Audiences recently saw the release of Scream 7, and despite the worst reviews of the franchise, the film has already made a ton of money. There is no denying that we will be getting an eighth film sooner rather than later. The Scream franchise hits 30 years this year, and Ghostface has become an iconic character in media, even appearing in video games. The costume is also regularly seen every single Halloween. It seems it’s time to talk about these films. Which is the best? Which is the worst? And why? Here are all the Scream movies ranked.
7. Scream 7
Unfortunately our most recent Scream movie is also the worst of the franchise. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is still highly entertaining, and we get a lot of things you want in a Scream film. Ghostface is relentless, and Sidney Prescott is just as badass as ever. We are missing a lot of things we love in the Scream movies as well. The mystery this time around is not very interesting and is also very easy to guess. Usually, these movies are more clever and progressive. Instead, we get a movie that, while entertaining, feels like it focuses too much on nostalgia, is not very smart or well-written, and has new characters that are not memorable. The killer reveal is also up there with the worst of the franchise.
Scream movies are also usually pretty meta. That is kind of the whole point. This time around, the characters mention certain things, but everything feels rushed and not properly discussed. Sidney has a daughter this time around, and I will say every scene with them is great. There is a good Scream movie here somewhere, but unfortunately it’s buried beneath nostalgia and desperation.
6. Scream 6
Let me start by saying I don’t believe there is a bad Scream movie. I am obsessed with this franchise, and I’d watch any Scream movie at any time, and I’d watch 10 more if they made them. Still, Scream 6 is the one so far that I tend not to like as much with each viewing.
After the successful return of the franchise with Scream 5, Scream 6 promised fans more, especially being set in New York. The suspense and tension are definitely there, but this one just seems off to me. The kills are decent, but except for one (the ladder scene), they are completely forgettable. Honestly, most of the sequences in this one are not memorable. New York City also feels underutilized. They could have done so much more. The killer reveal here is so weak as well. Just not a very memorable Scream movie.
5. Scream 3
Scream 3 seems to be almost everyone’s least favorite, but it’s still a lot of fun. The movie had a lot of behind-the-scenes issues. The biggest problem fans seem to have is that the kills are really underwhelming, but this was due to the movie being heavily edited due to the Columbine shooting.
The movie is the silliest of the Scream movies, but it also has a great premise. This time around, the cast is in Hollywood while a movie about what they have been through is being made. The setting is so much fun as we watch our leads and the “actors” that portray them run around avoiding Ghostface. I understand why people are not a fan of this one, but it still feels like a Scream movie. It also, in my opinion, has the best ending shot of any of the Scream films.
4. Scream 2
Scream 2 is a perfect sequel. It does exactly what a good sequel should do. More gore, more kills, and a bigger cast. I don’t have a lot to say about Scream 2, honestly. There are a lot of great sequences and a lot of great tension throughout. It belongs right in the middle. It is solid all the way through, even though it doesn’t have a ton of standout moments. It’s funny, edge-of-your-seat, and has a great opening scene and climax. It manages not to simply repeat the first movie, but find its own path while having a lot of meta moments once again.
3. Scream 4
Scream 3 disappointed a lot of people, so Wes Craven came back full force with Scream 4. The movie is very fun and has a lot to say. It also has some great kill sequences and a fantastic cast. Vlogging and passing the torch were very popular at the time, and Scream is all about being meta and having something to say about current trends and movies. Knowing this, there was fear that this may be the end of Sidney Prescott and the torch would indeed be passed.
Spoilers: Sidney is fine. Emma Roberts plays Jill, who seems like the new protagonist and the one that will continue, but no, she ended up being the killer and a great one at that. The last 20 minutes of this movie are so good, and Wes Craven gave us a movie that wasn’t afraid to go against the grain and shout out the message, “don’t f**k with the original”. Scream 4 is just a blast from beginning to end.
2. Scream 5
Could a modern Scream movie be one of the best of the entire franchise? Yes it can. Some people judge this one too harshly simply because many believe that no one could make a proper Scream movie except Wes Craven. Radio Silence proved this was not the case.
We have already established that a proper Scream movie needs to be suspenseful, witty, and meta. It needs to be current and fun. Scream 5 does all of the above so well. At this time, reboots and elevated horror were the craze. So many movies were trying to cash in on legacy sequels. Legacy sequels are basically movies that go back to the beginning, usually with original characters and blending them with new characters and modern ideas.
Scream 5 is basically the first movie, but with a few twists added. The opening kill is similar, but with a different outcome. The setting and characters are similar but they also have their own personalities and traits. We get Sidney back, but we also realize this franchise could, in fact, continue without her, because the new leads are strong too.
Spoilers: In the first Scream movie, it is revealed that the boyfriend is the killer. It shouldn’t be a surprise because the movie tells us 100 times. It is still effective somehow. Scream 5 does the same thing and manages to trick audiences enough again. It is also the beginning of what I call “brutal Ghostface.” The Scream movies have always been gory, but in this movie, you actually feel every stab, every bone break, everything.
Scream 5 is a great requel. It is full of suspense, has plenty of stakes, memorable characters, and has enough nostalgia without just feeling like a retread. Even the motive is fantastic. The killer kills people because they are upset their favorite movie is getting rebooted. I have talked to enough people online in movie groups and fully believe that if someone’s favorite fandom was messed with, they would murder others. Even the damn title is meta. It was called Scream, just like the first one. Why? For some reason, every movie was doing that weird trend.
1. Scream
It may seem obvious, but the best Scream movie is the original one. At this point, slasher movies were dead, or they were at least thought of as cheap. When Wes Craven was announced to be making this movie, many people wondered why. The guy who created nightmares with Freddy Kruger must be making a generic slasher film. Of course, this was not the case.
Scream came out and blew everyone’s minds with its ability to be a slasher that was well-written and self-aware. Characters knew the rules to surviving a horror film. They spoke about different movies and actors and scenarios, and it was a breath of fresh air.
Everything works in this movie. The cast is amazing, the soundtrack is iconic, and the suspense is dialed all the way up. It set the tone for so many more movies that came after and it made Ghostface an icon. There have been many good Scream movies since the original, but the first Scream still stands as a one-of-a-kind slasher.
