Scream (franchise)

Scream is an American slasher franchise that includes seven films, a television series, merchandise, and games. The first four films were directed by Wes Craven. The series was created by Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first two films and the fourth, and returned to direct and co-write the seventh film. Ehren Kruger wrote the third. The fifth and sixth installments were directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, with Guy Busick and James Vanderbilt serving as writers and Williamson returning as executive producer. Busick and Vanderbilt also co-wrote the seventh entry. Dimension Films produced the first four films. Spyglass Media Group took over the rights from the fifth film on with Paramount Pictures distributing. The film series has grossed over US$1 billion at the global box office. Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Roger L. Jackson (who voices the various Ghostface killers) starred in the first five films, and returned for the seventh. Cox and Jackson also reprised their roles for the sixth film and are the only cast members to feature in all seven films to date, with Cox also being the only actress to appear in seven consecutive films of a horror franchise. Hayden Panettiere stars in the fourth and sixth films, while Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, and Jasmin Savoy Brown star in the fifth and sixth, with Gooding and Brown also reprising their roles in the seventh. Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber feature in the first three films, and Marley Shelton appears in the fourth and fifth. Skeet Ulrich stars in the first and cameos in the fifth and sixth installments, Matthew Lillard stars in the first and features in the seventh, Laurie Metcalf stars in the second and cameos in the seventh, Scott Foley stars in the third and cameos in the seventh, and Jack Quaid stars in the fifth and cameos in the sixth. Additionally, Heather Matarazzo makes cameo appearances in the third and fifth films, as does Nancy O'Dell in the second, third and fourth. Having appeared in the iconic opening scene of the first film and on its poster, Drew Barrymore is strongly associated with the franchise. The series has also featured many notable actors making single-film appearances in supporting cast roles or as cameos. Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream (2022), and Scream VI (2023) received high praise from critics. Scream 3 (2000) received a more mixed response, as did Scream 4 (2011), Craven's final film; both were later reappraised and the fourth film was generally seen as a return to form for the series. Meanwhile, Scream 7 (2026) received mostly negative reviews from critics but became the highest grossing movie in the franchise. Commercially, all the films have been high performers at the box office apart from Scream 4, which had a disappointing domestic run. The film series has also been the recipient of several awards and nominations, including winning Best Movie twice at the MTV Movie & TV Awards (for Scream in 1996 and Scream VI in 2023). An eighth film is in early development.