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Neve Campbell, Liev Schreiber, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Skeet Ulrich ... see more see more... , Rose McGowan , Jamie Kennedy , Matthew Lillard , Drew Barrymore , Henry Winkler , Troy Bishop , Linda Blair , W. Earl Brown , Lawrence Hecht , Frances Lee McCain , Joseph Whipp

Scream is at once a slasher film and a tongue-in-cheek position paper on the "dead teenagers" movies of the late 1970s/early 1980s that plays as half-parody, half-tribute. Sydney Prescott (Neve Campbe... read more read more...ll) is having a rough time lately: she's still getting over the brutal rape and murder of her mother a year ago, and now one of her friends (Drew Barrymore) has been killed by a lunatic who harassed her with terrifying phone calls, then stabbed her to death while wearing a Halloween costume. Soon Sydney is receiving similar phone calls, quizzing her on the arcane details of such films as Friday the 13th and Prom Night, and is attacked by the same cloaked maniac. With her father missing, she has hardly anyone on her side except her best friend Tatum (Rose McGowan) and Tatum's brother Dewey (David Arquette), a half-bright cop. As for the murderer, it could be any number of people: Syd's father; her cute but overly intense boyfriend Billy (Skeet Ullrich); Tatum's goofball boyfriend Stuart (Matthew Lillard); or Randy (Jamie Kennedy), who works at the local video store and seems to like horror movies just a little too much. Much like Halloween, Scream spawned a series of sequels and inspired a large number of similar films -- its original working title, Scary Movie, became the title of the 2000 parody film by Damon Wayans. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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70% liked it

440,198 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

59 critics

R, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Wes Craven

Release Date: December 20, 1996

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DVD Release Date: December 2, 1997

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Stats: 20,897 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (20,897)

  • FilmFanatik
    February 17, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    It had been a very long time since I had seen the original Scream... probably since it was first released on VHS uncut. After the success of the recent 4th entry (which I haven't seen yet, as of this writing), I decided to revisit these films. I'd only actually seen the first two... read more, so it was about time to catch up a bit. I'd like to think I'm a different kind of viewer now and can get more out of these films than I could when I first saw them and just wasn't all that crazy about them. I still enjoy the original Scream, but I wouldn't mind having the uncut version sitting on my shelf instead, being that it was the version that I was familiar with. Not that it makes the movie any better, but it's just weird that it's not available. Oh well, someday in a possible re-release on home video, I'm sure. The movie really holds up, despite the fact that it's a product of its time. It's one of the few movies Wes Craven has made that's actually very, very good. Now let's see if the sequels can keep up.
  • blkbomb
    October 7, 2011
    blkbomb
    Principal Himbry: You make me so sick. Your entire havoc-inducing, thieving, whoring generation disgusts me. 

    "Now everybody is a victim and everybody is a suspect!"

    Scream is one of the greatest achievements in horror history. It's a movie that is so many things all at once. I... read moret has it's straight horror plot that is like every other slasher, but it is so much more. It's an homage to the slasher genre and a spoof in the slasher genre at the same time. Think about that; the movie is making fun of the genre while paying its respect to it. That isn't done easily, but the writing of Williamson and the direction of Wes Craven get it done. This is a masterpiece; maybe not the type of masterpiece we are used to, but a masterpiece none the less. 

    The movie is just straight up cool from the first scene with Drew Barrymore to the last blood-soaked massacre. This has to be the most fun horror movie ever made. There's no lull; its straight up, none stop violence and satire. The cast is what you'd call a technically gifted cast, but for a movie like this; they shine. Neve Campbell is the perfect innocent girl. Courtney Cox is a lot of fun to watch as the reporter. 

    The film touches on so many aspects of the slasher genre. It mentions the scream queen, it shows clips of Halloween. One of the characters is basically a running commentary on the horror movie events that are being translated to real life with the killings. He says stuff, like:

    Randy: The police are always off track with this shit! If they'd watch Prom Night, they'd save time! There's a formula to it. A very simple formula! 

    and:

    Randy: Careful. This is the moment when the supposedly dead killer comes back to life, for one last scare. 

    The movie is brilliant on so many levels. There is a scene near the beginning of the movie that gives a killer away in such a subtle way. I'm not going to discuss what scene it is or how or what gives it away. I didn't even notice the first couple times I watched the movie, but watching it again I found the scene amazing because Craven is saying here's a killer in a way that no one is going to notice upon one viewing. Now that I'm on the subject of the killers; I might as well say that the movie works pretty well as a mystery-suspense as well. Well, that is as long as you don't see Scary Movie before watching this. There are some many characters that could be in on it, that could be the killer. It makes it very fun on the first go around to decide who you think it is.

    This movie is really overlooked when it comes to naming some of the best of the genre. Viewers who are only casual horror film watchers don't really get everything out of it that is there. To them its viewed as your standard slasher, with dumb characters, the same old plot and tons of killings. In fact, this is one of the smarter horror movies you'll ever see and part of it's cleverness is not letting non-horror buffs in on the fun. It seems like Craven is putting the standard plot progression in there for the viewer who can't get all the little jokes and references that are catered to the lovers of the genre. 

    For me, this movie is basically perfection. It combines humor, horror, suspense and mystery and makes for a fresh and exciting experience. It's obviously an important movie in the genre because it did breath new life into it. Nobody had seen anything new and exciting since the birth of the slasher with movies like Psycho, Black Christmas, Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. After those, it's hard to name any that came out and weren't just blended versions of those four. That is until Scream. It's unoriginal on the surface, but totally original beneath it and that basically puts it in a class all by itself.

    Tatum: You're starting to sound like some Wes Carpenter flick or something. 
  • fb100000212943704
    August 20, 2011
    fb100000212943704
    I had never seen the interest in a slasher film. However this is no slasher film, this is a cult classic. From the first moment you are drawn in with interesting shots and plot devices as the excellent story is played out.

    It's tongue in cheek, it's brutal at times, it's ridicul... read moreous and the acting would usually bring me to tears of frustration, yet it simply works with Wes Craven's plot and direction.

    Neve Campbell is main character Sidney Prescott whilst "Friends" star Courtney Cox is Telly journalist Gale Weathers. The ridiculous spoof of all scary movies is played out whilst it's is being mocked.

    "Scream", is a film I just thought I would hate, yet it is actually a fantastic film. Don't worry if you're not a slasher fan, or a horror fan, or a film fan in general. As long as you know a bit about the genre's "Scream" is making fun of you will enjoy it immensely.

    ***' 3 & A Half Stars
  • fb729949618
    August 6, 2011
    fb729949618
    I was 7 when it came out, so naturally I thought it was scary......and for it's time it was. Plus it gave horror fans a quality new series, which otherwise had been lacking since the Halloween and Friday the 13th films.
  • ajv2688
    June 24, 2011
    ajv2688
    This is the best horror movie of the 90s, I think, at least the last great slasher movie. The movie is all about slasher movie conventions, so it's for the fans. Plus it's directed by a good horror film director. I really like this movie, and I highly recommend it.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    A classic! A must see!
  • fb100000145236770
    April 16, 2011
    fb100000145236770
    With the 4th one coming out I figured I should go back and get caught up before watching the newest one. When the first one came out I wasn't crazy about it, and 15 years later I'm still not. I love the beginning, but the ending kind of ruins it for me. It just doesn't make a ... read morelot of sense, although after the 3rd one it ties it together better I think. It's more entertaining than most slasher flicks, but it's definitely not the "classic"that a lot of people make it out to be.
  • CreedsDelight
    April 16, 2011
    CreedsDelight
    Classic horror film that started the Halloween costume that is now really popular! This answers the question "what's your favorite scary movie?" It has all the thrills and chills and laughs that you could want in a horror movie. I highly recommend this and cannot wait for SCRE4M!
  • fb733768972
    April 15, 2011
    fb733768972
    Scream takes every horror cliche, makes fun of it and makes them fantastic. This film just goes to show how amazing a horror flick can be, but not always satisfying. This has a great cast and a climax that will not be long forgotten. Delivering thrills and chills the entire way t... read morehrough, adding on comedy, and gaining a freshness of death tolls, Scream is a horror masterpiece that should never be reckoned with. This film is brilliant!
  • cosmo313
    April 15, 2011
    cosmo313
    Looking back, yes, this film was very groundbreaking, and it still holds up (for the most part), but it's not an air tight masterpiece, and it's legacy of spawning so many clones and rip offs that saturated the market is unfortunate. Still though, this is a dynamite horror film t... read morehat is both intense, funny, and well done in terms of it's post-modernust deconstruction of the horror genre.

    The direction and writing are very strong, and full of life and energy. The script's wittiness still holds up too, although I have no idea why it's necessary for Sidney to wear the costume when hiding in the closet. The opening 12 minutes are absoilute perfection, and the rest of the film mostly stays at that same level, with an occasional dip to take a breather. The ending likewise is still a wild and fun thrill ride.

    Great stuff all around, even if it's not the perfect film it could have been (and that I once thought it was).

View All Scream Reviews

Critic Reviews

Leonard Klady
September 21, 2007
Leonard Klady, Variety

The pic's chills are top-notch, but its underlying mockish tone won't please die-hard fans. Full Review

Lisa Alspector
September 21, 2007
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

The assumption that there's something inherently clever about a slasher movie making reference to both its genre and the filmmaking process is a fundamental flaw of this tiresome, blood-filled comedy. Full Review

Liam Lacey
April 12, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Turns slasher flicks into slapstick. Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 22, 2002
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

The best fright fest of the '90s. Full Review

Kevin Thomas
February 14, 2001
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A bravura, provocative sendup of horror pictures that's also scary and gruesome yet too swift-moving to lapse into morbidity. Full Review

Janet Maslin
January 1, 2000
Janet Maslin, New York Times

Not even horror fans who can answer all this film's knowing trivia questions may be fully comfortable with such an exploitative mix. Full Review

Bruce Westbrook
January 1, 2000
Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle

Whatever you do, don't close your mind to such an inventive concoction. One last time, despite all your better instincts, go ahead -- open that theater door.

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

The film plays lively games with the macabre. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
January 1, 2000
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Craven has expressed a desire to get out of the horror business. Maybe that's why he's set out to make more than a horror movie. He's contributing to a long tradition of reflexive films, going back as... Full Review

Susan Wloszczyna
January 1, 2000
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today

While Scream has its frights, it feels more like one of those solve-the -mystery jigsaw puzzles than a real movie.

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Facts

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    • Stuart: Did you really called the police?
    • Sidney Prescott: You bet your sorry ass I did..
    • Stuart: My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me...
    • Randy Meeks: Maybe wouldn't have sex with him...
    • Stuart: What, is she savin' herself for you?
    • Randy Meeks: Maybe.
    • Sidney Prescott: I already called the police.
    • Stuart: My parents are going to be so mad at me!
    • Stuart: Ow! You hit me with the phone, dick!
    • Billy Loomis: I thought you said she was dead.
    • Stuart: She looked dead man. She still does.
    • Randy Meeks: There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie. For instance: 1. You can never have sex. The minute you get a little nookie--you're as good as gone. Sex always equals death. 2. Never drink or do drugs. The sin factor. It's an extension of number one. And 3. Never, ever, ever, under any circumstances, say 'I'll be right back.'
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  • Sarah Michelle Gellar appears in witch movie of the Trilogy of Scream?  Answer »
  • Which one of the Scream films has Portia De Rossi guest starred in?  Answer »
  • In which Scream film does Carrie Fisher appear?  Answer »
  • "In space, no one can hear you scream." This is the tagline for which film?  Answer »
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