Scream
Created by	Wes Craven Kevin Williamson
Original work	Scream (1996)
Years	1996–present
Films and television
Film(s)	Scream (1996) Scream 2 (1997) Scream 3 (2000) Scream 4 (2011) Scream (2022) Scream VI (2023)
Television series	Scream: The TV Series (2015–2019)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)	Scream (1996) Scream 2 Scream 3 Scream 4 Scream (2022) Scream VI

Scream is an American murder mystery and slasher franchise that includes six films (and a seventh in active development), a television series, merchandise, and games.^[1][2] The series was created by Wes Craven, who directed the first four films, and Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first two films, the fourth, and will direct the seventh film. Ehren Kruger wrote the third installment. The fifth and sixth films were directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, with Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt serving as writers and Williamson returning as executive producer. Dimension Films produced the first four films. Spyglass Media Group took over the rights from the fifth film on with Paramount Pictures distributing. The film series has grossed over US$900 million at the global box office.

Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Roger L. Jackson (who voices the various Ghostface killers) starred in the first five films. Cox and Jackson reprised their roles for the sixth and are the only cast members to feature in all films to date with Cox also being the only actress to appear in six consecutive films of a horror franchise.^[3] Campbell is reprising her role in the seventh film. Hayden Panettiere stars in the fourth and sixth films, while Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown star in the fifth and sixth. Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber feature in the first three films, Skeet Ulrich stars in the first and cameos in the fifth and sixth installments, Marley Shelton appears in the fourth and fifth, and Jack Quaid stars in the fifth and cameos in the sixth. Additionally, Heather Matarazzo makes cameo appearances in the third and fifth films, as does Nancy O'Dell in the second, third and fourth. Having appeared in the iconic opening scene of the first film and on its poster, Drew Barrymore is strongly associated with the franchise.^[4] The series has also featured many notable actors making single-film appearances in supporting cast roles or as cameos.

Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream (2022), and Scream VI (2023) received high praise from critics. Scream 3 (2000) received a more mixed response, as did Scream 4 (2011), Craven's final film; both were later reappraised and the fourth film was generally seen as a return to form for the series. Commercially, the first three films and the fifth and sixth were high performers at the box office, while Scream 4 had a disappointing domestic run.^[5] The film series has also been the recipient of several awards and nominations, including winning Best Movie twice at the MTV Awards (for Scream in 1996 and Scream VI in 2023).

About

The first four films follow Sidney Prescott and her struggle against a succession of murderers who adopt the guise of Ghostface to stalk and kill their victims, the killers often motivated by revenge, jealousy, and seeking notoriety. Sidney receives support from town policeman Dewey Riley, tabloid reporter Gale Weathers, and film-geeks Randy Meeks and Kirby Reed, along with various other friends, romantic partners, and acquaintances that change as the series progresses. The fifth and sixth films follow Samantha Carpenter and her sister, Tara, who are targeted due to their connection to the original killers. Together with their friends Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (niece and nephew of Randy Meeks) and some of the original survivors (including Sidney, Gale, Dewey, and Kirby), they must contend with new Ghostface killers.

The first film, Scream, was released on December 20, 1996, and became the highest-grossing slasher film in the world until the release of Halloween (2018).^[6] The second entry, Scream 2, was released less than a year later on December 12, 1997. The third installment, Scream 3, was released on February 4, 2000, and was originally the concluding chapter of the series. Eleven years later, the franchise was revived with a fourth installment, Scream 4, which was released on April 15, 2011. An anthology television series Scream, which followed new characters and settings and is not canon to the films, aired for three seasons from 2015 to 2016 on MTV and on VH1 in 2019. A fifth installment in the film series was released on January 14, 2022,^[7] directed by Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett. Busick and Vanderbilt wrote the screenplay, and original creator Williamson returned as an executive producer. It is the first installment in the film series to not be directed by Wes Craven, who died in 2015. A sixth installment, Scream VI, was released on March 10, 2023, developed by the same directors and screenwriters as the fifth film.

Williamson's original script for the first film was bought by Miramax and developed under the Dimension Films label. Craven recruited composer Marco Beltrami to score the film. Williamson was unable to write Scream 3 due to his commitment to other projects. Ehren Kruger replaced him as screenwriter. Kruger also provided uncredited rewrites for Scream 4. Craven ran into conflicts with the Motion Picture Association of America over the series and was forced to reduce the violence in Scream 3 due to the Columbine High School massacre resulting in increased focus on violence in the media. Scream became notable for its use of established and recognizable actors, which was uncommon for slasher films at the time.

The first film has been credited with revitalizing the horror genre in the late 1990s by combining a traditional slasher film with humor, characters aware of horror film cliches and a clever plot. It was one of the highest-grossing films of 1996 and became the highest-grossing slasher film in the world, an honor it held until it was surpassed by 2018's Halloween. Its success was matched by Scream 2, which not only broke box-office records of the time but was also considered superior to the original by some critics. Scream 3 fared worse than its predecessors critically, with many reviewers commenting that it had become the type of horror film it originally parodied in Scream and Scream 2, while others praised it for successfully completing the film trilogy. The movie and its themes were re-evaluated in the wake of the MeToo movement^[8][9] and it underwent a positive reappraisal in the years since its release.^[10] Scream 4 also received mixed reviews, with criticism mainly aimed at its use of horror film cliches, although many considered it an improvement over its predecessor.^[11] Like the third film, it was critically reappraised years after its release.^[12] Both films, especially Scream 4 and its killers' motives, are now widely seen as being ahead of their time.^[13][14] The fifth and sixth entries received mostly positive reviews.^[15][16] Collider said the franchise worked so well because at heart its really a mystery series.^[2]

Films

Scream (1996)

The film series began with Scream, premiering on December 18, 1996, at the AMC Avco theater in Westwood, California^[18] and was generally released on December 20, 1996. Based on a screenplay by screenwriter Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, creator of the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, Scream offered a self-referential approach to horror by featuring a cast of characters aware of the conventions/clichés of the horror film genre and able to use them to survive. The film focuses on teenager Sidney Prescott as she comes under attack from a mysterious character dubbed Ghostface while dealing with the anniversary of her mother's murder. The film went on to be a financial success and received considerable critical acclaim for its deconstruction of the horror genre. It is credited with revitalizing the horror genre in the mid 90s and inspiring an array of imitators.^[19] It was particularly notable for its casting of established and popular actors and actresses which was previously uncommon in horror films.^[20]

Scream 2 (1997)

The series continued with Scream 2, premiering at Mann's Chinese Theater,^[18] followed by a general release on December 12, 1997. Written by Williamson and directed by Craven, released less than a year after the original film. Like Scream, the film features characters aware of the horror genre and the conventions of the horror sequel, mocking them while simultaneously falling victim to them. Set in 1998, the film again focuses on the character of Sidney Prescott, now a college student, as a series of copycat crimes begin, the killers again using the disguise of Ghostface. The film was financially successful,^[21] and received similar critical praise for its deconstruction of the horror film sequel and commentary on the influence of the media in society. The script for Scream 2 was leaked during production revealing the identity of the killers and so the film underwent extensive rewrites, changing the identity of the killers, though their motivation remained the same.^[22][23]

Scream 3 (2000)

The series continued with Scream 3, which premiered on February 3, 2000, at the AMC Avco theater in Westwood, California^[24] and was generally released on February 4, 2000. Like previous entries, the film was directed by Craven, but Williamson was unable to formulate a complete script due to his commitment to the short-lived television series Wasteland and his original film Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999). Consequently, he wound up being replaced by Ehren Kruger who finalized a script based on several ideas supplied by Williamson. Set in 2000, the film focuses on Sidney Prescott who faces a new Ghostface killer and the truth about her mother that led to the start of the Ghostface killings. The film, like its predecessors, featured characters who were self-aware of horror conventions, in this case the rules and structure of the final entry in a movie trilogy. Scream 3 was less successful than the previous two installments, commentators noting that the film had become akin to the horror films it originally parodied in Scream and Scream 2. Others were critical of the change in tone, focusing more on humor instead of horror and violence. However, critics who reacted positively were supportive of this change in tone and praised the film for successfully completing the film trilogy.^[25] The movie and its themes were re-evaluated and examined in the wake of the MeToo movement.^[8][9]

Scream 4 (2011)

In July 2008, The Weinstein Company announced the development of a new sequel, Scream 4, written by Williamson with Craven being secured for the project in March 2010. In May 2010, Cathy Konrad, producer of the original three Scream films filed a US$3 million lawsuit against The Weinstein Company alleging they violated an agreement with her company, Cat Entertainment, that gave them first rights to produce all Scream films.^[26] The Weinstein Company argued that the agreement requires Konrad's services to be exclusive to the franchise, an argument that Konrad called "false pretext" as the previous films did not make this stipulation.^[26] Konrad accused the Weinsteins of attempting to force her to walk away without compensation in order to hire a cheaper producer (Craven's wife Iya Labunka) and cut costs.^[27] In April 2011, it was reported that the case had been settled out of court by The Weinstein Company.^[28]

The film underwent reshoots of some scenes in January 2011 with Craven stating that they were to enhance some scenes but that the ending remains untouched, countering criticism that, following a January 6, 2011 test screening,^[29] the film may undergo significant changes due to poor audience responses.^[30] The fourth installment premiered on April 11, 2011, at Grauman's Chinese Theater with a general release on April 15, 2011. The film takes place ten years after the previous film, and once again follows Sidney Prescott as she returns to Woodsboro, the fictional town where Scream takes place, on the last stop of her book tour and encounters another set of murders and a killer, again using the guise of Ghostface.^[31][32]

Scream (2022)

In 2011, Craven confirmed he was contracted to work on a fifth and sixth installment of the Scream franchise, to be made if the fourth film achieved a successful release and reception.^[33] Following difficulties with script rewrites on Scream 2, Scream 3 and Scream 4, often with pages only being ready on the day of filming, and the related stress of the situation, Craven stated that he would need to see a finalized version of a script for Scream 5 before committing to the production.^[34] Williamson also confirmed he had contractual obligations for scripts for Scream 4 and Scream 5, having submitted concepts for three films leading up to Scream 6, though his contract for the sixth film had not yet been finalized. Williamson indicated that if a Scream 5 were to be made, it would be a continuation of the story of the characters who lived through Scream 4 but that Scream 4 would not include any cliffhangers that led into the potential sequel.^[35]

Before the release of Scream 4, actor David Arquette also added his support for a potential future of the franchise, stating " definitely leaves it open," before adding that he would welcome the opportunity to play the character of Dewey in future installments.^[36] In May 2011, executive producer Harvey Weinstein confirmed that a sequel was possible, saying that despite Scream 4 performing below The Weinstein Company's financial expectations, he was still happy with the gross it had accrued.^[37] In February 2012, when asked about the potential for making Scream 5, Williamson stated at the time that he did not know if it would be made, saying "I'm not doing it."^[38]

On September 30, 2013, Harvey Weinstein expressed his interest in a fifth installment, stating "I'm begging to do the movie and just end it. We've milked that cow."^[39] In July 2014, Williamson expressed doubt on a fifth film happening, saying "I guess Scream 4 never took off in a way they hoped". He also elaborated on his departure from the series as Craven and his team were "done with him".^[40] On June 25, 2015, the Washington Street Journal conducted an interview with Bob Weinstein. When asked about the possibility of a film continuation after Scream 4, Weinstein firmly denied the possibility of a fifth installment or any further continuation of the film franchise, citing the MTV series as the right place for the franchise to find new life. "It's like putting an art-house movie in an art-house theater," Weinstein said. "Where the teens reside is MTV."^[41] But after the death of Craven in 2015 and the sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein shut down The Weinstein Company, the series's future was in limbo.

However, in early 2019, it was reported that Blumhouse Productions, which specializes in horror-themed films, was interested in reviving the series, and that head of studio Jason Blum was working on making such Scream installments happen.^[42] In November 2019, Spyglass Media Group acquired the rights to make a new Scream film. It was unknown at the time if it would be a sequel, reboot, or remake. It was also unknown if Williamson would return.^{[43][44][45][46][47]} The next month, it was announced that the film would feature a new cast but could possibly feature appearances from previous main cast members.^[48]

In March 2020, it was announced that Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett would direct the fifth installment, with Williamson serving as an executive producer, and that the film had already entered official development, with filming planned to begin in May 2020.^[49] In May 2020, it was announced that Neve Campbell was in talks to reprise her role as Sidney Prescott in the fifth film.^[50] That same month, it was announced David Arquette would be reprising his role of Dewey Riley for the fifth film; James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick were announced as additional writers.^[51] It was also confirmed that the film would begin production later in the year in Wilmington, North Carolina when safety protocols to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic were in place.^[51] In June 2020, Variety reported that the film would be distributed by Paramount Pictures and was initially aiming for a 2021 release, which would be 25 years since the first movie was released in 1996. They also noted that it was still not known if Cox or Campbell, or any other legacy actors other than Arquette, would reprise their roles.^[52] On July 31, 2020, Cox posted a video to her official Instagram account, confirming her return to the franchise for the fifth installment. The news was then confirmed by various other outlets.^[53][54] In August 2020, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega were cast in undisclosed roles.^[55][56] In the same month, Paramount Pictures announced that the film is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2022, having been delayed from its original 2021 tentative release due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[57] In September 2020, Jack Quaid joined the cast in an undisclosed role.^[58] In the same month, it was confirmed that Neve Campbell and Marley Shelton would return to reprise their roles with Dylan Minnette, Mason Gooding, Kyle Gallner, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mikey Madison, and Sonia Ben Ammar joining the cast.^[59][60][61] Filming commenced on September 22, 2020.^[62][63][64] On November 18, 2020, Williamson confirmed on Twitter that filming had concluded and that the film's official title would simply be Scream.^[65]

Scream VI (2023)

Campbell and the fifth film's directors have expressed interest in making future films in the series.^[66] A sixth installment was officially greenlit on February 3, 2022, with the same creative team returning and with production slated to begin in mid-2022 in Montreal, Canada.^[67] In March 2022, it was announced that the film was scheduled for release on March 10, 2023,^[68] and that Courteney Cox would reprise her role as Gale Weathers.^[69] On May 10, 2022, it was announced that Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and Jenna Ortega would also return for the sixth film.^[70] The following day, it was announced that Hayden Panettiere would reprise her role of Kirby Reed from the fourth film.^[71] On June 3, 2022, Dermot Mulroney joined the cast.^[72] On June 6, 2022, it was announced Campbell would not be returning as Sidney Prescott for the sixth film. The actress made a statement about how her contract and salary negotiations had stalled with Paramount; she said, "As a woman I have had to work extremely hard in my career to establish my value, especially when it comes to Scream. I felt the offer that was presented to me did not equate to the value I have brought to the franchise."^[73]

Future

In 2023, Scream (2022) and Scream VI directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet were "hopeful" for a seventh film in the series and said they would like to continue to see more movies in the franchise "whether we're involved or not".^[74] They also stated that they wanted Campbell to return in future installments, saying "we'd love to be able to make another movie with her, and we're not giving up".^[75] In August 2023, it was announced Christopher Landon was set to direct the seventh film.^[76] Production had been slowed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike and 2023 Writers Guild of America strike; plans were pushed back again on November 21, 2023, when Melissa Barrera was fired from the film for social media posts in support of Palestine during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war which were interpreted as antisemitic by the producers.^[77] The next day, it was announced that Jenna Ortega was not returning due to scheduling conflicts with filming the Netflix series Wednesday,^[78] though later sources said it was due to a salary dispute with Spyglass Media Group.^[79] It was also reported that screenwriters Vanderbilt and Busick were now tasked with "starting from scratch".^[80] Landon announced on December 23, 2023, that he was no longer associated with the sequel, saying: "I guess now is as good a time as any to announce I formally exited Scream 7 weeks ago. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart did break for everyone involved. Everyone. But it's time to move on."^[81][82]

In March 2024, Neve Campbell announced she would return as Sidney Prescott for the seventh film. Kevin Williamson was additionally announced as the director.^[83]

Television

On June 4, 2012, it was reported that MTV was in the early stages of developing a weekly television series spun off from the Scream franchise.^[84] David Arquette stated on Twitter that he would not be a part of the television series.^[85] On April 25, 2013, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that MTV had greenlit the TV series, with Craven in talks about directing the pilot.^[86] On July 26, 2013, it was reported that Criminal Minds writers Jay Beattie and Dan Dworkin had been recruited to write the pilot script.^[87] On April 2, 2014, it was reported that the show would be penned by Jill Blotevogel (Ravenswood, Eureka and Harper's Island), and would focus on a YouTube video gone viral which would have adverse repercussions for teenagers of Lakewood and serve as the "catalyst for a murder that opens up a window to the town's troubled past".^[88] The lead actors are Willa Fitzgerald, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Bobby Campo, Connor Weil, Carlson Young, Amadeus Serafini and John Karna.^[89]

On April 12, 2015, the first trailer for the series was aired during the 2015 MTV Movie Awards presented by Bella Thorne, also revealing the final premiere date of the series, which aired on June 30, 2015.^[90] An official promotional picture of the series' re-imagined mask was revealed in early June 2015. Initially, Craven expressed his approval of the redesign and hinted at its origins and possible plot significance.^[91] However, Craven was later critical about the network's decision to abandon the Ghostface mask in the television series.^[92]

On August 30, 2015, Wes Craven died of brain cancer. The first-season finale, "Revelations", included a tribute to him during the opening credits.^[93] The second season of Scream premiered on May 30, 2016.^[94]

On October 14, 2016, MTV renewed the Scream television series for a six-episode third season.^{[95][96][97][98]} On April 26, 2017, MTV announced that they would be rebooting the series with the third season instead of completing the original storyline, with a new cast and setting. As part of the reboot process, it was revealed that Brett Matthews will be serving as the main showrunner. In addition, Matthews, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere and Yaneley Arty will be added as executive producers for the series under Flavor Unit Entertainment.^[99][100] On July 19, 2017, The Hollywood Reporter announced that the series would transition into an anthology series following the third season if it was a success, information corroborated by MTV president Chris McCarthy.^[101] The new cast members for the season are RJ Cyler, C. J. Wallace, Tyga, Keke Palmer, Jessica Sula, Giullian Yao Gioiello, Giorgia Whigham and Tyler Posey.^{[102][103][104]}

On September 18, 2017, it was announced that the Ghostface mask from the film series would be making an appearance in the third season.^[105] On October 10, 2017, Keke Palmer confirmed in an interview that Roger L. Jackson, who voiced Ghostface in the film series, would return for the third season, replacing Mike Vaughn, who served as the voice for two characters, the Lakewood Slasher in the first two seasons and the Shallow Grove Slasher in the Halloween special episodes of the second season.^[106]

After the second season, the series moved from MTV to VH1.^[96] The third and final season, subtitled "Resurrection", premiered on VH1 from July 8 to 10, 2019.^[96]

Recurring cast and characters

Crew