10 Things About Scream 3 That Have Aged Way Better Than Anyone Will Admit

Released in 2000, Scream 3 was a letdown for many fans. Similar to Alien 3, it felt like a film that didn’t fully realize its potential, but the issue wasn’t a director struggling with the material. Instead, the movie’s violence was significantly reduced due to a real-life tragedy. It remains the weakest entry in the Scream series, but it’s gained some appreciation over time. Now, it’s seen as the last film of the original Scream era, as Scream 4 didn’t arrive until 2011 and featured a noticeably different, and somewhat overly bright, visual style – a look the filmmakers wisely avoided in subsequent films.

Beyond its nostalgic feel, Scream 3 is surprisingly enjoyable and deserves more recognition within the Scream franchise. While the movie has some confusing scenes – like Tom fumbling for a lighter in a well-lit house to read a script hinting at a plot point – the positive aspects ultimately outweigh its flaws.

10) Tackling Hollywood’s Wildly Uneven Power Structure

Lance Henriksen’s character, John Milton, embodies the worst aspects of Hollywood power players – specifically, the film’s executive producer. He’s depicted as someone who casually references a horrific group assault, excusing it by claiming it happened in the 1960s and implying the victim was somehow responsible.

It’s remarkable that the film dared to critique Hollywood, especially considering Harvey Weinstein financially benefited from it and the entire series. Ideally, that wouldn’t be the case, but the movie stands out as the first slasher film to address themes similar to the MeToo movement, years before it gained prominence.

9) Part of Roman’s Motive

Scott Foley’s character, Roman Bridger, is often considered the worst Ghostface killer, but one aspect of his portrayal is surprisingly effective. It’s not simply that he operated solo, nor is it his bulletproof vest or his ability to mimic voices. In fact, the way he obtained recordings – especially of voices like Sidney’s mother’s, after only a brief interaction – remains a puzzling detail.

Actually, revenge is his primary motivation, or at least a major part of it. While his desire for revenge against Milton is understandable, it’s never justifiable to resort to violence. We can see why he’s so angry about what these men did to his mother. This makes his motive the most sensible one in the entire series, although his attempt to kill Sidney complicates things. It’s best not to dwell on the attempts to rewrite the history of Billy and Stu, though.

8) Sidney’s Agency

Given everything Sidney Prescott has been through – surviving two terrifying attacks – it’s completely understandable she’d choose to live a quiet, private life. It’s also a brilliant touch that she now works as a crisis counselor, a detail Neve Campbell herself suggested, and it’s one of the most inspired choices in the film.

Most horror franchises don’t show their main characters developing over time, but Scream is a notable exception. The latest installment successfully maintains Sidney’s established character, which was a smart move with the change in writers. However, the story needs to move her beyond her current isolation, and it does raise some questions – like how Roman got her number and why the call seemed to come from inside her home. Despite these questions, Sidney’s choice to confront this new Ghostface in LA demonstrates that Scream 3 continues to give her control of her own story.

7) The Opening with Cotton

The opening scene of Scream, featuring Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker, is legendary and raised the standard for horror movie openings. While incredibly difficult to match, the opening of Scream 2, set in a movie theater where the audience silently witnesses a real-life attack, came remarkably close in impact.

Simply put, the opening kill in Scream 3 doesn’t quite work. Killing off a main character so early is often a sign that a third movie won’t be as good as the first two, and while it’s debatable if Cotton Weary was truly a main character, he was present throughout the whole series. Despite that, the scene is still effectively tense, showing us that this new Ghostface can alter their voice and has a focused plan. Plus, the visual of Ghostface standing over Cotton and splattering blood on the white mask was a clever detail.

6) The Occasional Spark of Inspired Dialogue

While Ehren Kruger’s script for Scream 3 isn’t as strong as the fantastic writing Kevin Williamson did for the first two Scream movies, it still has some genuinely smart moments.

The movie is most clever when it draws attention to itself as a movie. For example, a character named Sarah Darling mentions she only appears in two scenes and then dies, which mirrors the real-life experience of the actress who played her, Jenny McCarthy. Similarly, when Detective Mark Kincaid, played by Patrick Dempsey, jokes about keeping the ending secret due to leaks, it’s a knowing reference to the fact that the script for Scream 2 was actually leaked online.

5) The Randy Cameo

Fans were upset when Randy died in the middle of Scream 2. However, that’s precisely why the moment was so shocking and heartbreaking. It was a necessary and effective storytelling choice.

Bringing Jamie Kennedy back for Scream 3 was a smart move. The film cleverly avoids feeling forced by having Randy pre-record a discussion about movie trilogies – it feels perfectly in character for him to anticipate danger and explain the rules. His ghostly argument with Dewey is also genuinely funny, and Heather Matarazzo was a fantastic choice to play his sister, Martha.

4) The General Concept of Ghostface on a Film Set

Like the cleverest lines in Scream 3, the movie truly shines when it focuses on the Stab films within the film. Once Stab was established as the in-universe movie series based on the events of the Scream films, it was natural to show the making of one of them.

While it would have been good to see some chase scenes on a movie set instead of inside a house, moving the climax to the film production lot was the perfect way to conclude the series. It feels like a satisfying ending, rather than just an upgraded version of the Ghostface killer.

3) The Film Set Chase

When it comes to chase scenes in the original Scream trilogy, Scream 3 might actually be the best. The scene where Ghostface chases Sidney through the Woodsboro set is at least as exciting as the soundstage chase in Scream 2 and the pursuit through Stu Macher’s house in the first Scream movie.

The movie really tests Sidney’s strength and composure. She’s not only facing Ghostface, but also having to confront a recreation of her mother’s house, which is incredibly difficult for her, and makes us truly sympathize with her situation.

2) Jennifer Jolie

Parker Posey has expressed interest in reprising her role in the Scream movies, and it’s not hard to understand why. She seemed to genuinely enjoy playing Jennifer Jolie, and she makes every scene better, particularly when acting alongside Courteney Cox. The dynamic between their characters is a standout part of the film.

Her death stands out, even among the less impactful kills in the movie. We really want Dewey to shoot Ghostface through the mirror, allowing Jolie to escape, but she never quite makes it, no matter how many times you watch the scene. That scene is also frustrating because it doesn’t quite make sense – if there wasn’t a hidden exit in the closet, how did Dewey and Gail miss Ghostface running back the way he came, especially after all the mirrors were shattered? Despite that, Jolie’s final line – screaming “I’m the killer in Stab 3!” – right before she dies is brilliantly done.

1) Its Last Shot Couldn’t Have Been Better

The ending of Scream 3 really brings the whole franchise to a satisfying close. Sidney is finally back home and, after everything she’s been through, she actually feels secure, now that she’s surrounded by Gale, Dewey, and Mark Kincaid.

The movie ends with a beautiful final scene. The front door stands open, and she calmly walks out into the yard, finally relaxed and heading towards her friends. It’s a truly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.

Okay, let’s talk Scream 3. Honestly, it’s… a bit of a mixed bag. While it tries to recapture the clever meta-commentary of the first two films, it feels a little less sharp and more self-aware for the sake of it. The kills are still fun, but the mystery just doesn’t quite land with the same impact. I’m curious to hear what you thought, though! Head over to the ComicBook Forum and let’s discuss – I want to know if I’m alone in feeling this one didn’t quite stick the landing.

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2026-02-27 02:13