too clever for its own good, piling on the meta-commentary when it doesn’t need to.
I think there are two things about this movie that really matter for the whole series. First, Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed was exactly what Randy Meeks’ character needed as a follow-up. And Emma Roberts? She absolutely nailed the role of the villain, Jill Roberts – she was perfectly crazy and unsettling, just as the character demanded. It was fantastic!
Stream Scream 4 on Paramount+.
4) Scream VI
The 2022 film Scream was a fantastic addition to the slasher genre, so Scream VI, directed by Radio Silence and set in New York City, had a lot to live up to. While it’s an improvement over Scream 3, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor and feels somewhat uneven and disjointed overall.
Despite its flaws, the directors successfully reimagined Ghostface in a big city setting, making it feel believable. While the killers’ identities weren’t entirely surprising, the movie created a real sense of threat that was missing from the 2022 installment. Melissa Barrera also delivers a stronger performance as Sam Carpenter; she seemed less settled in her first film but truly shines here, embodying the character more naturally. It’s a shame this turned out to be both her and Jenna Ortega’s last appearance in the series.
Stream Scream VI on Paramount+
3) Scream (2022)
Similar to the gap between Scream 4 and the previous film, over ten years passed before Radio Silence’s Scream (2022) was released. However, unlike the reception to Scream 4, the wait for this new installment was definitely worthwhile.
From the very beginning, with Jenna Ortega’s compelling performance as Tara Carpenter, to the introduction of the film’s surprisingly good villains (one of whom would later win an Academy Award), Scream simply delivers. It’s clever, suspenseful, and genuinely funny, successfully blending familiar elements with fresh ideas. Remarkably, it captures the essence of Wes Craven’s original film, despite being made over two decades later. The one significant weakness is the plot twist regarding Sam Carpenter being the daughter of Billy Loomis, which feels forced and unbelievable.
Stream Scream (2022) on Paramount+.
2) Scream 2
While one scene might ask a lot of the audience to believe, Scream 2 is generally considered the best horror sequel of the 1990s. It’s also a remarkable success story, especially given that the script was leaked and the movie was made so quickly after the first Scream came out.
The main actors – Campbell, Arquette, and Cox – effortlessly reprise their roles, and Laurie Metcalf and Timothy Olyphant are fantastic as the new villains. Setting the story on a college campus gives this film a fresh feel while still maintaining a strong connection to the original, thanks to its similar look and the returning cast. The opening scene is as gripping as the one in the first Scream, and a particularly suspenseful chase with Sarah Michelle Gellar proves this sequel delivers. This is also where the movie leans fully into its self-aware style. The inclusion of the Stab movies within the film feels natural for the franchise and provides a clever way to discuss violence in movies – a theme that was central to both this film and the first.
Stream Scream 2 on Peacock.
1) Scream
The popular slasher franchises like Friday the 13th, Halloween, and A Nightmare on Elm Street struggled throughout the 1990s, with each new installment receiving poor reviews and failing to make much money. Then came Scream, which revitalized the slasher genre, making it exciting, fun, frightening, and profitable again—it even paved the way for a successful return of Michael Myers in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later. Audiences were familiar with the typical stalk-and-slash formula and countless villains, both famous and forgettable, wielding their weapons. Scream offered all of that, but it also stood out with its humor and self-awareness, directly addressing and playing with the common tropes of the genre.
Beyond those points, the original Scream really shines thanks to its captivating mystery and the fantastic connection between the actors – particularly Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Courteney Cox. The chemistry in the first film is arguably the strongest throughout the entire series. We see fun pairings like Campbell and Rose McGowan, Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Lillard, and some truly hilarious moments between W. Earl Brown and Cox. As the iconic villains Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard are perfectly cast, creating a believable and unsettling friendship through their contrasting personalities. And the opening scene remains incredibly impactful, even after multiple viewings. Scream is a true masterpiece, and it’s a close second to Wes Craven’s best work – arguably on par with A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Stream Scream on Peacock.
Read More
- 10 Most Badass Moments From Arrow
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Wednesday Season 2 Completely Changes a Key Addams Family Character
- Dynasty Warriors remastered title and Dynasty Warriors: Origins major DLC announced
- Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition coming to PS5 on November 4
- Jimmy Kimmel Slams ‘Angry Finger Pointing’ Following Charlie Kirk Shooting After Building a Career off Angry Finger Pointing
- Jon Cryer Says He Was Paid “a Third” of Charlie Sheen’s Salary
- The Simpsons Kills Off Marge Simpson In Shocking Twist
- Timothee Chalamet heist film
- Tom Holland Proved Why He Shouldn’t Be the New James Bond 3 Years Ago
2025-10-29 02:14