For almost three decades Scream Franchise has become one of the best and most popular horror franchises of all time. After a number of new and old characters in six films, from Neve CampbellFrom the tough final girl character Sidney Prescott to the new horror film icon Jenna Ortega‘s Tara Carpenter (alongside sister Sam, played by Melissa Barrera), the thrilling and scary encounters with Ghostface ensure that the audience wants to see more with each new episode.

Although the franchise is loved by audiences as a whole, that doesn’t stop fans from passionately debating which film is their favorite, who is the best Ghostface killer, and which scenes and murders are the most horrific. It’s fair to say that every single film in the Scream Franchises have the power to raise the audience’s pulse, but some films definitely exceed expectations when it comes to the scare factor.

Editor’s note: This article contains spoilers for the “Scream” series

6 “Scream 2” (1997)

Director: Wes Craven

The Scream The opening scenes of the series are among the most iconic in the horror genre. And Scream 2is undoubtedly one of the scariest. Maureen (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Phil (Omar Epps) at a screening of the fictional film stinging, based on Gale (Courtney Cox)s book The Woodsboro MurdersThe theater is full of people in Ghostface costumes, underscoring the uncertainty of who is behind the mask. When the couple are brutally killed, stabbed in the bathroom and in the theater, the audience believes their cries for help are part of the film.

This horror sets a great precedent for the film and its sequels, in which the real world of the characters’ collective trauma and the fiction of the adaptations are difficult to separate, putting everyone in greater danger. However, since the film is set in a college setting, similar to the high school setting of the first film, The horrors are probably less intense, as they resemble those of Scream.

5 “Scream 3” (2000)

Director: Wes Craven

Scream 3 is diagetically structured as a parody of the genre and the franchise itself, mostly in Hollywood, on the set of Stitch 3. But in the eyes of many viewers Scream 3 is itself a kind of farce in the end, as it is the film in the series that relies more than any other on jokes and gags, thus allowing major shock moments to fade into the background.

While there are undeniably creepy scenes, such as Ghostface using the voice of Sidney’s dead mother to taunt her, and the attacks/murders on the Piercing film set, Not only do the film’s new characters take up unnecessary screen time, their ignorance and arrogance are more annoying than frightening.

4 “Scream 4” (2011)

Director: Wes Craven

While Scream 4 is still a worthy addition to the iconic franchise, the time between this film and the previous part and the development of the old characters completely change the audience’s view of the story and the horrors. With Dewey (David Arquette) settles into his job and Sidney is no longer a vulnerable teenager, some of Ghostface’s acumen is lost.

However, the scene in the third act with Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) is comparable to the other horrific scenes in parts like Scream And Scream V, The audience bit their nails as she marshals her knowledge of horror movies to save a peer. Emma Roberts delivers possibly one of the most terrifying performances in the franchise, going to truly frightening lengths to carry out her mission as Ghostface and attempt to murder her cousin Sidney.

3 “Scream VI” (2023)

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

Although it is set in the vast expanses of New York City, Scream VI feels more intense and claustrophobic than other parts, as the older generation loses Dewey and the younger core group (Mason Gooding And Jasmine Savoy Brown shine alongside Barrera and Ortega), they all still remember the serious betrayal they experienced from their loved ones in the previous part. So when they face a new Ghostface killer, the big city seems to offer them little protection.

These feelings are only heightened by the fact that Sam is publicly portrayed as a villain and threatened, the gang is easily spread throughout the city, and it is realized that the Ghostface Killers have done extensive research on previous murderers in order to finish what they started. In total, Scream VIs It is the general unease and uncertainty that give the film its successful horror character.

2 “Scream” (2022)

Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett

After a decade Scream Franchise returned with a bang, with 2022’s Scream Radio silence. With the returning characters Sidney, Gale and Dewey, but the focus on a new group of young people, the fifth installment completely broke up the franchise and left room for new surprises and excitement.

The audience found themselves in a similar situation to the original 1996 film, not knowing which of the new teenagers they could trust not to be hiding behind the mask. By exploiting this lack of trust, the film creates a deeply disturbing atmosphere and makes almost every character seem guilty or shady in one way or another. Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison) is often hailed by audiences as one of the best and most terrifying Ghostface killers in the entire franchise, as the brutality with which she transforms from the role of “best friend” into someone who wants to kill Tara is incredibly disturbing. Scream also contains some of the most frightening images of the franchisefrom Amber’s burning, charred body to a close-range shot in the head of Tara’s friend Liv (Sonia Ammar).

1 “The Scream” (1996)

Director: Wes Craven

The film that started it all, horror maestro Wes Craven‘S Scream, tops many lists of the best horror films of the 90s. It creates a unique storyline and takes on classic horror tropes. Scream is unforgettable for many reasons, especially the fear and intensity that radiates throughout its entire runtime. In the first film in the series, audiences didn’t know what to expect from Ghostface, but already in the iconic opening scene with Drew Barrymore and a very famous phone call.

The audience is presented with a completely new story, with unknown characters and unknown motives. Scream is probably the most exciting part of the series, as no one really knows who they can trust. Each murder is exaggerated and terrifying, and the reveal of Ghostface at the end sets a precedent for the films: anyone could be behind that mask.

Scream

Release date

20 December 1996

NEXT: All “Scream” movies, sorted by humor