I scream you, scream, we all scream for a Scream marathon. This past weekend, I had the privilege of doing a Scream marathon with my roommate. I am always so full of joy when I get to watch all the Scream movies, and this time was extra special because I had the task of ranking them while watching. The Scream franchise made me fall in love with horror. I have seen the original probably about 20 times, and that’s being generous. Let’s get into it. Spoilers ahead, duh. (I recommend playing the song Red Right Hand while reading.)
“This movie is so perfectly meta.”
6. Scream 2 (1997)
Hot take. I know. But Scream 2 just isn’t as entertaining as the other movies. When I first saw this movie, my friend and I called that Mrs. Loomis was Ghostface, but as a joke. I don’t care much for Mickey as Ghostface either, even if he was just a pawn.
I do enjoy Derek as a love interest, and obviously, I love Gale and Dewey’s fight/flirt. I also really like Sidney as a theatre major. It’s a good movie, just not near the top of my list. Sorry.
5. Scream 4 (2011)
It might surprise some to see this movie above number 6 on my list. Scream 4 is just a little more entertaining than 2. This movie loses MAJOR points for not including Red Right Hand! Red Right Hand makes it a Scream movie! If I didn’t dislike 2 so much, that would have put it in the bottom spot. I hate Deputy Judy. One of my biggest issues with this movie is that they have never brought up Maureen Prescott’s sister until now.
But I can’t lie, I do like Jill as Ghostface. I like the idea of it being someone in Sidney’s family. I like Charlie as Ghostface, too; all the good ones are film nerds. Horror specifically. The Stab marathon is a super fun device, too. I love the party fakeout.
I fought for a bit on whether to put 5 or 3 in this spot. I really love Scream 5. If I’m picking a random movie to watch, I’m picking this one over 3, but within the franchise, 3 ranks above this one for lore. Not by much, I will say. This movie is the first in the franchise not to be directed by Wes Craven, following his death. I think this movie pays homage to the legacy while making it something new in such a wonderful way. It’s also the first Scream movie not to kill in the first scene! I love that choice. When I saw this movie in theaters, I was sad to see Jenna Ortega‘s character, Tara, in the first scene because I wanted more from her, and I was pleasantly surprised when she didn’t die. I think the friend group in this movie and the next one is so fun. I adore Mindy in the Randy role; she’s so perfect as the meta film nerd.
I absolutely love Richie and Amber as Ghostfaces. Richie is the closest we have gotten to how perfect Stu was. I love him. I’m also just a Jack Quaid girl in general, but I really do love his Ghostface. Amber’s reveal genuinely shocked me. I loved her character; I thought she was a very good friend to Tara. She’s also the only Ghostface played by an Oscar winner!
I love the introduction of Sam as the new “final girl”. I think Sam is a fantastic character. The idea of her as Billy Loomis’s daughter is really fun, although I absolutely hate CGI young Skeet Ulrich. But any chance to see Skeet is a gift.
This movie loses a few points for not having Sidney in Woodsboro until like 75% of the way through. She doesn’t show up until Dewey is already dead. RIP DEWEY. But Amber was right, Dewey had to die to make it real.
3. Scream 3 (2000)
It worked out perfectly to have Scream 3 in third place. I absolutely adore the concept of 3. The setting of a Stab film set is so cool. I love Ghostface taking their voices and using them against them. This is the first and only movie to do this, and I love it. It’s so clever.
Parker Posey is a treasure, I love her as “Gale”. I like Roman being the only Ghostface. I love an odd number of Ghostfaces. This and the 3 Ghostfaces in VI. Love.
I do have a few problems with this one, though. I don’t understand how Sidney sees her mom. Is Roman making her hallucinate? Are we in her dream? What’s happening? Furthermore, if you’re going to do the Trilogy thing of introducing Roman as the mastermind to all of the killings in all 3 (so far) movies, you have to use it in later films. In Scream 5, Sidney says that Billy Loomis started everything. I really do like the idea of Roman starting everything. I wish they used it later. I also hate Gale’s bangs in this movie, but that’s just a petty thought.
2. Scream VI (2023)
If Scream (1996) didn’t hold my love for horror in its hand like a tiny little bird, this would be in my top spot. I fucking love this movie. I love “cute boy”. I love Core 4. I absolutely love Ghostface leaving the masks in reverse. The movie theater shrine full of memorabilia is so cool. I LOVE 3 GHOSTFACES!!!! The “meta slasher whodunnit” is in full swing, and I am here for it. That’s what makes a good Scream movie.
This movie does wonderfully what falls flat in Scream 2: making the Ghostface in the sequel the parent of the previous one. Scream 2’s problem is that it only makes one of them related; Mickey just feels out of place.
This movie loses a couple points for no Sidney, but I support Neve Campbell for knowing her worth. 2 plays of “Red Right Hand”! Almost makes up for omitting it in Scream 4. Almost. I’m also obsessed with the fakeout Ghostface in the opening. Absolutely shocked me.
What a perfect movie. Scream is in my top 3 movies of all time. I could write a whole paper about this movie alone. I won’t even touch on how perfect the marketing was for this movie, although I do recommend reading about it. Scream was the first mainstream horror movie to have 2 killers. Watching this movie for the first time and learning that Stu was also a killer was the biggest gag of my life. What an incredible subversion of audience expectations.
This movie is so perfectly meta. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s perfect. Sidney Prescott is such an amazing horror protagonist. I’m being a bit of a broken record about this song, but Red Right Hand is a peak song. It is so perfect for Scream. Not one problem with this movie. Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard are wonderful, and Billy and Stu are perfect Ghostfaces. Perfect.
Final Thoughts
There is no such thing as a bad Scream movie. I did not start any of these movies with a bad taste in my mouth. I am optimistic about Scream 7, coming out on February 27. I will update after I see it on opening day. I’ve heard mixed things about it after they fired Melissa Barrera. But all in all, I had an incredible time re-watching these movies for the millionth time, and I can’t wait for the new movie.
Scream
Ghostface
Red Right Hand
Jenna Ortega
Jack Quaid
Sidney Prescott
Meta slasher
Neve Campbell
Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard
Scream 7
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