Scream is—and always will be—one of my all-time favorite horror films. Everything about it hit me at exactly the right moment in my life, reigniting my childhood love of scary movies. Because of that, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the entire franchise. I genuinely enjoy every installment.
Scream 7 (2026) Directed by Kevin Williamson
Scream 7 not only holds its own among the sequels—it rises near the top. After a recent full franchise binge, I can confidently say it’s my second favorite entry. A distant second, sure—the original Scream did so many groundbreaking things so well that everything since has had an almost impossible standard to live up to—but still, an impressive achievement this deep into a franchise.
My one real complaint with Scream 7 is the same one I’ve had with nearly every sequel: predictability. With the announcement that Matthew Lillard would return in some capacity, I was hoping for something bold—something that would truly shake up the formula.
For a while, I’ve wanted the franchise to pivot away from the endless cycle of copycat killers with razor-thin motives and lean into something more unexpected… something supernatural. Imagine Ghostface evolving into something closer to the unkillable legends like Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, or Freddy Krueger.
But realistically, I knew that was a long shot.
The Scream formula is one of the most defined—and yes, most “cookie-cutter”—structures in horror, and Scream 7 sticks to it. That said, it executes that formula extremely well. After the newer direction of Scream (2022) and Scream VI, it was refreshing to return to Sidney Prescott and reconnect with the franchise’s core.
Scream 7 (2026) Neve Campbell
Kevin Williamson excels in the director’s chair, delivering a movie that feels like it could have come from Wes Craven himself. There’s a confidence in the tone—balancing tension, humor, and meta-awareness—that feels strikingly authentic to the original.
The film also introduces some clever, modern ideas rooted in current technology and delivers what I believe to be the most fun and inventive kills in the entire franchise.
Scream 7 (2026) Available on demand
Still, the structure makes it hard not to see the killer reveal coming from a mile away.
Ghostface remains one of the most iconic figures in horror—walking that perfect line between genuinely scary and almost slapstick at times. That balance of fear and fun is what defines Scream, and it’s exactly why these movies continue to work.
At the end of the day, Scream 7 is exactly what a Scream movie should be: a high-energy, crowd-pleasing horror experience. It’s built for the theater, built for a group of friends, and built for a great time.
And on that level—it absolutely delivers.
