It’s hard to believe that the Scream franchise turns 30 this year. From the first movie’s shocking opening scene to its meta takedown of the genre, the 1996 blockbuster changed everything we knew about slashers. Filmmaker Wes Craven had already shaken up horror for two decades with classics such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Last House on the Left, but Scream took things to a whole other level. With a rising crop of stars including Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette, the horror/comedy genre-twister served as a marked turning point for modern horror.
Over the past three decades, the Scream franchise has kept fans on their toes with story swaps, surprise death scenes, and complete reboot updates. Each new installment—from the immediate turnaround of 1997’s Scream 2 to this weekend’s release of Scream 7—supplied plenty of chills and thrills that have proven that the series is not running out of steam any time soon. Below, we walk through 10 creative decisions the franchise made—from killing off its stale characters to introducing more diversity among its stars—that have helped it maintain that sense of freshness.
Drew Barrymore’s Surprise Exit (Scream, 1996)
Promoting Drew Barrymore as a lead in Scream followed the Psycho playbook. Already a genre favorite at this point due to starring roles in Stephen King adaptations Firestarter and Cat’s Eye a decade prior, Barrymore found herself at the helm of much of the marketing for the film. Audiences expected her to be the lead, only for them to have the rug yanked from under their feet. The moment we, as the viewer, see her character’s body hanging from a tree by her intestines is not only graphic but a total shock. It set a new precedent for slasher conventions moving forward, with countless other films banking on an opening kill to set the stage.
The Death of Randy (Scream 2, 1997)
Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) served as an essential component to Scream’s meta slant. He was the resident horror aficionado and important as a fourth-wall breaker for the audience as he spouted off horror facts and made sure we all remembered that we were, in fact, in a scary movie. Yet by Scream 2, his schtick had depleted. It also didn’t help that he was constantly trying to woo Sidney, even though she never showed an ounce of interest in him. There are ongoing debates about the incels of the Scream franchise, and it never feels unfounded when Randy’s name comes up in that conversation. He was a bit skeevy with how he fawned over Neve Campbell’s Sidney (there’s even a comment made early in Scream 2 about the nerd finally getting the girl—oof!). As such, it’s a good thing Randy was axed in Scream 2, and the door opened for other know-it-all characters later on.
Scream 3 is as Meta as You Can Get (Scream 3, 2000)
The entire franchise was built on a meta attitude, but Scream 3 took that idea to its limits—so much so that it’s practically a spoof of itself. From the actors in the film-within-a-film Stab 3 portraying our favorite Scream characters to cultural references such as Jay & Silent Bob and Carrie Fisher, the film showed Craven with his finger on the pulse of the time period. It was a breath of fresh air and opened up the story to be much bigger than ever before.
Parker Posey Poses a Problem (Scream 3, 2000)
Parker Posey being cast as Jennifer Jolie, playing the fictionalized Gale Weathers (Courtney Cox) in Stab 3, might be the most genius casting of the whole franchise. Regardless of your feelings about Scream 3, you can’t deny Posey’s unwavering commitment to the bit. She proved to be the perfect companion to Cox’s more serious turn in the role. She was just as smart and self-possessed as Gale, but Jennifer’s humor gave the film a necessary reprieve as the terror escalated into the third act.
Ghostface Takes Manhattan (Scream 4, 2011)
Scream 3 didn’t feel as big and bold as Scream VI, even though that prior installment took place in Hollywood. The film lacked world-building. Scream VI, however, leaned into its location. NYC streets felt endless, dark, and dirty. From the high-rise ladder setpiece to the subway sequences, the film was an exciting evolution of the typical Scream formula. It made it all the sweeter when Jason (Tony Revolori), one of the Ghostface killers, was seen watching Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan during the opening. It’s hard to beat an NYC setting, honestly.
Kirby: The New Randy (Scream 4, 2011)
With Randy a thing of the past, Scream needed a new horror aficionado to take up the meta mantle. In his last franchise rodeo, Scream 4, Craven introduced Kirby (Hayden Panettiere), an obsessed genre fan who can trivia anyone under the table. She’s smart, capable, and never succumbs to horror clichés. What sets her apart from Randy is her ability to list off trivia without even thinking about it. Take her Ghostface call, for instance: In the heat of the moment, as Charlie (Rory Culkin) is tied to a chair on the patio, she spits out numerous horror remakes of the era in an attempt to answer the killer’s question. Surprisingly, the moment rings intensely emotional. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she doesn’t break for a second, eventually nailing the answer. If anyone was going to replace Randy, it was going to be Kirby—that is, until Mindy comes along.
The Core Four (Scream, 2022)
It’d been long overdue to shift the focus away from Sidney and give the story a serious and more diverse makeover. The Core Four—Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera), Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), Chad Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding), and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown)—are all people of color, something this franchise has historically failed to properly feature. Before 2022’s Scream, there had been numerous Black characters and bit players, but none of them were the films’ leads. With The Core Four, filmmaker duo Radio Silence pushed the series into exciting new territory. Having two Latina and two Black actors not only prominently included but leading the way marked a significant moment in horror history. Plus, Mindy is an out-and-proud queer woman, another identity severely lacking in the franchise, despite its cornerstone scriptwriter Kevin Williamson being gay himself. There are queer-coded elements, including Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) and Stu Macher’s (Matthew Lillard) relationship, and an offhand comment from Robbie Mercer (Erik Knudsen) about being gay as Ghostface rips him open in Scream 4, but it was all masked behind vague characterizations and left to interpretation.
The Death of Dewey (Scream, 2022)
The death of one of the OGs was bound to happen eventually. Honestly, it was long overdue. Which of the three was most expendable? In 2022’s reboot/sequel (or “requel,” as Mindy coins it), Dewey (David Arquette)’s fate reaches the end of the line. Scream emerged as a passing of the torch installment, and that required a major death to give the film actual stakes. With Tara at the hospital, Sam and Dewey bolt from the scene of Judy's (Marley Shelton) and Wes’ (Dylan Minnette) deaths and save the day. During the scuffle with Ghostface, Dewey is ripped apart by two knives (“It’s an honor,” the killer says before knocking Dewey to the floor). It marked an important shift in the franchise, a refreshing hard left turn needed to rev the story into overdrive.
Gale’s Very First Ghostface Call (Scream VI, 2023)
Believe it or not, it took six whole movies before Gale ever got a Ghostface call. In Scream 2, the killer dialed her phone, but Randy answered it. While Sam, Tara, and the group attempted to lure Ghostface out into the open at a public park, he stalked Gale at her high-rise apartment. During the phone call, he commented on Sidney always stealing the spotlight and Dewey always being the fan favorite. And where did that leave her? “The brains and the sex appeal,” replied Gale. With the chase scene living up to her cat-and-mouse game in Scream 2, the phone call was also well worth the wait.
Samara Weaving Finally Makes the Cut (Scream VI, 2023)
Australian actress Samara Weaving possesses the scream of her generation. Coming off films like Ready or Not, horror fans began to champion her for a role in a Scream film. Well, they got their wish when the Scream Queen starred in the opening for Scream VI. It was a full-circle moment, as Radio Silence also helmed Ready or Not. Weaving not only spoke in her own accent, but let loose a warrior-like belly scream that once again proved her lung power. It also helps that the Scream VI’s opening is one of the best of the franchise.
