“Scream” Movies: Where to Watch All 7 Films in the Horror Franchise in Chronological Order
“Scream” Movies: Where to Watch All 7 Films in the Horror Franchise in Chronological Order
Keith Langston, Christopher RudolphSat, February 28, 2026 at 2:30 PM UTC
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Ghostface in the 'Scream' franchiseCredit: Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection -
Since 1996, there have been seven movies in the Scream franchise
The latest film, Scream 7, hit theaters on Feb. 27
The new installment stars Neve Campbell, reprising her role as Sidney Prescott
For nearly 30 years, horror fans have been shocked by Ghostface, making the Scream movies one of cinema's most iconic slasher series.
The franchise continues to thrill audiences decades later, with the latest installment, Scream 7, hitting theaters on Feb. 27 — featuring a new generation of victims, as well as some familiar faces like Sidney Prescott, played by Neve Campbell.
The first movie premiered in 1996 and turned the slasher genre on its head. It poked fun at traditional horror tropes, had meta-references to the film industry and made its own rules that kept audiences guessing. Scream turned Campbell into a bonafide Scream Queen and has since launched seven sequels as well as a TV series that also centers around Ghostface but doesn't tie into the movies.
One of Scream’s biggest changes to the horror formula is it didn’t have just one “Final Girl” and instead had three main protagonists, with Courteney Cox’s Gale Weathers and David Arquette’s Deputy Dewey Riley joining Campbell’s Sidney Prescott as the franchise’s leads.
Throughout the follow-ups, the Scream movies have featured several famous actors facing off against Ghostface as well, including Drew Barrymore, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Emma Roberts, Patrick Dempsey and Jenna Ortega, among others.
With the release of Scream 7, now is a great time to start watching (or rewatching) the franchise. Here is everything to know about where to stream every Scream movie.
Scream (1996)
Courteney Cox, Jamie Kennedy, Neve Campbell in 'Scream' (1996)Credit: Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
The original Scream movie centers around high school student Sidney Prescott and her friends who live in the small town of Woodsboro, Calif.
One night, a popular girl at school (Barrymore) is brutally killed at her home, and the town soon learns that her murder was just the beginning of a killing spree perpetrated by someone wearing a black robe and white mask, known by fans as Ghostface.
It also becomes apparent that Sidney is the main target, and the film’s twist ending sets the stage for all the Scream sequels to come.
Watch Scream on Paramount+
Scream 2 (1997)
Sarah Michelle Gellar in 'Scream 2' (1997)Credit: Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
In Scream 2, Sidney is now in college and Hollywood has made a movie about her ordeal in Woodsboro called Stab. Sidney’s life is thrust into chaos once again when a copycat killer arrives on campus and starts killing her friends one by one.
The first sequel has a huge ensemble cast that includes everyone from Jada Pinkett Smith to Timothy Olyphant, Sarah Michelle Gellar and even Tori Spelling and Heather Graham as stars in the fictional Stab film.
Watch Scream 2 on Paramount+
Scream 3 (2000)
David Arquette and Neve Campbell star in 'Scream 3' (2000)Credit: Rico Torres/Dimension Films/The Hollywood Archive/Shutterstock
Scream 3 took the franchise to its most meta place yet. This time around, the movie takes place in Los Angeles during the production of Stab 3. But after the film’s actors start getting murdered, Sidney, Gale and Dewey find their way to L.A. to investigate.
Scream 3 has a lot more humor than the previous films and takes numerous swipes at Hollywood and horror sequels. It also features cameos, like a scene-stealing performance by Carrie Fisher.
The cast include Parker Posey, Jenny McCarthy and Scott Foley.
Watch Scream 3 on Paramount+
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Scream 4 (2011)
Courteney Cox in 'Scream 4' (2011)Credit: Dimension Films/Kobal/Shutterstock
After Scream 3, the franchise went on an 11-year hiatus before returning in 2011. Scream 4 brought the series into the modern age with smartphones, streaming and social media.
The movie picks up on the 15th anniversary of the Woodsboro killings when Sidney just so happens to be in town promoting her new self-help book. Naturally, a killing spree kicks off yet again, forcing her to stay in town and find out who the killer is. Dewey and Gale also make their way back to help.
In addition to the original leads, other actors featured include Adam Brody, Rory Culkin, Alison Brie and Hayden Panettiere.
Watch Scream 4 on Paramount+
Scream (2022)
Jenna Ortega in 'Scream' (2022)Credit: Brownie Harris / Paramount Pictures / Everett Collection
Following Scream 4, the franchise took another 11-year hiatus, with viewers wondering if Scream would ever return. But in 2022, Sidney, Dewey and Gale returned to Woodsboro once again after a young girl, Tara Carpenter (Ortega) is violently attacked by someone wearing the infamous Ghostface mask.
Tara’s sister Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barerra) also comes back to town and the two learn that they’re intricately connected to Sidney’s past.
Joining the legacy characters in the self-described “requel” is a new generation of cast members, including Jack Quaid and Jasmin Savoy Brown.
Watch Scream on Paramount+
Scream VI (2023)
Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera in 'Scream IV' (2023)Credit: Philippe Bosse / Paramount Pictures / Everett Collection
After surviving the events of the previous movie, Tara and Sam now live in New York City and Tara attends Blackmore University. But their new life is quickly ruined when an individual donning the Ghostface mask starts rampaging through the Big Apple.
Cox was the only legacy actor to return for the sixth film and Scream 4’s Kirby (Panettiere) also reprised her role.
Watch Scream VI on Paramount+
Scream 7 (2026)
Isabel May in 'Scream 7' (2026)Credit: Jessica Miglio / Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
The latest movie in the franchise, Scream 7, was released in theaters on Feb. 27.
In it, Sidney has built herself a new life in Pine Grove, Ind., with her husband Mark Evans (Joel McHale) and their daughter Tatum Evans (Isabel May).
But Sidney once again goes into high gear when Ghostface targets her child and despite believing there's a quick end to the violence, everything is not as it seems.
Apart from Campell reprising her role, Cox comes back as Gale, Arquette as Dewey and Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher. Brown and Mason Gooding also reappear from their previous installments.
Watch Scream 7 in theaters
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
