Scream Movies in Order: Release Order, Scream 7 and What Comes Next

Watch the Scream movies in release order, because the story runs in a straight line: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023) and Scream 7 (2026). There is no separate chronological order to untangle, and the TV series is a different story that you can skip.

This guide gives release dates, tells you how the films connect, flags the two sequels that change the cast the most and covers what is known about Scream 8. It avoids plot spoilers beyond who appears in which film.

Scream movies in order

Dates are US release dates as listed on Wikipedia’s franchise and film pages. The 2022 film carries the plain title Scream, so people often call it Scream 5 to tell it apart from the 1996 original. Streaming availability differs by country and changes often, so check your local services rather than assuming one platform carries the whole series.

How the films connect

The first four films, all directed by Wes Craven, follow Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) and Dewey Riley (David Arquette) through successive waves of Ghostface attacks. Kevin Williamson wrote the first two films and Scream 4; Ehren Kruger is credited as writer on Scream 3, with Williamson credited on the story.

The 2022 film restarted the series with a new directing duo, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. It is set in Woodsboro about 25 years after the original killings and brings back Campbell, Cox and Arquette alongside a younger cast that includes Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown. Scream VI (122 minutes) follows the surviving younger characters to New York City, where they attend Blackmore University.

Which Scream films should you watch first?

If you want the full story, start at the beginning. The 1996 Scream is the template: a masked killer, a small town and characters who know the rules of horror movies. The sequels lean on that foundation and on returning characters, so skipping around costs you the payoffs.

Our suggested shortcut, which is a viewing opinion and not an official guide:

• Scream (1996) to understand the tone and the core cast.
• Scream 2 (1997) if you want the sequel that most directly continues the original story.
• Scream (2022) to see how the series passes the baton to a new group.
• Scream VI (2023) and Scream 7 (2026) for the current storyline.

Scream 3 and Scream 4 are worth seeing if you want Sidney’s arc complete, but the 2022 film is designed to be accessible to viewers who have not seen every earlier entry. If you are new to slashers generally, our best horror movies for new viewers includes the 1996 original as an easy way in.

The cast changes to know about

Scream VI is the only film without Neve Campbell. Wikipedia reports that she did not return as Sidney Prescott because of a pay dispute. Courteney Cox returns as Gale Weathers, and Hayden Panettiere appears again, reprising her role from Scream 4.

Scream 7 brings Campbell back. According to Wikipedia, Campbell, Cox and Arquette appear alongside Gooding and Savoy Brown, with Matthew Lillard, Laurie Metcalf and Scott Foley returning in roles from earlier films. Isabel May, Joel McHale and Anna Camp are among the new cast. The film is set in Pine Grove, Indiana, where Sidney has settled with her family, and the opening scene takes place in Woodsboro.

Wikipedia also records that production was troubled. Barrera was dropped from the film in November 2023, Ortega did not return, and Christopher Landon, announced as director in 2023, left in December 2023 before Kevin Williamson took over the film.

How did Scream 7 perform?

Scream 7 opened on February 27, 2026 and runs 114 minutes. Wikipedia, citing Box Office Mojo and The Numbers, lists about $214 million worldwide, including roughly $122 million in the US and Canada, against a reported $45 million budget. Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter are cited for a $63.6 million domestic opening, the largest in the franchise.

Critics were less enthusiastic. Wikipedia lists a 29% Rotten Tomatoes score from 228 reviews and a Metacritic score of 35 out of 100, and notes a B- CinemaScore, tied with Scream 4 for the series’ lowest. Review aggregates change over time, so treat those figures as a snapshot of when we checked them. Home media followed with a digital release on March 31, 2026 and DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on June 16, 2026, according to Wikipedia.

What about the Scream TV series?

Scream the television series is an anthology that is not part of the film storyline. It ran on MTV for two seasons (2015 and 2016). A third season, subtitled Resurrection, moved to VH1 and aired July 8 to 10, 2019 with a new cast and setting, according to Wikipedia. You do not need it for any of the films.

Is Scream 8 happening?

Scream 8 is in development, but it has no director, cast or release date. Wikipedia reports that Paramount and Spyglass confirmed the project on March 31, 2026 and that Lilla and Nora Zuckerman, the showrunners of Poker Face, are writing the screenplay. Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter are cited as the original reports. Other coverage has speculated about directors and about Neve Campbell’s return, but we found no official confirmation of either, so treat both as unconfirmed.

We will update this guide if a studio announces a director, cast or date. In the meantime, browse everything we have published in the Scream hub, or compare this series with other slasher franchises in our Halloween movies in order guide, our Saw watch order and our Conjuring movies in order guide. For a franchise built around a cursed chain of victims instead of a masked killer, see the Smile movies watch order.

FAQ

What order should I watch the Scream movies in?

Release order: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023) and Scream 7 (2026). The story is told in that sequence.

Do I need to watch all the Scream movies before Scream 7?

It helps, because Scream 7 brings back characters from several earlier films. The 2022 film and Scream VI matter most for the younger cast, while the original and its sequels explain Sidney, Gale and Dewey.

Which Scream movie is Scream 5?

The 2022 film, which is simply titled Scream. It is the fifth film in the series and is often called Scream 5 informally.

Is Neve Campbell in every Scream movie?

No. She is absent from Scream VI (2023) because of a pay dispute, according to Wikipedia. She appears in the other six films, though her role in Scream 3 is limited.

Is the Scream TV series connected to the movies?

No. The MTV and VH1 anthology series is a separate story and is not part of the film continuity.

When is Scream 8 coming out?

There is no release date. Paramount and Spyglass confirmed the film is in development with the Zuckerman sisters writing, but no director or cast has been announced.