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Scream

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
417K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
574
28
Drew Barrymore in Scream (1996)
Trailer for Scream
Play trailer1:45
5 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedySlasher HorrorSuspense MysteryTeen HorrorWhodunnitHorrorMystery

A masked killer targets a past victim's daughter.A masked killer targets a past victim's daughter.A masked killer targets a past victim's daughter.

  • Director
    • Wes Craven
  • Writer
    • Kevin Williamson
  • Stars
    • Neve Campbell
    • Courteney Cox
    • David Arquette
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    417K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    574
    28
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writer
      • Kevin Williamson
    • Stars
      • Neve Campbell
      • Courteney Cox
      • David Arquette
    • 1.3KUser reviews
    • 261Critic reviews
    • 66Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 12 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos5

    Scream: Blu-Ray
    Trailer 1:45
    Scream: Blu-Ray
    Scream
    Trailer 2:02
    Scream
    Scream
    Trailer 2:02
    Scream
    Scream
    Trailer 2:03
    Scream
    Scream 4K Ultra HD Trailer
    Trailer 1:22
    Scream 4K Ultra HD Trailer
    Stars Who Turned Down 'Scream'
    Video 3:31
    Stars Who Turned Down 'Scream'

    Photos442

    View Poster
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    + 435
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    Top cast45

    Edit
    Neve Campbell
    Neve Campbell
    • Sidney
    Courteney Cox
    Courteney Cox
    • Gale Weathers
    David Arquette
    David Arquette
    • Deputy Dewey
    Skeet Ulrich
    Skeet Ulrich
    • Billy
    Drew Barrymore
    Drew Barrymore
    • Casey
    Roger Jackson
    Roger Jackson
    • Phone Voice
    • (voice)
    Kevin Patrick Walls
    • Steve
    David Booth
    David Booth
    • Casey's Father
    Carla Hatley
    • Casey's Mother
    Lawrence Hecht
    • Mr. Prescott
    W. Earl Brown
    W. Earl Brown
    • Kenny
    Rose McGowan
    Rose McGowan
    • Tatum
    Lois Saunders
    • Mrs. Tate
    Joseph Whipp
    Joseph Whipp
    • Sheriff Burke
    Matthew Lillard
    Matthew Lillard
    • Stuart
    Jamie Kennedy
    Jamie Kennedy
    • Randy
    Lisa Beach
    Lisa Beach
    • TV Reporter #1
    Tony Kilbert
    • TV Reporter #2
    • Director
      • Wes Craven
    • Writer
      • Kevin Williamson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1.3K

    7.4417.4K
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    Featured reviews

    freakstar67

    Thrilling, refreshing horror tale

    Watching this film for the first time in the basement of a four story house, with no-one else in was the perfect setting for this film. From the very first scene I was gripped and I could not wait for the climax to discover the murderer and his motives. The script was extremely original, as they had purposely set out to parodie the typical slasher style movie.

    It was written in a way that deceived and tricked and had you jumping out of your seats but also laughing at the paradoxical black humour. For anyone looking for a good horror film with a twist, you won't find a better one than Scream.

    Overall I give it 9.5/10
    10ivo-cobra8

    The best teenage horror slasher film in the 90's my all time personal favorite in the horror genre

    Scream is the best teenage horror slasher film in the 90's and it is my all time personal favorite film in the horror genre. I love this film I always did and I love to death! It was really the first movie that introduced me in to "horror" genre slasher films. It was directed from my favorite horror master Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. It is a horror mystery like was Friday the 13th and April Fool's Day. Scream deserve legendary status. The movie spawned three sequels and the TV series that I did like. Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox and Rose McGowan work for me. It is about a high school teenage student in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, who becomes the target of a mysterious killer known as Ghostface who kills teens and who uses his obsession with scary movies. The first one is the best in the series and it is still one of the best horror films of all time.

    Wes Craven borrowed and used Halloween, Friday the 13th and A Nightmare On Elm Street mostly scenes for this movie. It mentions a lot of cult classic horror movies and till it's day it is still praised by fans. I enjoy this film I always do. This is my movie and my personal opinion! Scream follows the teenage girl Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) who becomes targeted by a psychotic killer dressed in a ghostface mask who uses his obsession with scary movies. David Arquette plays police deputy, Dewey Riley who helps protect Sidney and Courtney Cox plays tabloid reporter, Gale Weathers. This is one of Craven's best along with "A Nightmare on Elm Street" that redefined the genre and Ghostface has become another popular slasher since. "What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?" Ghostface is one of the most popular and really scary character. The mask is so scary before new year on Halloween day I saw the mask putted on a front seat in the car and i was so scared, I thought it was the killer waiting on me but it was only a mask but a scary one.

    The Story begins after two high school students are murdered by the serial killer. Sidney Prescott becomes next victim of intelligent serial killer, Gale Weathers reporter and journalist is shure that serial killer is the same person who murdered Sidney's mother one year ago and now he's terrorizing Sidney her self. Deputy Sheriff Dewey wants to investigate the murders by himself, but attractive Gale seduced and confused him, so it's up to Sidney to find the killer, before he kills again to find the truth, she will must kill. I love also the characters: Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher, Rose McGowan as Tatum Riley and Jamie Kennedy as Randy Meeks. Great story and great soundtracks. I watch this movie thirty times and is still the best, I watch with my mom as a teen good times. I love the script the dialogues in this movie, I love Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker in here.

    10/10 Scream deserves a legendary status it is my personal favorite horror slasher film from Wes Craven in the franchise. I have the whole collection on Blu-ray discs and I have the first three movies on VHS tapes. I love this film to death I love it!
    8freemantle_uk

    What is your favourite scary movie?

    By the 1990s the Slasher genre was becoming stale, filled with clichés, countless sequels and very predictable and uninventive. Likely two men was able to play on this, Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven was able to play on this and made a really excellent take on Slashers.

    In the small town of Woodsboro two teenagers (Drew Barrymore and Kevin Patrick Walls) are shockingly murdered, a year after a woman was raped and murdered in the town centre. Very quickly the town is thrown into turmoil, with the media reporting on it, but the teens do not seem to be worried. The killer, known as Ghost-face soon targets another Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), the daughter of a victim, who luckily escapes. But Ghost-face is going to rest and goes on a mission to take down Sidney and anyone who stands in his way.

    Scream works because it is set in a world where horror movies do exist and teenagers know clichés. It is a self-aware horror film and has a lot of references to classic horror films like Halloween. Scream is forced to be inventive and Craven who is a master of the horror genre, so knew what he was doing with this film.

    Even if Scream was not made with a post-modern, self-aware horror with a comic edge, it still would have been an excellent horror film and one of the best slashers around. Craven and Williamson made sure their characters were fully developed, likable or at least normal. Sidney is a character with a lot of a baggage because of her mother's death and afraid to get close to people. She is a likable because is a friendly, smart, decent girl who is also tough. Sidney's friend Tatum (Rose McGowan) was tough no-nonsense girl who could have easily been the clichéd slut role, but that was avoided because she was a good friend and competent. Courteney Cox plays a unpleasant journalist who cares more ratings and book sales more then safety of people and emotional harm. She is not a journalist who is looking to report the truth or for the public interest. But she does come good at the end. The characters of Randy (Jamie Kennedy) and Stuart (Matthew Lillard) offer a lot of comic relief particular because of their knowledge of horror films. And David Arquettte is solid as a competent police officer who has a typical brother-sister relationship with Tatum.

    Cavern made sure Scream was exciting with a lot of action, violence and creative deaths. I particular like his technique of using the camera to follow the victims and move it around the house, adding excitement and intrigue. He knows how to build suspects and he does keep you guessing. I don't get scared watching horror films but you do care for Sidney and the idea of being home alone at night can make you more tense.

    I do have a criticism. They does not seem to be much of a reaction at the school hearing about two of their peers being brutally murdered. Most people seem to be very causal about it and saw it as something fun, not worried about a serial killer being on the loose or just saw it as an excuse for a party. Come on, if they was a murder in a small town there would be more sadden, grief and worry. Personally I would have focused on this collective reaction, but I am a more serious person and possibly would have a thriller/a social piece.

    Overall, Scream is certainly a worthy horror film, no manner what generation of horror fan you are.
    9Xophianic

    One of the coolest and more original horror movies I've ever seen

    I thoroughly enjoyed SCREAM. I haven't seen too many horror movies that struck me as great, especially since most of them are the same. I like THE SIXTH SENSE, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and SCREAM for the same reason, they are more original than the default horror flick.

    Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is still mourning the death of her mother, who died nearly one year ago. She seems very distant, even from her best friend Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) and her boyfriend Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich). She, and most everyone else, thought that the killer was already behind bars. But when people close to Sidney start to get killed, Sidney realizes the the killer is still at large. Deputy Dewey Riley (David Arquette) is there to protect Sidney and reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) is there to get the scoop.

    I think the plot of this movie is very interesting and fun. The best part of it is that the killer does his murders in the style of horror movies. The rules of horror movies are often referred to and horror movies are even spoofed fairly often as well.

    The actors do a very good job. Neve Campbell is excellent as the primary target/victim and main character of this movie. David Arquette does a fair job as the inexperienced cop (but not as good as in the sequel) and Courtney Cox does a great job as the bitch reporter. Drew Barrymore did very good in her very brief part as Casey Becker. Jamie Kennedy does an OK job as Randy Meeks, the movie expert (but again, not as good as in the sequel). Roger Jackson is the best possible choice for the phone voice and Henry Winkler had a great cameo.

    The character development in this movie is good. You'll probably often yell "Look behind you, moron" or "Get out of the room, idiot" at your TV, which this movie is probably going for. Sidney is the most interesting character, with Dewey and and Gale at a close second.

    I was surprised that I found Scream 2 to be even better than Scream was. But both are really good. Go out and buy them.
    bob the moo

    Scary, funny and clever – the best Scream movie by miles

    Almost a year after someone raped and killed Sidney Prescott's mother in the small town of Woodsboro, someone is killing teenagers. When Sidney herself becomes a target, the link is apparent and her missing father is a suspect. However, as with all good scary movies, everyone is a suspect.

    The film that sparked the revival of horror movies (Halloween H2O, I know what you did last summer, Urban Legend etc all followed…..thanks a lot!). This stands out from all those (and it's lackluster sequels) by being really good and clever. The story is nothing more than the standard slasher plot – but it avoids the cliches quite well. In fact it uses the cliches as references and makes plenty of jokey references to other movies and the supposed rules of horror movies – we even have a quick flash of a caretaker dressed in Freddy's jumper and hat!

    That doesn't mean it's not scary – it is! From the tragically horrible opening 10 minutes through each gory killing the tension is high and the shocks are real. The plot twists nicely and the ending is much better than most slasher movies (including the absurd endings of 2 and 3). This manages to be fresh, clever and scary – getting by any sticking moments with it's tongue in it's cheek.

    The cats are good – Campbell is a believable virgin, scarred by what happened to her mother – before she starts turning into Buffy the vampire slayer in parts 2 and 3. Cox is excellent playing against type and David Arquette is funny as the Deputy Sheriff. Kennedy as Randy is also funny as the movie geek – in fact he remains the highlight of the next 2 films. The cast being filled of up and coming faces (including Ulrich) makes it even more thrilling when the `wrong' people get killed, technically all the cast are `unknowns' who usually make up the body count, so really anyone can potentially get offed.

    Overall funny black comedy, scary thrills and gory excitement. A rare treat – a really good teen horror movie

    Who Almost Starred in 'Scream'?

    Who Almost Starred in 'Scream'?

    Can you picture Molly Ringwald as Sidney Prescott? Or Ben Affleck as Billy Loomis? We go through all the young Hollywood stars who were almost cast in this horror classic.
    Watch now
    Editorial Image
    3:31

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    It

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The party scene near the end of the film runs forty-two minutes long. It was shot over the course of twenty-one days from the time the sun set to the time it rose. After it wrapped, the crew had t-shirts made that read "I SURVIVED SCENE 118" (which was the name of the scene during shooting). The cast and crew jokingly called it "The longest night in horror history."
    • Goofs
      (at around 34 mins) When Gale is attempting to enter the police station with Kenny the cameraman, she is stopped by a police officer and is heard saying "Hey watch the hand, do you know who you're dealing with here?!" But her mouth isn't moving.
    • Quotes

      Stu: Did you really call the police?

      Sidney Prescott: You bet your sorry ass I did.

      Stu: [starting to cry] My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me!

    • Crazy credits
      Henry Winkler, who played Principal Himbry, was asked to go uncredited because the producers did not want to detract any attention from the younger, lesser known actors.
    • Alternate versions
      German DVD/VHS releases by VCL/MAWA were offered in two versions: the uncut 'Not under 18' version and a cut version which misses 4 minutes and has a 'Not under 16' rating.
    • Connections
      Edited into What Happened to Her (2016)
    • Soundtracks
      Don't Fear The Reaper
      Performed by Gus Black (as Gus)

      Written by Donald Roeser

      Courtesy of Sony/ATV Tunes LLC

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    FAQ23

    • How long is Scream?Powered by Alexa
    • Why wasn't Jamie Kennedy's name listed alphabetically in the credits like the rest of the cast?
    • Is "Scream" based on a book?
    • Why is having a cell phone suspicious?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 20, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Scream. Grita antes de morir
    • Filming locations
      • 1820 Calistoga Road, Santa Rosa, California, USA(Sidney's house)
    • Production companies
      • Dimension Films
      • Woods Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $103,046,663
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,354,586
      • Dec 22, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $173,046,663
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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