After watching the fifth movie, let’s now we rank 5 best Scream movies so far. Oh yes, SPOILER ALERT for those who haven’t watched the 5 movies.
For those of us who are children of the 90s, we must have watched and even fancied Scream.
How could you not? This series of slasher horror films by Kevin Williamson (Dawson’s Creek) and directed by slasher maestro, Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street) was a real boom in its day.
It’s so booming that not only has the franchise survived to this day. But it also makes the franchise one of the many legendary pop culture icons of all time.
From the dialog, the characters, and even the ghostface costumes, everything has really stuck with us both literally and non-literally.
Well since we are still in the hype of the latest Scream movie or Scream 5 and also, as a tribute to Craven and the entire franchise. So let’s re-rank the 5 best Scream movies releases so far.
Remember, this ranking is preferential or very SUBJECTIVE. So not necessarily the favorite Scream movie here, just like your favorite Scream movie, okay?
Best Sceam Movies So Far
5. Scream 3 (2000)
Let’s start our re-ranking of the top 5 best Scream movies so far with the third installment of the franchise.
Many audiences and fans thought that Scream 4 was the most disappointing movie. Well, not for me. In fact, it’s one of my favorites. It was Scream 3 that I found the most disappointing.
Actually, plot-wise, there is no super significant change in formula. Also, the performance of all the actors is still okay. Then where are the shortcomings? The first is the death scenes, which are heavily censored.
But for this aspect we can still understand. Because at that time America was still in an atmosphere after the sadistic shooting tragedy that occurred at Columbine High School. Or what is also known as the Columbine High School Massacre.
However, it’s the second flaw that I can’t tolerate. Yes, as I also mentioned in my Scream 3 review, in this third movie, Scream feels more “market” or mainstream.
Or in other words, it’s already a “popcorn flick”. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. But considering the previous two movies didn’t look and feel more realistic, grounded, and independent, this change in the third movie is certainly very disturbing.
The analogy is the same when indie musicians or those who previously had their own musical style, become followers of current music trends (Ed Sheean). But despite these shortcomings, fortunately the third movie is still entertaining.
4. Scream 2 (1997)
The best Scream movies so far is the sequel to the original movie. Actually, Scream 2 as a whole is not as disappointing as Scream 3. In fact, it’s still pretty solid like the first movie.
But since there are 5 movies in this ranking and once again the ranking is subjective, Scream 2 is inevitably in the fourth position. So yes, this is just a technicality.
Aside from the solid performances of the actors and the story, the scenes or ways of death of the ghostface victims are also much more crazy and “creative”. In fact, it’s probably only in Scream 2 that we see killings that are so “creative.”
As for the shortcomings of this second movie, it is only related to the issue of the killer. Apart from featuring 2 people again, one of them, Mickey Altieri (Timothy Olyphant), has a very weak motive.
He helps the mother of one of the original movie’s killers, Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), Mrs. Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) to pay for her college tuition. So unlike Mr.s Loomis, he has no personal motive to the main character, Sideny Prescott (Neve Campbell).
Oh yeah, maybe one more flaw of this movie. The character of Sidney’s boyfriend, Derek Feldman (Jerry O’ Connell). Hadeh, this character really helped protect Sidney from ghostface attacks. But in the end, he was the one who saved Sidney before being shot dead by Mickey.
But despite these flaws, Scream 2 is one of the most solid and entertaining sequels to the movie.
3. Scream (2022)
Of course, just like other veteran fans, I was very anxious about this fifth Scream movie. Because it’s the first Scream movie not directed by Craven. Also for me, Scream 4 was the perfect reboot and finale.
But as you know, Hollywood is currently not happy if it doesn’t revive the old top movie franchise? So I as a fan still think very positively.
After all, the new director duo is Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not). I was one of the fans of the movie Ready or Not. Fortunately, the positive thinking paid off.
It’s not the best Scream movie of all time. And it’s basically the same movie as Star Wars: The Froce Awakens (2015) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), is a sequel (sequel and reboot).
But at least the two directors and the franchise’s veteran scriptwriter, Kevin Williamson, didn’t try to do any weird experiments. They just did a “semi-copy-paste” of the original movie while incorporating the signature elements of the two directors.
The appearance and division of portions of veteran players and new players are also very fair. Anyway, it’s really neat, aka there is no sense of overlap. Although indeed, the new generation cast is still much more highlighted in this film.
Anyway, Scream 5 is an excellent tribute both to us as veteran fans, and to the slasher maestro, Wes Craven. You will really enjoy this movie.
2. Scream 4 (2011)
Indeed, many consider this fourth movie and its first sequel to be the weakest or in other words, many don’t like it. But I personally like it. That’s why in this Scream movie re-ranking discussion, Scream 4 is placed in the second position.
One of the main reasons, as stated in the Scream 4 review, is that the movie succeeded in being far ahead of its time/year. Specifically, the movie incorporated the concept of the Scream franchise with a “prediction” of the dangers of online cultural trends.
When this movie was released, social media and online culture was still in its infancy. At that time, there were no rampant criminal incidents due to social media or chatting. However, this movie has shown the threat even though it is still in the context of the movie.
But like life imitating a movie, it is evident that what this movie alludes to/fears, has now become a reality, right? Now besides this aspect, another aspect is also because this movie returns to the formula of the first 2 films which are much simpler and grounded.
1. Scream (1996)
This is the best Scream movies so far, even during its time. Even 25 years (26 years in December 2022) after its release, the original Scream movie still looks and feels very relevant.
Evidently, this year’s Scream 5 is technically a reboot of the first movie. So why do we still consider the original movie the best of the bunch for a quarter of a century?
Yes, in general and overall, Scream is still very simple and very focused on its premise. If we compare and analogize a bit, the first Scream movie is just like its “big brother”, Halloween (1978).
Anyway, this first movie is really natural about a serial killer aka Ghostface who is targeting the main character, Sidney Prescott. Now to achieve his goals and motives, this ghost masked figure then kills all of Sidney’s close friends and family first.
Then in the end, the ghostface is revealed. The point is that once again the formula is still very simple and not messing around. And it is proven that the simple formula that this movie applies has successfully made the film one of the biggest and legendary film franchises to date.
In fact, I’m willing to bet that this movie will continue to hold its relevance until the end of the world. So that’s a re-ranking of the 5 coolest and most piercing Scream movies so far.
Out of the five Scream movie releases so far, which one is your favorite?
