“What’s Your Favourite Scary Movie?” — Ranking the Scream Franchise
- 51 minutes ago
- 5 min read
By Shauna Bushe - February 26, 2026
Wes Craven is immortalized as the "Master of Horror," and for good reason. From the surreal terrors of A Nightmare on Elm Street to the gritty survivalism of The Hills Have Eyes, Craven’s filmography is a foundation of the genre. Yet, in the mid-90s, when the slasher subgenre was suffering in a cycle of stale sequels, Craven teamed up with a fresh voice named Kevin Williamson to create a phenomenon that didn't just scare audiences, it changed the rules of the game. Now in 2026 the Scream franchise marks a staggering 30-year legacy, with Neve returning as the pinnacle final girl and Williamson in the directing chair, it’s a poetic homecoming.
But in a franchise built on subverting expectations, which entry cut the deepest? Let’s look back over the 3-decade span of a culturally adored franchise.
6. Scream (2022)
Director: Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettineli-Olpin
“It’s an honour.”
The fifth instalment, often referred to as a "requel", successful revived the franchise after a decade long hiatus by navigating the task of honouring the legacy of the original trio whilst introducing a compelling new cast led by the Carpenter Sisters. This film works because it identifies the modern horror landscape, shifting its critique toward "elevated horror" and the toxicity of online fan culture. The violence in this entry felt more visceral and mean-spirited, reflecting a shift in contemporary audience sensibilities and a departure from the more playful tone of the previous sequels. The most profound example of this shift is Dewey Riley (David Arquette), a moment that shattered the franchise’s long-standing status quo. In the film’s final moments, it ties the new murders to the original massacre of 1996, bringing the story full circle, proving that the franchises DNA was strong enough to thrive under new creative leadership.
5. Scream IV (2011)
Director: Wes Craven
“I Don’t Need Friends, I Need Fans.”
Often considered ahead of its time, Scream 4 arrived just as the digital age was shifting and featured a deadly perception of the lengths a person will go to attain internet fame. It brought the franchise back to its roots in Woodsboro and cleverly flipped the script by attempting to remake the original events within the film’s own reality. The brilliance of it lies in the treason of the final girl trope through Jill, who unlike other killers driven by revenge, Jill is motivated by a cold modern hunger for fame. She recognises that social-media and victimhood is a valuable currency and leads her to orchestrate a massacre just to inherit Sidney’s spotlight, even if that means you gotta kill your mom. While the aesthetic is hampered by jarring cinematography of that era, the sickening slaughter of Olivia Morris (Marielle Jaffe) and the introduction of fan favourite Kirby (Hayden Panettiere) ensured that it remains an impressive, slightly underrated entry of the saga.
4. Scream VI (2023)
Director: Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettineli-Olpin
The sixth instalment of the Scream franchise breathes new life into the series by removing Ghostface from the familiar confines of Woodsboro to the chaotic and unforgiving streets of New York City. This urban shift serves as a refreshing twist that doubled the killer count, while maintaining a deep respect for its slasher roots. The city environment provides a fresh playground for high stakes tension, most notably during the flickering claustrophobic subway sequence, the harrowing high-rise ladder escape and Gale’s showdown in her apartment. This Ghostface isn’t playing, he appears remarkably more aggressive, trading the clumsy charm for a raw, bloodthirsty streak that sees him wielding shotguns. Driven by the emotional bond of the "Core Four" survivors, the film acts as a dedicated shrine to the entire franchise, ultimately reaching a climax where the Carpenter sisters are forced to embrace their dark inheritance to survive.
3. Scream 3 (2000)
Director: Wes Craven.
“Roman Bridger, Director. And Brother.”
Standing as the quintessential middle of the pack contender, is Scream 3. The entry that traded the franchise sharp blade for a Hollywood magnifying glass. Set against the backdrop of "Stab 3" production, the film leans hard into industry satire, while introducing the now-infamous voice changer capable of perfectly mimicking anyone. It remains arguably the most divisive chapter for its willingness to sacrifice tension and inserting a questionable supernatural vision yet opens with genuine shock value in the brutal murder of Cotton Weary, whose death immediately raises the stakes and signals that no returning character is entirely safe. A shift away from the series signature gore is the comedic energy from Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey) and her scene-stealing dynamic with Gale, who keep the momentum alive. The film successfully drags Sidney Prescott back to the integral roots of her family tragedy to tie a bow on the original trilogy, culminating in Roman Bridger’s reveal as the mastermind behind it all. Ultimately, it’s a fascinating exploration of the rules of a trilogy that provides a polarizing yet ambitious sense of closure for its central characters.
2) Scream 2 (1997)
Director: Wes Craven
Securing the second spot is the rare sequel that expands the scope of its predecessor without losing its soul. The films impact is cemented immediately by its meta opening sequence; by setting the initial murders within a movie theatre during a screening of "Stab", the film brilliantly blurs the line between fiction and reality, commentating on the desensitization of the audience. Scream 2 tackled the sequel rules with surgical precision, offering more elaborate set pieces such as the iconic sound booth chase sequence that showcased Cravens absolute command for suspense. However the film truly matures during its climax, which disrupts the copycat trope through its dual villain role. Mickeys insane plea perfectly mirrors the media circus and balances the reveal of Nancy Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) our second killer whose motive is “good old-fashioned revenge”. Scream 2 withstands its dominating title in the franchise, proving that the formula was sustainable and that its characters could grow in meaningful, tragic ways.
1. Scream (1996)
Director: Wes Craven
“Movies Don’t Create Psycho’s, Movies Make Psycho’s More Creative”
The original film remains the definitive entry, functioning as both a perfect slasher and a mocking critique of the genre. By introducing Sidney Prescott, the film provided a protagonist with unprecedented depth, moving away from the final girl archetype towards a fully appreciated survivor. The brilliance of the 1996 entry lies in its script, which famously weaponised the audience’s knowledge of horror tropes against them, a strategy anchored by the chaotic chemistry of Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard), as dual antagonists they represented a new breed of killer; horror-obsessed fans who weren’t driven by supernatural curses but by a twisted desire to reboot reality into a movie. In the opening sequence Casey is the ultimate example; even if you think you know the rules, you aren’t safe. Scream gushes with gore, self-awareness, a comedic edge and cleverly distorts expectations by killing off the most recognizable face in the first 10 minutes. It establishes mass tension, savvy characters and fundamentally changed the trajectory of horror cinema, ensuring the film’s place as a cultural touchstone that has never lost its edge.
From the 1996 original that started it all to the modern 'requels' that revitalized the brand, the Scream series remains the sharpest blade in the drawer and the most relevant franchise to date. This ranking captures the journey so far, but the stage is already being set for the next bloodbath. As we look toward Scream 7, remember the golden rule of horror: never under any circumstances, say “I’ll be right back.”
'Scream 7' is out now in cinemas. For more features, reviews, and deep dives into film and TV, keep it locked to Film Focus Online.
