All Scream Movies Ranked Before Ghostface Returns in Scream VI

All Scream Movies Ranked Before Ghostface Returns in Scream VI

With the release of Scream VI right around the corner, we thought it’d be fun to look back on Wes Craven’s fantastic Scream series. It’s a franchise that shows no signs of slowing down, so if you’re new to the franchise or looking to sharpen your knowledge on this long-running series, take a gander at the Scream movies ranked below and then let us know which Scream movie gets your adrenaline pumping. 5) Scream 4 (2011) There was a point in Scream 4 where I was ready to proclaim the third sequel as the best of the bunch — and...

With the release of Scream VI right around the corner, we thought it’d be fun to look back on Wes Craven’s fantastic Scream series. It’s a franchise that shows no signs of slowing down, so if you’re new to the franchise or looking to sharpen your knowledge on this long-running series, take a gander at the Scream movies ranked below and then let us know which Scream movie gets your adrenaline pumping. 5) Scream 4 (2011) There was a point in Scream 4 where I was ready to proclaim the third sequel as the best of the bunch — and a killer piece of cinema that adroitly uses modern media as its ultimate weapon. Unfortunately, Wes Craven and returning writer Kevin Williamson opt for a happy ending that allows the original cast to live to see another day. Really, the pic should have ended with Emma Roberts’ deranged killer, Jill Roberts, riding off into the sunset as a twisted version of Sidney Prescott after manipulating the news media to craft her own fabricated hero journey. Imagine the ramifications of her actions in sequels — would she be haunted by the murders she committed? Would she regret positioning herself as a target for future Ghostface villains? Would she eventually come clean with her morbid tale? Scream 4 needed a shocking ending to justify its existence. Alas, despite some great kills and fine performances from the likes of Hayden Panettiere and Rory Culkin, the fourth entry is little more than another chapter in a franchise stuck on autopilot. 4) Scream (2022) Surprisingly, Scream, the requel, manages to shock and awe without bringing much new to the table aside from a more somber tone. While the kills are meaner and nastier than ever, the jokes are less common; even Dewey, our resident goofball, swaps the twinkle in his eye with a wearier gaze that somehow makes the character less interesting. More criminally, directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett and writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick bring Sidney back for more Ghostface mayhem but give her absolutely nothing to do. The character feels shoehorned into the plot because somebody somewhere didn’t think audiences would turn up for more Scream unless they saw Neve Campbell on the poster. To be fair, the talented actress does what she can with what amounts to an oversized cameo, but can’t overcome the script limitations. Her showdown with this iteration of Ghostface feels even more obligatory than the last one, which sullies the character’s journey in the original trilogy. Negativity aside, Scream 2022 still offers enough blood and guts mayhem to warrant your attention. The young cast, led by Melissa Barrera (as Billy Loomis’ daughter), Jenna Ortega, and Jack Quaid, handle the material well, and the script does at least sneak in a few new ideas that merit enthusiasm for the sequel. At this point, there’s only so much more you can do with this franchise, and credit to all involved for at least crafting a plausible reason for Ghostface to kill again. 3) Scream (1996) Wes Craven’s original shocker still delights as a clever slice of 90s pop culture, but too often looks and feels like a made-for-TV thriller starring incredibly attractive 20-year-olds as high schoolers. The action is clunky, Craven’s direction surprisingly erratic; while the cinematography coats the horror in warm hues better suited for a romantic comedy. In other words, you can tell no one involved had any idea how successful Scream would ultimately become. And yet, much of that success lies in Kevin Williamson’s clever screenplay (and that terrific opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore), which pokes fun at the slasher genre without deviating too far from the formula. At one point, two characters literally scream at a security monitor as though they were watching Halloween. It’s pretty great. Still, after my latest rewatch, I found myself underwhelmed by Scream’s overall design, its one-not...