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Scream

Scream

1996
Comedy, Suspense/Thriller
1h 51m
A teenage girl (Neve Campbell) becomes the target of a killer who has stalked and killed one of her classmates. A tabloid news reporter (Courtney Cox) is determined to uncover the truth, insisting that the man who raped and killed Campbell's mother one year earlier is the same man who is terrorizing her now. Campbell's boyfriend (Skeet Ulrich) becomes the prime suspect. (imdb)
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Scream

1996
Comedy, Suspense/Thriller
1h 51m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 47.33% from 9982 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(9982)
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Rated 07 Mar 2016
88
75th
Genuinely entertaining thriller that combines horror, humor, mystery, and a distinctly post-modern perspective to reinvigorate a subgenre that had long since run out of gas by the mid-90s.
Rated 10 Oct 2019
93
75th
Wes Craven accomplished something. He made a horror movie poking fun at the horror genre while also making it seemingly original enough that's it has become a horror classic itself. The kills and chases are shot really well, and the intro is ingenious in those regards. I also thought most of the acting was good and the characters are charming and really enjoyable in their own ways. It's also pretty funny at times. I liked all of the inside jokes and meta humor. Deserving of its reputation.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
4
70th
Great subversion of the genre's conventions while still remaining true to them. Absorbed into its imitators, but still worth a watch.
Rated 02 Nov 2010
70
53rd
"Welp, I know what I'm dressing up as on Halloween" ~ everyone that year
Rated 16 Apr 2011
90
97th
Craven's loving slasher tribute is, I believe, the film I've watched the most times. Ever. Opened my eyes to the whodunit subgenre. Williamson managed to balance mystery, horror and satire in his script, all the while not losing sight of his characters which, unlike those introduced in the sequels, are mostly worth caring about. The seriously intense opening is just perfect. Remember, Barrymore was the biggest star on the poster - and then she's offed 10 minutes in. Brilliant. Nice ending, too.
Rated 06 Jun 2017
82
74th
An entertaining exercise in form with a fun cast, tight pacing, and a great look and sound. I can see now why Lillard was summoned for Twin Peaks, thanks to my incredible powers of hindsight.
Rated 09 Jul 2018
85
88th
Love it or hate it the movie that launched a thousand parodies I can't find much fault with this film I just think they should've left this movie as a standalone film and never bothered with the other films
Rated 16 Jun 2020
90
83rd
There's a deeply profound commentary in this film. Sidney becomes a target of the town, the media, and multiple men, all because the "sins" of her mother actively participating in her sexual agency are far too much to handle. And, likewise, when Sidney takes her own power in her hands later in the film, she becomes punished. As perhaps the prototypical 90's MTV film, this flick was oddly prescient on how it predated the coming of the Lewinsky scandal and Columbine. And it's fun as hell, too!
Rated 30 Mar 2007
80
68th
Sort of like the _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ of slasher movies: it mocks and emulates them at the same time, and is effective both ways. Worth seeing
Rated 22 Sep 2010
70
79th
Its cleverness has faded slightly with time but I will still give it it's due. It was all at once a tribute and a mockery of the slasher film. It clearly tells you everything that would happen later in the film and it had a ball doing it. It also had the brilliant opening and killing off the star power on the poster in the first 15 minutes.
Rated 28 Oct 2018
90
92nd
It's amazing what another viewing will do. I watched this two years ago (I had never seen it all the way through before, surprisingly), and was pretty ho-hum about it. Hell, I didn't even like Lillard's performance. That has all changed. Lillard is so great in this. I apologize to him and his family. This film works so well. I am happy to be wrong.
Rated 11 Sep 2020
87
91st
While elementary school me wasn't quite aware of the impact "Scream"(1996) would have on the slasher subgenre, my memory of the dozens of "Ghostface" costumes that Halloween, made it clear the movie made some kind of impact on popular culture. So I was a little worried how this 90's classic would hold-up after years of growing up more with its parody, "Scary Movie"(2000), than the trendsetting meta slasher itself. Luckily, the film still retains most of what made it such a successful slasher.
Rated 22 Feb 2007
90
91st
A highly entertaining teen slasher with some nice satire of the genre thrown in.
Rated 25 Jul 2007
59
55th
To be honest, I'd kind of like to go out and rent this right now, come home and get cozy, and throw some Jiffy-Pop on the stove and enjoy. This movie satisfies a weird craving in me.
Rated 17 Aug 2010
100
92nd
Definitive restart to the teen slasher genre brought to the screen by horror giant Wes Craven and horror screenwriter Kevin Williamson. Great ensemble cast with some excellent performances. A horror must see!
Rated 11 Mar 2012
78
85th
I seem to really like send-ups to horror movies, even though I don't care for or have much familiarity with the source material. Scream was effective because it worked well as a basic slasher movie, worked well as a teen movie, and worked well as a parody/meta slasher movie. Too bad the franchise dropped off pretty quickly. Edit: on recent rewatch, I enjoyed this even more now that I've seen a lot more of the horror classics this draws on.
Rated 07 Oct 2015
95
97th
Rhythmically perfect via use of POV and tracking shots and cravens deft touch. Those opening 10-20 minutes have to be up there for me anyway as the scariest in a horror movie. Craven re-invented the slasher by destroying it. Endlessly copied for the better part of the next decade and beyond. The style of the characters is just a perfect encapsulation of why people now long for the 90's. Rose Mcgown call me baby. Movies don't create psychos. They just create annoying dipshits like me
Rated 24 Feb 2019
73
95th
the greatest slasher film ever made ;)
Rated 13 Jun 2008
88
96th
Very Nice
Rated 19 Jul 2008
88
75th
Terrifying and brilliant slasher film that had a big influence on the horror genre. Just clever and very entertaining.
Rated 18 Nov 2009
80
74th
One of the greatest opening sequences in movie history. Scary as heck!
Rated 22 Mar 2011
85
93rd
Kevin Williamson's satirical spoof of the horror genre ended up becoming one of the classic horror films of all time and the definitive 90s horror movie. Wes Craven brings the script to life with a terrific ensemble cast and a chilling opening and close.
Rated 24 Jan 2012
75
79th
The original slasher movie dissection is full of winks, but it is effective and was huge in it's time. Does it hold up? I'll say, "Sure."
Rated 07 Oct 2012
80
89th
Scream is the total package and a game changer in the slasher genre. It's smart, funny and makes a lot of good criticisms of the genre, but never forgets that these films need suspense -- it's packed with that. It has strong-enough actors, genuine thrills, and is a love letter to the genre by one of its prominent directors, Wes Craven. There are only a couple of elements that don't quite work, and apart from those, I was completely immersed and adored this movie.
Rated 13 Feb 2014
90
97th
For satire, I was surprised just how genuinely disturbing and suspenseful it is. Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich are surprisingly great, and Wes Craven shows that he can be an astounding director when he gives a shit.
Rated 02 May 2014
80
73rd
A wonderful opening begins 1996's slasher tribute that is a great mix of satire, black comedy, and satisfying thrills. Horror got another chance thanks to Scream.
Rated 18 Aug 2014
90
96th
I just love this film and it's still one I can watch with my wife and have fun with. It's a perfect popcorn horror film and it's self aware approach was highly original at the time and gives it an edge over standard slashers.
Rated 04 Sep 2014
70
69th
Henry Winkler makes the best/worst principal.
Rated 21 Oct 2014
71
59th
A bloody sweater must be one of the symbols of the 90's.
Rated 20 May 2015
80
73rd
There's a lot of good stuff in Scream. Craven really shows an extensive knowledge of the horror franchise which most likely helps in his successful ability to parody it. While there was some good horror and comedy here, I felt that there was no happy medium balance achieved, outside of the sex scenes. Nothing was overly horrifying or overly hilarious. Still a great movie though.
Rated 22 Jul 2015
85
81st
Supremely well put together movie that manages to be witty and entertaining on its own terms, whilst also running a smart commentary line on itself, the horror genre and pop culture in general. One of the standout modern classics of the 90s. As with all creative trendsetters, two decades of grateful imitators (and scattergun lampooning of the Scary Movie parody series) have seen it fade a little as a horror spectacle, though the screenplay remains as sharp as ever.
Rated 04 Oct 2015
8
81st
A top notch scary movie featuring an entertaining combination of tense slasher-violence, unnerving murder mystery, and loads of jump scares to go along with dashes of dark teen comedy and meta, self-parodying horror movie satire. It's well acted (the supporting Lillard and Kennedy are especially delightful) and cleverly written ("Look behind you, Jamie!"), and its whodunit plot is packed full of great twists and red herrings that keep you guessing right up until the absolutely killer climax.
Rated 15 May 2016
100
99th
A clever combination of genres proves to be a great success for this horror classic. Scream pays homage, while at the same time making fun of other horror movies. The characters are interesting, the jokes are funny, the tension is there, the whodunnit aspect keeps you guessing, all in all it's a well done film. Scream is a memorable film that aged well, and is great for repeat viewings. My personal favorite film of all time.
Rated 06 Jul 2017
80
80th
The funniest thing about this light parody is that Scream is maybe the best slasher classic ever made. It lampoons genre cliches while perhaps unintentionally succeeding them in their original intent. It's consistently humorous both referentially and in regards to its characters, and this success at the non-horror scenes raises suspicion and tension as we actually get to know and enjoy these teenagers before their inevitable slaughter. It's cliche but filled with so much misdirection it works.
Rated 09 Jul 2017
74
52nd
A scary movie that is both hilarious and self-aware. Leapfrogs seamlessly between humor and scares, holding fairly high standard in both. Solid performances and great sets. The penultimate scene is quite memorable, like the opening.
Rated 12 Dec 2021
8
88th
You’re typical classic slasher, at least when looking through today’s lense. Scream, for it’s time, was quite unique in it’s portrayal of the genre. It plays so far into its tropes it’s quite comical at times, but when you’re as self aware as this is (especially for it’s time) you gotta just tip your hat to Wes Craven. There isn’t a whole lot of people who quite understand their craft as well as him. Scream is one of the most well crafted slashers, which makes it’s legacy this iconic.
Rated 19 Dec 2006
95
98th
Near-perfect horror movie. Literally re-invented a struggling genre and put the slasher back inot the main-stream. Amazing horror film that influenced the majority of horror movies since it came out.
Rated 08 Feb 2007
94
94th
A meta classic, really well shot and full of self-reflexive fun. "Behind you, Jamie!"
Rated 02 Mar 2007
94
95th
The brilliance in the concept created by Craven in making this movie is indescribale. He created the perfect formula to mock his own genre and still scare the hell out of the people watching it, proving that you can't always just laugh off a horror film. He mixes comedy and horror in a manner that neither one is comprrimised by the incorporation of the other.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
60
23rd
Scream is more funny than scary, and it's funnier than you might expect.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
99th
My favorite movie of all time. I realize it's not literally the best film of all time, but I love it to death and have seen it tons of times.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
82nd
Great self-concious horror flick.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
8
93rd
A bloody & funny guilty pleasure. Like any other horror movie of note it went on to be copied by dozens of lesser films, but the original is still a wicked satire that's better than 98% of slasher movies played straight. Also, Matthew Lillard's wildly over-the-top scenery chewing is brilliant.
Rated 08 Oct 2007
90
94th
An intelligent script and a realistic horror, without the presence of the something supernatural.
Rated 10 Jul 2008
95
81st
Wes Anderson's best series of horror. I admire his ability to mock his own movies
Rated 31 Mar 2009
91
81st
One of my favorite horror movies of all time
Rated 30 May 2009
90
80th
Kick started the horror genre again all the way back in 1996. A great film, that knows it's a horror,yet still manages to be scary, funny and sarcastic. The first 15 minutes are truly brilliant.
Rated 19 Aug 2009
90
87th
Very good story with many cliches and nods, a must see for thriller/horror fans.
Rated 04 Dec 2009
95
96th
Such a brilliant look at the slasher genre. Great whodunit script, just a good, good horror movie.
Rated 30 Jul 2011
90
95th
Most fun and pleasant experience in horror. The references are all over and well put, showing how this genre shaped our moviegoing experience, but the most part of it is true homage to what we love the most about horror: the scares, the disposable characters, the flashy killings. The entire party section using Halloween's images and score are so beautifully staged. The beginning might the best of the entire genre. Put this together with MTV language and that 90s dated but familiar smell.
Rated 13 Jan 2013
99
97th
A fiendishly clever, witty, self-referential slasher flick, that takes an affectionate swipe at slasher flicks.
Rated 25 Mar 2013
70
81st
2. The quintessential horror meta franchise had an explosive start. The film is beautifully constructed in a sense that it can be enjoyed by two very different types of audiences. The general viewer will see it as an entertaining young adult slasher film, while the more experienced viewer will delight in the plethora of meta humour, severely palpable self-consciousness of the film and the playful treatise of established genre tropes. Well done, Wes Craven, your work will be truly missed.
Rated 03 Jun 2013
100
95th
How can you talk bad about a movie that helped revitalize an entire genre? Especially if it was super tongue-in-cheek.
Rated 01 Feb 2014
91
82nd
Probably my favorite horror movie to date. Wes Craven brought an entirely fresh and new take to the horror genre, adding a meta-filled dark humor. Sidney Prescott a very formidable final girl played wonderfully by Neve Campbell. We also get some great work from Courtney Cox playing the likable, invasive reporter Gale. A lot of Slasher films have tried and failed to replicate what Wes Craven brought to the table. Would recommend to anyone who's a fan of the genre. I give 9 scary movies out of 10.
Rated 12 Feb 2014
100
98th
One of the best Horror films out there while being a parody of its own genre, as well as the beginning of a great series of films that followed!
Rated 01 May 2014
88
81st
This movie is the reason many were screaming in the 90's. It's hip, funny and has a good soundtrack to teens who want a little scare in their lives. I've always liked this movie and the series in general. There's some clever twists and writing albeit the acting is a little poor. Still, I think this movie wins for pointing out the funny rules in Horror films. Which later The Cabin in the Woods picks up on...
Rated 08 Jun 2014
86
79th
The movie is like a an open-mouth, hot-and-heavy French kiss and a sardonic but well-meaning middle finger for the horror and slasher genres, and it embodies such a dichotomy with not only a loveable wit, but a suspenseful flair and knowing hand (always resting gently against the lever that swings the wrecking ball into the fourth wall) that crafts an admirable film in the genres clearly highlighted within while also being one of the best meta-narratives I've seen.
Rated 11 Jul 2014
90
40th
As far as great horror movies go, "Scream" is without a doubt near the very top of the list. It's obvious self-awareness never overshadows it's scares and that's a balance that most horror films these days cannot achieve. Add in some expertly developed main characters and a clever script from Kevin Williamson, and you have yourself a great horror film. I just wish the sequels could live up to this one.
Rated 23 Dec 2014
5
88th
i feel safe in officially declaring this film a classic of the slasher genre, aided largely by matthew lillard's masterful, oscar-worthy performance
Rated 26 Dec 2014
80
50th
Ironic that it resuscitated horror and spawned countless take-me-seriously imitations. Even fellow filmmakers made a franchise out of spoofing it, when it's already a spoof. It's the violence and the gore, which are plentiful and sometimes intense, that deliver on the same note as it would if it were a normal cash-in slasher. The key is that the graphic violence and gore are disarmed by the ironic way the film utilizes and annotates it. Craven and Williamson have their cake and eat it too.
Rated 12 Jan 2016
100
89th
One of the greatest horror films of all time. Whilst i love Scream 2 and 4 and do like the third one, they became overly dependent on their post-modernist cultural commentary and increasingly comedic, which makes people lose sight of just how scary the first one actually was. Especially the opening scene which for me is the greatest opening scene in any horror film, ever. Incredibly quotable, memorable characters, intense, funny, and revived and re-defined a drowning genre. Scream is a classic.
Rated 04 Aug 2017
79
87th
90s teen slasher is elevated by cleverly referential and subversive plot and dialogue.
Rated 17 Oct 2017
80
41st
Not just a dumb slasher film. Engaging and clever plot. Not very scary though.
Rated 10 Apr 2018
97
85th
Scream is the consummate slasher flick. Meta horror is in full force with this one. It's funny (intentionally) and it has some legitimately scary moments. Not to mention a final twenty minutes to put all other slashers to shame.
Rated 30 Nov 2018
75
61st
Clever little horror movie that's also kind of funny but still just deranged enough to go "ooh!"
Rated 08 Dec 2006
63
27th
The hype surrounding it was too much.
Rated 27 Jan 2007
68
57th
Very good for it's time.
Rated 28 Mar 2007
75
44th
Okay
Rated 10 May 2007
0
4th
Scream was such a dumb move. the "villian" was unbelieveable. his costume was pretty corny looking, and the story wasnt all that great.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
87th
As someone who doesnt know the old "scary movies" and their cliche's - this movie is fun!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
70
28th
Decent slasher that could have used less cliche characters, possibly not using "teen-agers" as the main cast.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
55
48th
One of those movies that is just good for what it is.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
70th
redefined horror and proved that it can be humorous
Rated 21 Aug 2007
90
95th
Excellent
Rated 24 Sep 2007
3
61st
Has a decent premise.
Rated 11 Oct 2007
91
76th
The movie that spawned a generation of annoying, 'wink-at-the-audience', tongue-firmly-in-cheek horror movies, is the only one that really pulls it off.
Rated 20 Feb 2008
89
93rd
I remember being somewhat surprised as to how much I liked this movie. that's why it got a nice score. Fun Trivia - Do you know that Master P did the title song for the sequel?
Rated 03 May 2008
60
16th
Passable and sporadically funny. Not a Horror or Comedy masterpiece, but a diverting waste of time. Occasionally will rope a laugh out of you, although the opening sequence is the best part of the whole movie. Watch it, enjoy it, forget it.
Rated 19 May 2008
75
61st
Very amusing parody of slasher movies while working as a decent one itself.
Rated 12 Jul 2008
81
81st
I wouldn't classify this as a suspense/thriller. It's firmly rooted in the black comedy genre, with a bit of thriller thrown in, and is generally great. Everyone knows the opening scene rocks.
Rated 23 Dec 2008
88
85th
Love it! Wes Craven at his smartest. This is a classic for a reason.
Rated 06 Apr 2009
76
70th
Offers up enough twists and turns (not to mention frights) to appeal to mass audiences, but this is meta-horror intended for film buff consumption. The movie is more clever and funny than actually scary, and its success spawned a slew of imitators, none of which have much to offer in terms of wit. Copycat killers...they always miss the point. Craven's cameo is great, and the cast is pretty good for the genre. All these years later and Lillard is still finding pieces of the scenery in his teeth.
Rated 01 Jul 2009
80
70th
Funny and scary. It isn't brilliant, but it is very entertaining.
Rated 02 Aug 2009
92
75th
About as good as modern horror comes. Both serious and satirical.
Rated 27 Sep 2009
81
64th
Surprisingly good movie that works both as a suspenseful slasher film and a parody of the genre.
Rated 02 Oct 2009
80
54th
One of the best thrilling movies of 90's. Epic, classic, love it.
Rated 12 Oct 2009
75
77th
Ignoring its crime against humanity (the hordes of horrible slasher films in its wake) Scream was indeed a refreshing twist on the otherwise dead genre. The genius of it, is that despite the self-conciousness, Scream doesn't get ironically distant, but uses this to further the suspense.
Rated 23 Nov 2009
30
13th
The meta-aspect doesn't save this film from being stupid, stupid, stupid.
Rated 25 Feb 2010
100
99th
Holy crap, just watched this for the first time since the mid 90's....freaking incredible movie!! BRILLIANT! ...an amazing dissection of the teen horror genre...and Mathew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich in the performances of their lives..who knew.
Rated 03 Mar 2010
76
88th
ah, the good ol 90s. finally slasher films get what they needed: victims who fight back, actual characters, and a sense of humour. it gives up entirely on the horror genre in favour of mystery and satire, and while the film's self-referential nature can get a bit heavyhanded, it's still a very fun and very forward-thinking film that showcases a lot of what i love about 90s pop culture.
Rated 14 Jun 2010
61
62nd
'Fred Dekker' movie of the 90's. Much like Night of the Creeps or Monster Squad it is for the kids who KNOWS their flicks, in this case slasher movies. Its self-awareness is simply hilarious. Maybe I would have liked it even better, if I had not seen Scary Movie a dozen times prior to it.
Rated 16 Jun 2010
83
73rd
when i first saw this movie i thought it was just so hip and fresh...it takes the horror movie theory and makes it smart..the ending had such a twist that you were like oh man I did not see this coming...Wes Craven has such a good track record when he gets full control...not just name value..he has to put his all in it..you get this masterpiece
Rated 27 Jun 2010
65
53rd
*screams* I watched this movie when I was like.. 10 or something. It scared the fucking shit out of me. Now I can tollerate it, and it's quite fun to watch
Rated 10 Jan 2011
89
85th
now this is some -good-horror-90's-craven
Rated 03 May 2011
90
73rd
A hugely clever satire of slasher flicks that also proves to be one of the bets and most suspenseful slashers out there.
Rated 10 May 2011
89
97th
Wes craven singlehandedly brings the near dead horror genre back to life with this clever, stylish, well acted horror/slasher that made stars out of half the cast. One of the best in the genre.
Rated 16 Jun 2011
65
42nd
You're much more likely to burp, fart or possibly ejaculate while watching than scream.
Rated 06 Dec 2011
87
91st
This was my favorite movie during my high school years so yeah, maybe a lot of this score is based on sentimental value. I could still watch this more than the Godfather though.
Rated 17 Dec 2011
84
87th
This film is a great mix of horror and comedy.This film has a lot of fun with typical horror movie conventions. The cast also works well together. Watch this film instead of the really bad second and third films.
Rated 05 Apr 2012
100
91st
Classic.

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