Credited with revitalizing the horror genre during its slump in popularity in the ’90s, Wes Craven’s slasher masterpiece, Scream, completely changed the face of cinema thanks to its refreshing meta commentary, unforgettable villain, and iconic opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore. Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, the film focuses on high school student Sidney Prescott as she and her friends are terrorized by a masked serial killer known as Ghostface, who violently picks them off one by one.
Based on the series of murders carried out by the Gainesville Ripper, the screenplay for Scream was penned by Kevin Williamson. It defied expectations at the box office, grossing $173 million worldwide and earning praise for thrillingly paying homage to the history of the horror genre. Its massive global success spawned a lucrative and enduring franchise consisting of five sequels (and counting) and an anthology TV series. With spooky season in full swing, now is the perfect time to revisit the first three films on Paramount+.
‘Scream’ Forever Changed the Face of Horror Cinema
You can’t truly call yourself a horror aficionado until you’ve experienced the groundbreaking ’90s classic Scream. The film is a pioneer in the genre, offering absolutely everything you could want from a slasher: a tenacious heroine, self-referential humor, a legendary villain, and, of course, a heaping dose of blood and gore. The 1996 original featured a slew of talented and rising actors, including Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Skeet Ulrich. Due to Wes Craven’s masterful direction and refreshing vision, it has become a celebrated staple nearly 30 years after its release.
The electrifying opening scene, featuring Drew Barrymore, remains one of cinema’s most iconic, as it completely disarmed audiences and posed the now-famous question, “What’s your favorite scary movie?” while introducing the world to the demented, knife-wielding serial killer Ghostface. The terrifying cat-and-mouse pursuit that unfolded and Barrymore’s brutal demise (Ghostface murdered the person who was thought to be the film’s lead star in the first 12 minutes) left moviegoers stunned and achieved exactly what Craven hoped for: it showed that nobody was safe.
Outside of Barrymore’s notable appearance, Jamie Kennedy also stole the show as horror movie fanatic Randy Meeks. The fan-favorite character memorably recited the sacred “rules” of slasher movies and helped instill a playful self-awareness that set Scream apart from its fellow slashers. Screenwriter Kevin Williamson specifically set out to make the characters and killer knowledgeable about the clichés found in horror films, so that Ghostface could exploit them to his advantage. It’s this unique meta commentary that helped make Scream the timeless Halloween staple it has become.
Craven Does the Slasher Justice With Two Must-See Sequels
While the legacy of the 1996 original more than speaks for itself and helped further cement Wes Craven’s status as one of cinema’s most revered masters of horror, the franchise’s two subsequent sequels are just as worthy of a good binge-watch. 1997’s Scream 2 managed the rare feat of actually doing its predecessor justice and once again crafting an immersive blend of terror and humor while further delving into the Ghostface lore. The sequel not only brings back horror buff Randy, continuing his signature meta observations, but also explores the traumatic effects the Woodsboro massacre had on Sidney.
Scream 2 also sets out to answer whether violence in the media ultimately spawns violence in real life, as the opening sequence features an ill-fated college couple on a date to see Stab, a film based on the massacre and Sidney’s harrowing experience. The sequel is sharp and satirical, once again reinventing the slasher formula. It takes audiences on a wildly entertaining journey that sees the blossoming of a relationship between reporter Gale (Courteney Cox) and police detective Dewey (David Arquette), while featuring epic reveals of multiple Ghostfaces and some brutal death scenes.
Likewise, the 2000 sequel Scream 3 may not have been as well-received at the time as the first two films. Nonetheless, it is a fun and satisfying conclusion to the original trilogy. Set in Hollywood on the set of Stab 3, it provides character development while critiquing the movie-making industry, as the cast is picked off one by one. Scream 3 combines the blood and gore of the slasher genre with a classic whodunit mystery, and the installment notably includes more comedic elements, making it an enjoyable entry in the trailblazing horror franchise and the perfect addition to your Halloween viewing list. Scream is now streaming on Paramount+.
- Release Date
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December 20, 1996
- Runtime
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112 minutes
- Producers
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Bob Weinstein, Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Harvey Weinstein