Film · in order
Scream Movies in Order
The seven Scream films tell one continuous story, so release order is also chronological order. Start with Wes Craven's 1996 original and end with Scream 7 (2026).
Scream Movies in Order — complete list
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Why this order?
Scream is one of the rare horror franchises where you don't have to think hard about order: the seven films form a single, linear timeline, so release order and chronological order are exactly the same. Watch them as they came out — Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023), and Scream 7 (2026) — and the story unfolds in lockstep with the calendar.
That tidy alignment is the whole point of the "release equals chronological" order below. Each film picks up months or years after the last, references events the survivors actually lived through, and assumes you know who's still alive. The Ghostface killer changes every entry, but the meta-commentary, the "rules" of horror, and Sidney Prescott's ongoing trauma carry straight across the gaps. Skipping around scrambles who knows what and spoils which legacy characters make it out.
The one wrinkle worth flagging is the 2022 film, simply titled Scream. It's a "requel" — a reboot and a sequel at once — that introduces a new generation in Woodsboro while bringing back Sidney, Gale, and Dewey. Despite resetting the marketing, it is a direct continuation, not a remake, which is why we give it its own distinct entry rather than folding it into the original. Treat it as film number five in the timeline, full stop.
Scream 7 (2026) closes the current run by bringing Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott back to the center of the story — she sat out Scream VI — as a new Ghostface drags her out of the quiet life she'd built and back toward her past. It's the seventh chapter, and it slots neatly onto the end of the same unbroken timeline.
If you enjoy the genre-savvy, "the call is coming from inside the house" energy, the natural neighbors are Wes Craven's own A Nightmare on Elm Street and the slasher revival of I Know What You Did Last Summer, plus the franchise's spiritual descendants like Halloween. But for Scream itself, there's only one path: press play on 1996 and keep going.
Timeline 1996–2026
Every entry plotted by release year — see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
How many Scream movies are there?
There are seven Scream films, released between 1996 and 2026: Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, Scream (2022), Scream VI, and Scream 7.
What order should I watch Scream in?
Watch them in release order: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023), and Scream 7 (2026). Release order is also the story's chronological order.
Is the 2022 Scream a remake or a sequel?
It's both — a 'requel.' It introduces new characters while continuing the original timeline, with Sidney, Gale, and Dewey all returning. Watch it after Scream 4.
Do I need to watch the earlier movies before the 2022 film?
You don't strictly need to, but you'll get far more out of it. The 2022 film, Scream VI, and Scream 7 reward viewers who know the legacy characters and past events.
Are all the Scream movies connected?
Yes. The franchise is one continuous story with recurring characters and a shared timeline, so events and survivors carry over from film to film.
Which Scream movie should I start with?
Start with the 1996 original, directed by Wes Craven. It establishes the rules, the characters, and Ghostface, and everything that follows builds on it.
Last updated · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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