Before we get into the ranking, let me just say that in my eyes, there is no such thing as a bad Scream movie. This has always been my favorite horror franchise and after rewatching them all for this article, that has only become further cemented. They aren’t the scariest movies you can find, but they make up for it with rewatchability, solid core characters, and clever writing. Even the low points of the series still have their merits. 

Spoilers for the entire franchise below!

 

Number 6: Scream 3 (2000)

Scream 3 has a fair amount going for it. The killings take place on the set of a “Stab” movie, the in-universe movies based on the events of the series. It’s a fun gimmick when it’s utilized, but is underdeveloped. The only memorable moments on the movie set are Sidney (Neve Campbell), the series’ protagonist, being chased through the stage built version of the house from Scream (1996), and the scene where the real Ghostface, the series’ recurring villain, emerges from the rack of replica costumes. Considering this was originally meant to be the final installment, the main characters’ stories are wrapped up pretty well. Sidney, Dewey (David Arquette), and Gale (Courteney Cox) all get a well earned happy ending. 

My main problem with Scream 3 is the killer, Roman (Scott Foley), and his motivation. He’s the director of the new “Stab” and the half-brother of Sidney. The secret sibling twist comes out of nowhere, and Roman’s lack of screen time beforehand leaves you feeling absolutely nothing towards him by the time of his big reveal. They also retroactively made Roman the one who set the entire series in motion, which to me was just a cheap way to raise the stakes for what they thought would be the finale of a trilogy.

 

Number 5: Scream 4 (2011)

Scream 4 is nearly even with Scream 3. What gives it the edge for me is the uniqueness of the killer’s plan, which leads to a very interesting final act and holds up better than the twist of Scream 3 on a rewatch. Jill (Emma Roberts) attempting to recreate the events of the first movie and stage herself as the “final girl” as a quick way to get famous is actually a super believable and engaging motive for a modern Ghostface. I almost wish they would’ve fully committed to it and ended the series here. I’m not upset that Sidney survives and we end up getting more installments, but if Ghostface was ever going to win, this was the time to do it.. 

 

Number 4: Scream (2022)

While both this movie and Scream 4 attempt to serve as remakes, this one is more successful in that endeavor. The new cast is established well and are all pretty likable, especially the twins, Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown). The Carpenter sisters, Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega), do a good job at establishing themselves as the new faces of the franchise. Between her performance in X (2022), and her efforts as Tara in this film, Ortega is a bonafide scream queen. She sells the horror aspect of the movie better than anybody. Sam being the new main survivor while being the daughter of the original killer is an interesting dynamic, and Barrera plays the challenging role pretty. 

I also found this movie to be the most emotional in the series, as it kills off Dewey, one of the series’ three main characters. Dewey gets a proper sendoff though; everything he does before his final scene is perfect. He has great interactions with new and old characters, and gives a couple of his signature one-liners. My main gripe is that the killers’ motives are related to the “Stab” movies as a way of contributing to the film’s half-baked commentary on toxic fandom, which made them fall flat for me. My only other major complaint is that this movie is called Scream instead of “Scream 5.”

 

Number 3: Scream VI (2023)

Ghostface takes Manhattan! This is probably the most action-heavy movie of the bunch, and I find it to be a lot of fun. The NYC setting is used well in my opinion. Kills and attacks take place in alleyways, apartment buildings, bodegas, and the subway, exploring multiple angles of the city without it ever feeling cheap. In order to service the increased action in the film, Ghostface feels changed from his signature self, which is my biggest complaint. The scariest thing about Ghostface is the way he stalks; the way he could be anywhere at any time. In this movie though, he feels more like a Terminator or Michael Meyers: just a nonstop killing machine. A smaller complaint I had was that having three killers seemed like one too many, as they were all spread thin and became less memorable, despite having a solid shared motive of revenge.

 

Number 2: Scream 2 (1997)

Going into my rewatch for this list, the top spot was never in doubt, but second place was definitely up for grabs, and Scream 2 grabbed it by a longshot. The college setting is a perfect followup to the original. The opening scene is fantastic, the chases are probably the best in the series, and the throughline of fame and how it affects people brings the whole movie together. The reveal of Mrs. Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) is a big surprise, but she’s convincing as a mastermind killer, and in terms of actually getting away with the crime, she probably has the best plan. Mickey (Timothy Olpyphant) complements her cold, calculated rage with batshit insanity and wackiness, giving them a good dynamic as a pair, even if that dynamic is a bit under-explored. Unfortunately, neither of them get lots of screen time before their reveal, which is something I always like to see as I feel it adds to the rewatchability and richness of the mystery.

 

Number 1: Scream (1996)

Like I said, this was never in doubt. Not only is this my favorite Scream movie, but it’s just one of my favorite movies ever. I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve watched it so many times, but the script of this film is so good that almost every line is a memorable quote. Matthew Lillard is able to elevate Stu Macher from a role that was nothing more than Billy’s (Skeet Ulrich) lackey on paper to a horror legend, delivering one of my favorite performances of all time. 

I have not seen a movie succeed in being metatextual as much as Scream does. Randy lays out the rules of surviving a horror movie only for all of the survivors to break them. Ghostface sneaks up behind an unsuspecting Randy as he watches Halloween (1978) and shouts “Jamie, look behind you!” All the while, Randy’s actor’s name is Jamie Kennedy. This movie shines on every front; it pioneered so many things that became staples in not only this franchise, but the slasher genre as a whole. It made being meta mainstream, changing the way film and audience interact. Additionally, Scream caused more agency to be given to female characters in horror, something that was long overdue, even at the time of the film’s 1996 release. It sits rightfully atop the throne today.

 

Bonus Ranking: All Ghostface Killers

While taking notes on each movie as I watched, I couldn’t help but take notes on all the killers too, so I figured I would rank them here since not all of them got mentioned in the main body. Plus, I thought it would be interesting to compare my movie and killer rankings.

1. Stu Macher, Scream (1996)
2. Billy Loomis, Scream (1996)
3. Jill Roberts, Scream 4 (2011)
4. Mickey Alteiri, Scream 2 (1997)
5. Nancy Loomis, Scream 2 (1997)
6. Richie Kirsch, Scream (2022)
7. Wayne Kirsch, Scream VI (2023)
8. Amber Freeman, Scream (2022)
9. Roman Bridger, Scream 3 (2000)
10. Charlie Walker, Scream 4 (2011) 
11. Quinn Kirsch, Scream VI (2023)
12. Ethan Kirsch, Scream VI (2023)