Scream films so as: Chronological & launch date

After a decade-long hiatus, Ghostface returned in 2022 to wreak havoc on the massive display screen. Now, one other sequel, Scream 6 has landed, with the masked killer let unfastened on the streets of New York. Pleasure for the franchise is at a peak as soon as once more.

All in whole the six Scream movies have remodeled $900 million on the field workplace, which principally ensures a seventh Scream movie is on the best way. Scream 7 is in early improvement and anticipated to be out in late 2024 on the earliest. Nonetheless, Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera usually are not returning for the subsequent movie, after taking up Ghostface within the final two entries within the collection.

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Whether or not you are a fan trying to refresh your reminiscence or a newcomer that desires to see what all of the current fuss is about – it’s possible you’ll be questioning the place is the very best place to begin. The Scream franchise tends to remain up to date, and there are not any complicated prequels. The one complicated half is the TV collection – an elective bonus, however one which we fairly loved.

This is Pocket-lint’s order for the easiest way to observe the complete Scream universe. It is chronological, nevertheless it’s additionally by launch date. You’ll be able to stream the newest movies and the TV collection (Scream 4 by 6) on Paramount+, whereas the sooner movies (Scream 1 by 3) are all accessible on Max.

There are spoilers beneath.

1 Scream

Rejuvenated the slasher style

It’d sound stunning now, however when the primary Scream was launched, the freshest horror movies had been simply one other spherical of Friday the thirteenth and Nightmare on Elm Road sequels. Wes Craven, famed for guiding the unique Nightmare on Elm Road, rejuvenated the slasher style with Scream, thus giving delivery to an iconic horror collection for a contemporary viewers.

The plot facilities on Neve Campbell’s character, Sidney Prescott, who’s being stalked by a masked killer concentrating on her and her highschool friends. Scream skillfully blends conventional horror components with a contact of self-referential humor. A key characteristic of the franchise is the suspense across the killer’s identification, which is stored secret till the ultimate scenes.

2 Scream 2

Arriving only a yr after the debut of the unique, Scream 2 amplifies the self-referential film commentary that contributed to the primary movie’s success. The sequel kicks off in a cinema the place a pair is slain whereas watching Stab, a film primarily based on the occasions of the primary Scream. The story then follows Sidney Prescott as she navigates faculty life whereas coping with a brand new Ghostface killer imitator. Acquainted faces like Courtney Cox, David Arquette, and Jamie Kennedy return to reprise their roles from the primary installment.

Kevin Williamson, the author behind the primary Scream, penned the script for this sequel as nicely. Apart from his work on three Scream films, Williamson is understood for scripting different iconic 90s horror movies, together with I Know What You Did Final Summer time and The School. Oh, he is additionally the creator of Dawson’s Creek.

3 Scream 3

Least compelling entry within the collection

Most would agree that Scream 3 is the least compelling entry within the collection, but it stays an entertaining movie. This installment leans extra towards comedy, in distinction to its predecessors, that are primarily horror movies sprinkled with comedic components.

Scream 3 as soon as once more facilities on the fictional Stab film collection, this time unfolding largely throughout the movie studios the place a Stab sequel is being produced. When a brand new Ghostface killer begins concentrating on people linked to the unique crimes, Sidney is drawn to Hollywood to confront this new menace. The movie gives some standout scenes and real humor, nevertheless it’s additionally marked by a collection of baffling decisions that depart the viewers perplexed.

4 Scream 4

Large hole between Scream 3 and 4

There was an enormous hole between Scream 3 and Scream 4 – coincidentally, the identical period of time handed between Scream 4 and 5, too. Scream 4 might be seen as considerably of a reboot for the franchise. Nonetheless, it nonetheless follows the identical characters, and as you would possibly anticipate, is totally loaded with meta-jokes about franchise reboots.

It is an actual return to kind for the collection and does a incredible job of recreating the tone and the scares of the unique; all whereas inserting some nice new characters into the combination. The movie is centered round Sidney being pressured to return to Woodsboro when a brand new batch of Ghostface killings start on the fifteenth anniversary of the unique murders. That is the final movie within the collection that Wes Craven directs and Kevin Williamson writes.

5 Scream TV collection

A little bit of an outlier

The Scream TV collection is a little bit of an outlier, however in the event you’re a completionist, the occasions portrayed within the present happen after Scream 4 and earlier than Scream 2022.

The present doesn’t characteristic any of the characters from the films and by no means even mentions the occasions of the Scream movies or the in-universe Stab movies which are referenced all through the sequel movies. That mentioned, quite a lot of the weather that make the Scream films nice are current right here, and it is a enjoyable watch. The primary two seasons comply with a bunch of teenagers being stalked within the fictional city of Lakewood by a brand new Ghostface killer.

The third season then switches to a brand new city the place a Ghostface killer has focused a highschool soccer participant.

6 Scream

‘Requel’ of the collection

The 2022 “requel” of the collection, intriguingly titled Scream identical to the unique movie, continues the legacy as a sequel. It options the return of the unique forged with Neve Campbell as Sidney, Courteney Cox as Gale, and David Arquette as Dewey, who be a part of forces with a brand new group of youngsters.

Set a quarter-century after the primary Scream, this fifth installment introduces a contemporary forged of characters and serves as a type of reset for the franchise. Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega play sisters from Woodsboro who discover themselves on the heart of recent Ghostface killings, coinciding with the twenty fifth anniversary of the preliminary spree.

7 Scream 6

No Neve Campbell

The latest entrant into the Scream saga launched completely in theaters in 2023 earlier than making its option to Paramount+.

This movie follows the journey of the 4 survivors, together with Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega’s characters, Sara and Tara Carpenter. The narrative sees the Carpenters and their mates attempting to begin anew in New York Metropolis. Nonetheless, their efforts to flee their previous are thwarted because the Ghostface killer’s terror follows them, and a brand new assassin begins their spree. The city backdrop of New York Metropolis gives a novel setting for the Scream franchise.

A big change on this movie is the absence of Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, marking the primary time within the collection. Nonetheless, Courteney Cox and David Arquette reprise their roles as Gale and Dewey. Moreover, Hayden Panettiere makes a comeback, reprising her function as Kirby Reed from Scream 4.

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Spoiler-free model: Scream film watch order at a look

This is the entire order of all of the Scream movies. It is chronological, nevertheless it’s additionally by launch date.