Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, Frances Lee McCain

One year after the death of Sidney Prescott's (Campbell) mother, two students turn up gutted. When a serial killer appears, Sidney begins to suspect whether her mother's death and the two new deaths a...( read more  read more... )re related. No one is safe, as the killer begins to pick everyone off one by one. Everyone's a suspect in this case.

Flixster Users

70% liked it

440,198 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

52 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Wes Craven

Release Date: December 20, 1996

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DVD Release Date: December 2, 1997

Stats: 19,179 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (19,179)


  • October 10, 2006
    Without "Scream", there would be no "I Know What You Did Last Summer".
  • November 1, 2009
    In 96 I enjoyed it, today its a movie filled with bad acting and less than mediocre plot.
  • October 28, 2009
    While the horror genre thrived in the 80's with the Freddy/Jason-type unstoppable killer movies, the whole genre was pretty much dying in the 90's. Scream came along in 1996 and not only reinvigorated the genre, but completely reinvented it. Wildly popular (and deservedl...( read more)y so) at the time, its reputation has since been tarnished as it often gets lumped in with the countless wanna-bes and knock-offs that followed, including its own relatively inferior sequels. But this was a great horror flick that pushed all the right buttons.

    Original and entertaining (if not entirely realistic) dialogue, a cast full of breakthrough performances, and a story that dares be somewhat self-aware and play to the audience with a wink result in a film that works as a comedy, works as a spoof, and works as a straight-up horror film. Separate this in your mind from the rest of the glut of teen whodunnit horror flicks and I think you'll find it's just a damn fun movie. ...Not to mention it's nice to remember a time when horror flicks weren't watered down for a PG-13 rating.
  • October 22, 2009
    "Don't Answer The Phone. Don't Open The Door. Don't Try To Escape."

    A psychopathic serial killer is stalking a group of teens just like in the movies!

    REVIEW

    Sharp, witty horror film is sure t...( read more)o score big points for fans of the genre. In a small California town where nothing ever seems to happen, a brutal serial killer begins to target high school teenagers. Not only are the killings patterned after popular horror movies, but they also seem to center around one student in particular (Campbell) whose mother was tragically killed years earlier. Sharp, effectively-made thriller with violence, suspense, and clever in-jokes for die hard horror movie fans. An attractive young cast, good direction, and a script full of surprises make this one far better than the usual teen slasher nonsense.
  • September 22, 2009
    I don't really class it as a horror movie, it?s not as clever as it thinks it is either! Wes Craven is an overrated horror director in my opinion.
  • November 19, 2009
    This movie is brilliant. The suspense never ends and shows why Wes Craven is one of the best horror/thriller directors around
  • November 18, 2009
    I'll say that it's a fun movie, but I just can't see the originality in it. All Scream did was reference a lot of horror films, some of them being Wes Craven's own. Just because you do that, it doesn't make it ok to poke fun at them when you're trying to come off as a legitimate ...( read more)horror movie yourself. If it was planned to be a spoof, A+, but it wasn't. It suffers from being a little to sarcastic for its own good. Wes Craven needs an original idea in order to make a good movie.
  • November 16, 2009
    Has the advantage of being a self-aware film that doesn't take itself seriously. Nearly a parody of the slash films.
  • November 14, 2009
    In all hoesty... I couldn't get into any of um.
  • November 5, 2009
    watched most of it very cheesy and confusing and the other scream guy like what was wrong with him he was crazy im happy that jamie kennedys character didnt die he was sooo cute and even though ppl got injured it seemed like they didnt feel it at all drew barrymore was good too

Critic Reviews


April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Turns slasher flicks into slapstick. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I liked it. I liked the in-jokes and the self-aware characters. At the same time, I was aware of the incredible level of gore in this film. full review

View more Scream reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • gawhratalaheba93
    April 20, 2009
    REALLY HE HAS ASCARY MASK AND HORROR MOVIE ITS NISC...
  • BenDaImmortal
    April 12, 2009
    Yes I heard there's going to be third SCream. Which totally sucks. Even the third was a flop and totally fucked up the first Scream's brilliancy in my opinion, with that stupid third killer director provoker idea. Scream 2 was ok but really - Scream should've remained the only Scream.

    I do consider Scream a classic. A masterpiece that shouldn't have been in a way "ruined" with bad sequels and "continud" story.

    The fourth will most likely be just filled with gore and bad story, scenes and acting. Could they even have the original casting in it after all these years. *sigh*

    Isn't anything sacred anymore.
  • yona71
    August 23, 2008
    Brilliant film that took me by surprise back in '96.
    I went to see it because a friend of mine is in it, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy it so much. It still holds up as well.
    Craven did a brilliant job poking fun at, incorporating, and referring to some horror classics starting with "When a Stranger calls" and "Suspiria".
    A film that deserves more respect than it's received.
    Cheers
  • Rossjm
    July 2, 2008
    Some reviews say that the end was cliched. It was the point to make it like that. Remember the killer is copying the all time classics because he is twisted and copies a lot of horror films. So really, the ending is rather inventive.
  • thedoctor2k7
    April 7, 2008
    this film so gd
  • vishheaven
    March 20, 2008
    ay none of u r fans if u were fans than tell me at the end of the movie when gale weathers is reporting the incident what song is playin u know the song right before the mask pops up again huh SOMEONE TELL MEEEEE
  • XXxxChRiStYMaRtiNxxXX
    February 27, 2008
    This is a scary and funny movie
  • TheUndertakerx
    January 17, 2008
    one of the scariest movies i have ever seen every part is spooky big thriller blood in the water you have to see them so you can feel the fear
  • Juliainwonderland
    November 14, 2007
    I looooove this movie :D it's scary and skeet is so hot!
  • chrismid259
    October 13, 2007
    Amazing.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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