Wes Craven changed everything in 1996. He didn't just make a scary movie; he made a movie that knew it was a movie. If you're trying to figure out how to watch the scream movies in order, it’s actually pretty straightforward on the surface, but the lore gets dense. Fast. You’ve got a timeline spanning nearly thirty years, a shift in "legacy" characters, and a TV show that exists in its own weird little vacuum.
Most people just want to see Ghostface slash through a high school. But if you actually pay attention, you're watching a decades-long dissertation on how media consumes itself.
The Original Woodsboro Bloodbath (1996)
Scream wasn't supposed to be a massive franchise. Kevin Williamson wrote a script called Scary Movie (a title later stolen by the Wayans brothers) and it was basically a love letter to John Carpenter’s Halloween. It’s the foundation. You start here. No exceptions.
The story introduces Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell, who is dealing with the anniversary of her mother's murder. Then, people start dying. But the twist—the thing that makes this first entry the gold standard—is that the characters have all seen Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street. They know the tropes. They try to outsmart the killer by following "The Rules."
It’s brutal. It’s funny. It features arguably the most iconic opening scene in cinema history with Drew Barrymore. Honestly, if you stop after the first one, you’ve seen a masterpiece. But you won't stop. The mystery of who is under the mask is too addictive.
Expanding the Universe: Scream 2 and 3
By 1997, the sequel was already out. Scream 2 takes Sidney to college. It’s a rare sequel that actually lives up to the original, mostly because it tackles the concept of "sequelitis" head-on. It asks: can a sequel ever be better?
The stakes are higher. The kills are more elaborate. We get the introduction of the "film within a film" called Stab, which dramatizes the events of the first movie. This is where the scream movies in order start to get really meta. You’re watching a movie about people watching a movie about the movie you just watched. It’s a lot, but it works.
Then things get... messy.
👉 See also: Brokeback Mountain Gay Scene: What Most People Get Wrong
Scream 3 (2000) is often the black sheep. Set in Hollywood on the set of Stab 3, it feels more like a Scooby-Doo mystery than a gritty slasher. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes history here; the script was heavily sanitized because of the real-world Columbine tragedy, shifting the tone toward campy humor rather than gore. It features a secret brother plotline that feels a bit like a soap opera. Yet, for completionists, it’s essential because it closes the "original" trilogy's arc regarding Sidney’s mother, Maureen Prescott.
The Long Gap and the Soft Reboot
Eleven years passed. We thought Ghostface was dead. Then came Scream 4 in 2011.
Craven returned to the director's chair for what would be his final film. It’s a fascinating look at the early 2010s obsession with fame and social media. It introduces a younger generation—led by Emma Roberts and Hayden Panettiere—while keeping the "Big Three" (Sidney, Gale, and Dewey) front and center.
It was ahead of its time. Seriously. The motive of the killer in Scream 4 predicted the "influencer" era before it even fully arrived. While it underperformed at the box office initially, it has since become a cult favorite among hardcore fans who appreciate its mean-spirited edge.
- Scream (1996) - The Blueprint.
- Scream 2 (1997) - The Expansion.
- Scream 3 (2000) - The Hollywood Satire.
- Scream 4 (2011) - The Remake Critique.
The "Radio Silence" Era: Scream (2022) and Scream VI
After Wes Craven passed away, the franchise felt untouchable. How do you do Scream without Wes?
The filmmaking collective known as Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) stepped in. In 2022, they released a film simply titled Scream. Not Scream 5. Just Scream. Why? Because they were mocking "requels"—those movies like Halloween (2018) or Star Wars: The Force Awakens that act as both a sequel and a reboot.
This film introduces the "Core Four": Sam and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega), Chad, and Mindy. It connects back to the 1996 original in a way that feels personal and bloody.
✨ Don't miss: British TV Show in Department Store: What Most People Get Wrong
Then we got Scream VI in 2023.
This one moved the action to New York City. No more Woodsboro. The change of scenery breathed new life into the series. Ghostface in a bodega? Ghostface on a crowded subway? It’s terrifying because there’s nowhere to hide. It also marked the first time Sidney Prescott didn’t appear (due to a real-life salary dispute involving Neve Campbell), which proved the franchise could survive on the strength of its new ensemble and the mask itself.
What About the TV Series?
This is where people get confused. There is a Scream television series that aired on MTV and later VH1.
If you are strictly following the scream movies in order for the narrative of Sidney Prescott or the Carpenter sisters, you can skip the show. The first two seasons (2015-2016) feature a different mask and a completely different town called Lakewood. It’s more of a teen drama with a slasher skin. Season 3, titled Scream: Resurrection, brought back the classic Ghostface mask and voice (Roger L. Jackson), but it’s still a standalone reboot. It's fun for a binge, but it doesn't impact the movies. Think of it as an alternate universe.
The Essential Chronological Watch List
To get the full experience, watch them in this exact sequence:
- Scream (1996)
- Scream 2 (1997)
- Scream 3 (2000)
- Scream 4 (2011)
- Scream (2022)
- Scream VI (2023)
- Scream 7 (Upcoming)
Yes, a seventh film is in development. It has faced significant production hurdles, including the departure of the previous directors and lead actresses Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega. However, Kevin Williamson (the original writer) is returning to direct, and Neve Campbell is back as Sidney. It’s shaping up to be a "back to basics" entry.
Why Ghostface Still Scares Us
Scream works because anyone can be under the mask. It’s not a supernatural monster like Freddy or Jason. It’s a person with a grudge and a voice changer.
🔗 Read more: Break It Off PinkPantheress: How a 90-Second Garage Flip Changed Everything
The franchise also respects its audience. It assumes you’re smart. It assumes you’ve watched a million horror movies and are tired of the same old tropes. By acknowledging those tropes, it creates a "whodunit" atmosphere that keeps you guessing until the final act.
One thing most people get wrong: they think Ghostface is one person. Across the six films, there have been twelve different killers (if you count the varying motives and partnerships). Each movie adds a new layer to the mythology of why people are so obsessed with the Woodsboro murders.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning a marathon, keep these things in mind to enhance the experience.
First, pay attention to the background characters. Wes Craven loved hiding the killer in plain sight. In the first movie, if you look closely at the grocery store scene, you can see someone in a Ghostface costume lurking in the aisle reflections.
Second, watch the Stab movie posters. The series puts a massive amount of effort into the fictional franchise within the franchise. The actors listed on the Stab posters are often real-life celebrities who were almost cast in the actual Scream movies.
Finally, listen to the score. Marco Beltrami’s haunting themes in the first four films provide a continuity that ties the different eras together. When the "Red Right Hand" track by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds kicks in, you know things are about to get real.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming seventh installment, focus your rewatch on Sidney Prescott’s journey specifically. Since the next film is pivoting back to her perspective, understanding her growth from a terrified teenager to a battle-hardened survivor is the key to enjoying where the story goes next. Focus on the nuances of her character in Scream 4—it’s the most telling bridge between the old school and the new era.