It’s been almost thirty years since the first Scream movie was released, but it’s still proving popular during Spooky Season.
The horror classic dropped its first installment in 1996 and featured an all-star cast of Neve Campbell in the lead role alongside Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard and more.
Since then, the franchise has maintained a devout fanbase, allowing Scream to expand into games, merchandise and TV series, with a seventh film in 2026.
But nothing can beat the original, it seems, which has soared into Netflix’s top 10 Halloween movie list.
Directed by Wes Craven, Scream is set in a fictional Californian town and follows high school student Sidney Prescott (Campbell), who becomes the target of a vengeful masked killer.
Receive personalized updates on all things Netflix
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV newsletter.
Sign up for our newsletter and then select your program in the link we send you so we can receive TV news tailored to you.
On the anniversary of her mother’s murder, the teenager receives an ominous phone call from an unknown number, threatening her life and the lives of her friends.
The perpetrator turns out to be someone wearing a Ghostface costume, whose eerie voice has been provided by Roger L. Jackson since the beginning of the film series, regardless of the character beneath the terrifying mask.
What follows is a killing spree and a game of cat and mouse as Ghostface hunts Sidney and leaves a bloody trail.
The villain’s identity is revealed at the end of the film… but Ghostface won’t go down without a fight.
Scream (1996) had a budget of $14-15 million (£10.1-11.4 million), but its popularity allowed it to gross $173 million (£132 million) at the box office.
It received generally positive reviews at the time, with critics praising its self-referential humor despite the “excessive violence” that divided some.
But despite the initial feedback, Scream has undoubtedly retained its audience, with an impressive 80% score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
Among the 250,000+ comments, users call the original Scream a “masterpiece,” with Edward W writing, “The slasher genre reinvented.” I loved how self-aware this movie was. One of my favorite scary movies.’
‘Scream, when it was released, revived the Lasher teen horror film genre. The movie was not only gruesome and scary, but actually frightening. still nearly 30 years later, the film is still a scary watch,” writes ChrisCSH H.
“The Ghosts Faces calls are the best part of this movie. It’s strangely terrifying,” adds Pedro E.
“Scream is a really great film that I have always enjoyed,” says David V after seeing it for the tenth time.
‘Not only a solid horror, a solid comedy, but also a really strong mystery story in which everyone is a suspect but everyone also has an alibi. If you’re lucky enough to see it for the first time, the final reveal is exciting and narratively satisfying,” says Clayton F.
Following the success of Scream, a second film was released in 1997, a third in 2000 and a fourth in 2011.
Also titled Scream but serving as a sequel to Scream 4, the next film came in 2022 and was made as a tribute to Craven, the first Scream film not to be directed by him after he died in 2015.
What followed was the release of Scream VI in 2023, while Scream 7 will be released in February, with iconic actress Campbell reprising her role and Cox returning once again as journalist Gale Weathers. The Friends star holds the record as the only actress to have appeared in six consecutive films in a horror franchise.
Many other world-famous stars have appeared in the franchise over the years, including David Arquette, Jack Quaid, Jenna Ortega and Hayden Panettiere.
Unfortunately, the long-running franchise hasn’t been without its share of controversies. The most recent included die-hard fans who vowed to boycott Scream 7 after Melissa Barrera was fired for sharing pro-Palestine posts on social media, which bosses deemed anti-Semitic.
In the aftermath of her ouster, Barrera defended her posts.
Watch Scream (1996) on Netflix.
Do you have a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Submissions page. We’d love to hear from you.
MORE: ‘I hate creepy TV – this Netflix horror thriller is my one exception’
MORE: ‘Greatest Show Ever’ Back on Netflix – Plus 5 More Series Returning in November
MORE: Netflix viewers rush to watch ‘crap’ shows despite brutal reviews
#90s #horror #masterpiece #soaring #Netflix #years #release