Yahoo Lifestyle Every 'Scream' Movie, Ranked From Best to Worst
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Every 'Scream' Movie, Ranked From Best to Worst
The entertainment team at Esquire (mostly!) agrees on many things—like the best Marvel and A24 movies—however, Scream is one cinematic universe we very much don't agree on. Actually, it's just that I respectfully disagree with my co-worker, Sirena. We’re both avid fans of the series who love discussing anything and everything Ghostface, so when Scream VI was announced, we took the opportunity to chat about our favorite moments in the franchise.
The original opening scene with Drew Barrymore? Iconic. The backstory on Sidney’s mother? A sad but necessary reveal. The brutal slaying of our favorite legacy character in Scream 5? Tragic and totally uncalled for! That we can agree on. But when it came to ranking the films from best to worst, we were stumped. Maybe it's because the Scream franchise is so impeccable, that even its worse entries are still leagues better than most slasher flicks.
Either way, our impasse was a sign that our discussion was far more important than office chatter. If Sirena and I were struggling to rank each film, we knew others out there were probably stuck, too. So, in an act of journalistic bravery, we both devoured the series (once again!) and decided to find an answer once and for all. After rewatching the films, we finally managed to come to an agreement. What you’ll see below comes from hours worth of research and debate. A list so thoughtfully compiled, we hope Wes Craven himself would be proud.
Without further ado, here is our ranking of every Scream movie, from best to worst.
Esquire - 2/7
1) Scream (1996)
More often than not, the first film is always the best. We don’t make the rules! If Wes Craven never made Scream, we wouldn’t have the franchise at all—and that's reason enough to give Scream the top spot. But if you’re looking for a more technical answer, here goes: Scream completely upended the horror genre. By mixing self-awareness and camp—while toying with the actual fear of a home invasion—Scream can make you laugh out loud or scream in fear at a moment's notice. 10/10!—Bria McNeal
nickbtube@Youtube - 3/7
2) Scream 4 (2011)
After an 11-year hiatus, Scream 4 premiered in theaters and reignited my love for the series. The film followed Jill Roberts, Sidney Prescott's niece, and Ghostface’s new target. When Jill and her friends start getting attacked, one by one, Sidney returns to Woodsboro to save them. But as the mystery progresses, she learns that this string of killings is far more complicated than she imagined. After watching Scream 4 in theaters—then again, and again, and again—I truly believe this is the best franchise comeback I’ve ever seen.—B.M.
Dimension Films@Youtube - 4/7
3) Scream VI (2023)
Ghostface has gone full-on feral in the latest installment. This time, the killer is faster, stronger, more ruthless, and less interested in theatrics. When Sirena and I saw it in theaters, we both left shaking from the suspense. Aside from the spookiness of it all, Scream VI displayed some of the best acting since the first iteration. Six characters returned, and each one was there for a reason. Reader, I have to stop here—I don't want to spoil anything for you.—B.M.
Paramount Pictures@Youtube - 5/7
4) Scream 3 (2000)
Three years after Scream 2, Wes Craven returned (much like Ghostface!) with Scream 3, to strike fear into our hearts. Baby, if you thought Scream was meta and self-referential before, the third film in the franchise turns it way up. You’ve got Stab 3 filming at the same time that Scream 3 is happening—and the actors playing the original characters of Sidney Prescott, Gale Weather, and Dewey Riley interact with the real characters, who are now established celebrities on their own terms.
Even writing this plot description has me scratching my head. Having Sidney return and face the demons of the past on a movie set that’s the exact replica of her home? It makes for great scares and intense emotional drama. When the final killer is revealed, it fills in the blanks on Sidney’s mother’s backstory, giving context to what set off all the murders in the first Scream. Not to mention, Scream 3 gives us a brutal meta reference to the exploitation of women behind the scenes of Hollywood productions.—Sirena He
Trailer Guy@Youtube - 6/7
5) Scream 5 (2022)
When fans heard that there was going to be a new Scream entry 11 years after Scream 4, we were excited—and a bit hesitant. You can’t blame us. Wes Craven died and would no longer be directing, and there would be a brand-new cast of people we were supposed to root for. It sounded like the makings of something trashy. But in classic Scream fashion, the film turned the tables on audience expectations and gave us another great sequel.
In Scream 5, we’re introduced to sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, who turn out to have a very direct tie to Billy Loomis from the original Scream. Plus, there’s another copycat Ghostface killer who's hellbent on getting rid of them. The gore is turned up for this one, but the hallmarks of Craven’s Scream are still here: the wild chase scenes, the ever-changing suspects, snd even our favorite legacy characters (Sidney, Gale, and Dewey!) return.—S.H.
ONE Media@Youtube - 7/7
6) Scream 2 (1997)
The follow-up to Scream debuted less than a year after the original. Even though, like Randy Meeks, our resident horror expert said, “sequels suck,” Scream 2 features Sarah Michelle Gellar, violent kills, plot twists that’ll give you whiplash, and a surprising Ghostface killer who brings the story back around to the original. Although it keeps up with the horror beats of the first film, Scream 2 played it a little too safe to be as memorable as the other sequels that followed.—S.H.
Trailer Chan@Youtube
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Happy 'Scream VI' premiere, everyone. Let's revisit the Ghostfaces of years past.
