RANKING: SCREAM MOVIES

Few horror franchises have maintained their identity quite like Scream. Since Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson introduced Ghostface and the town of Woodsboro in 1996, the series has continually reinvented the slasher formula while remaining self-aware of the genre it helped redefine. From Sidney Prescott’s battle for survival to a new generation of victims facing the mask, each installment has brought its own take on the franchise’s evolving mythology. With seven films spanning three decades, ESCPSM looks back at the entire Scream saga and ranks each installment from worst to best.

SCREAM 7

Scream 7 — 2026

Release: February 27, 2026
Director: Kevin Williamson
Runtime: 114 minutes
Budget: Approximately $45 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $208 million

Scream 7 brought the franchise back to its roots by returning Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott to the center of the story. Written and directed by original franchise writer Kevin Williamson, the film follows Sidney as a new Ghostface killer targets her daughter, forcing her to confront the horrors of her past once again. The film marked Williamson’s directorial debut in the franchise and became the series’ highest-grossing worldwide installment.

SCREAM 3

Scream 3 — 2000

Release: February 4, 2000
Director: Wes Craven
Runtime: 116 minutes
Budget: $40 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $162 million

The third installment moved the action to Hollywood, where Sidney becomes entangled in a series of murders surrounding the production of Stab 3, the fictional movie based on the Woodsboro killings. Scream 3 leaned heavily into the franchise’s Hollywood satire while bringing the original trilogy toward its conclusion. It remained a box-office success despite receiving a more mixed critical response than its predecessors.

SCREAM V

Scream — 2022

Release: January 14, 2022
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Runtime: 114 minutes
Budget: $24 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $138 million

Twenty-five years after the original Woodsboro murders, a new Ghostface begins targeting a group of teenagers connected to the town’s past. The fifth film marked the first installment not directed by Wes Craven following his death in 2015. Returning characters Sidney Prescott, Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley were joined by a new generation led by Sam Carpenter and Tara Carpenter.

SCREAM VI

Scream VI — 2023

Release: March 10, 2023
Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Runtime: 123 minutes
Budget: $35 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $169 million

Scream VI moved the franchise outside Woodsboro for the first time, following the survivors of the previous film to New York City. Without Sidney Prescott, the story placed greater emphasis on Sam and Tara Carpenter while introducing a new Ghostface mystery within the city. The film became the highest-grossing installment of the franchise domestically at the time of its release and expanded the series’ scope considerably.

SCREAM 4

Scream 4 — 2011

Release: April 15, 2011
Director: Wes Craven
Runtime: 111 minutes
Budget: $40 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $97 million

After an eleven-year hiatus, Wes Craven returned for Scream 4. The film brought Sidney back to Woodsboro during the anniversary of the original murders, introducing a new generation of characters alongside the returning cast. The film explored the influence of social media, celebrity culture and remakes while continuing the franchise’s tradition of subverting horror conventions.

SCREAM 2

Scream 2 — 1997

Release: December 12, 1997
Director: Wes Craven
Runtime: 120 minutes
Budget: $24 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $172 million

Released less than a year after the original, Scream 2 follows Sidney Prescott as she attempts to move forward with her life at college, only to find herself targeted by another Ghostface killer. The sequel expanded the original’s commentary on horror sequels while bringing back the central trio of Sidney, Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley.

SCREAM

Scream — 1996

Release: December 20, 1996
Director: Wes Craven
Runtime: 111 minutes
Budget: $14 million
Worldwide Box Office: Approximately $173 million

The film that reinvented the slasher genre. Wes Craven’s Scream introduced audiences to Sidney Prescott, Ghostface and the fictional town of Woodsboro while blending traditional horror conventions with self-aware commentary about the genre. Written by Kevin Williamson, the film became a major commercial success and established one of horror’s most enduring franchises.