The Ultimate Ranking of the 'Scream' Movies

Slasher films are in my top three genre movies. They're basically mysteries with a lot more bodies, and I love a good whodunit. If I had to pick a franchise, I think has been consistently satisfying across six movies, it's the Scream series. I genuinely enjoy all the movies here, even if I have my favorites. Ranking them was very hard because, outside of the top spot, I think you could make an argument for any of them fitting in any other place on the list. Still, today, we're going to rank all the movies in the Scream franchise and talk about what I like about all of them. Let's dive in. 1. Scream (1996)Director: Wes CravenWriter: Kevin WilliamsonCast: Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott) Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) David Arquette (Dewey Riley) Skeet Ulrich (Billy Loomis) Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher) Drew Barrymore (Casey Becker) I cannot imagine how electric this movie must have been on the opening weekend. From killing its biggest star to having multiple killers to just stacking bodies in the final set piece, it's an all-time classic and one of the best screenplays written. 2. Scream 2Director: Wes CravenWriter: Kevin WilliamsonCast: Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott) Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) David Arquette (Dewey Riley) Jamie Kennedy (Randy Meeks) When you start a franchise, you want to make sure there's more meat on the one for the characters and the world, and Scream has a lot left. From digging into PTSD to the falsely accused to just sending kids to college, it's all on deck here for some memorable scenes and development. 3. Scream (2022)Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler GillettWriters: James Vanderbilt & Guy BusickCast: Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott) Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) David Arquette (Dewey Riley) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) Jack Quaid (Richie Kirsch) Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks-Martin) Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin) This is actually Scream 5, and it low-key annoyed me that they soft-rebooted the franchise in the title because it was not necessary and was confusing. Still, what it gets right is including legacy characters but not remaining so attached to them that they're immortal. 4. Scream 4Director: Wes CravenWriter: Kevin WilliamsonCast: Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott) Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) David Arquette (Dewey Riley) Hayden Panettiere (Kirby Reed) Emma Roberts (Jill Roberts) Again, I like all these movies, so I feel like this could have been higher, depending on what day you talked to me. Its own soft reboot of the franchise came back at a time of peak horror to poke fun at other franchises and deliver some of the most brutal kills. And a killer who made perfect sense. 5. Scream 3Director: Wes CravenWriter: Ehren KrugerCast: Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott) Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) David Arquette (Dewey Riley)Some people don't love the deep dive of Hollywood on Hollywood, but I do! That set piece where they're running around the fake house and staircases that don't match the doors is so fun. And having the cast of a Stab movie be the vulnerable ones is just meta enough to be fun but scary enough to maintain the series' deft tone. 6. Scream VIDirectors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett Writers: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick Cast: Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter) Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter) Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks-Martin) Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin) Hayden Panettiere (Kirby Reed) I put it last because it came out last. I don't have any justifications for it. I thought New York was a really good idea, and those subway scenes are a blast. Part of me wanted a little more action within the city, but I dug the trio of killers and the fake-out death. Summing Up Our Scream Ranking With Scream VII on the way, (with Matthew Lillard returning!) I'm excited to add more to this list over time. What this franchise gets right time and time again is that it's constantly deconstructing what audiences want and analyzing trends in the horror genre. It's smart and savvy, and that's why I always come back for more. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Mar 11, 2025 - 20:45

The Ultimate Ranking of the 'Scream' Movies

Slasher films are in my top three genre movies. They're basically mysteries with a lot more bodies, and I love a good whodunit.

If I had to pick a franchise, I think has been consistently satisfying across six movies, it's the Scream series.

I genuinely enjoy all the movies here, even if I have my favorites. Ranking them was very hard because, outside of the top spot, I think you could make an argument for any of them fitting in any other place on the list.

Still, today, we're going to rank all the movies in the Scream franchise and talk about what I like about all of them.

Let's dive in.

1. Scream (1996)

Director: Wes Craven
Writer: Kevin Williamson
Cast:
- Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott)
- Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers)
- David Arquette (Dewey Riley)
- Skeet Ulrich (Billy Loomis)
- Matthew Lillard (Stu Macher)
- Drew Barrymore (Casey Becker)

I cannot imagine how electric this movie must have been on the opening weekend. From killing its biggest star to having multiple killers to just stacking bodies in the final set piece, it's an all-time classic and one of the best screenplays written.

2. Scream 2

Director: Wes Craven
Writer: Kevin Williamson
Cast:
- Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott)
- Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers)
- David Arquette (Dewey Riley)
- Jamie Kennedy (Randy Meeks)

When you start a franchise, you want to make sure there's more meat on the one for the characters and the world, and Scream has a lot left.

From digging into PTSD to the falsely accused to just sending kids to college, it's all on deck here for some memorable scenes and development.

3. Scream (2022)

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Writers: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick
Cast:
- Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott)
- Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers)
- David Arquette (Dewey Riley)
- Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter)
- Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter)
- Jack Quaid (Richie Kirsch)
- Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks-Martin)
- Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin)

This is actually Scream 5, and it low-key annoyed me that they soft-rebooted the franchise in the title because it was not necessary and was confusing.

Still, what it gets right is including legacy characters but not remaining so attached to them that they're immortal.

4. Scream 4

Director: Wes Craven
Writer: Kevin Williamson
Cast:
- Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott)
- Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers)
- David Arquette (Dewey Riley)
- Hayden Panettiere (Kirby Reed)
- Emma Roberts (Jill Roberts)

Again, I like all these movies, so I feel like this could have been higher, depending on what day you talked to me.

Its own soft reboot of the franchise came back at a time of peak horror to poke fun at other franchises and deliver some of the most brutal kills. And a killer who made perfect sense.

5. Scream 3

Director: Wes Craven
Writer: Ehren Kruger
Cast:
- Neve Campbell (Sidney Prescott)
- Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers)
- David Arquette (Dewey Riley)

Some people don't love the deep dive of Hollywood on Hollywood, but I do! That set piece where they're running around the fake house and staircases that don't match the doors is so fun.

And having the cast of a Stab movie be the vulnerable ones is just meta enough to be fun but scary enough to maintain the series' deft tone.

6. Scream VI

Directors: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett
Writers: James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick
Cast:
- Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers)
- Melissa Barrera (Sam Carpenter)
- Jenna Ortega (Tara Carpenter)
- Mason Gooding (Chad Meeks-Martin)
- Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy Meeks-Martin)
- Hayden Panettiere (Kirby Reed)

I put it last because it came out last. I don't have any justifications for it. I thought New York was a really good idea, and those subway scenes are a blast.

Part of me wanted a little more action within the city, but I dug the trio of killers and the fake-out death.

Summing Up Our Scream Ranking

With Scream VII on the way, (with Matthew Lillard returning!) I'm excited to add more to this list over time. What this franchise gets right time and time again is that it's constantly deconstructing what audiences want and analyzing trends in the horror genre.

It's smart and savvy, and that's why I always come back for more.

Let me know what you think in the comments.