Starting as a film poking fun at the slasher genre, Scream has grown over the past 25 years into one of the best horror franchises in history. With Scream 6 about to hit cinemas, Radio Watson’s Buddy Watson joined Ashley and Dylan to create the Explosion Network’s definitive ranking of the Scream films so far.

Each film on each person’s list was given a score value with 1st place getting 5 points, 2nd getting 4 points and so on through to 5th place getting 1 point. The more points, the higher place on this list.

Let us know what you think of our ranking and let us know yours on Twitter or in the comments below.

5. Scream 3 – 3 Points

As bodies begin dropping around the set of STAB 3, a movie sequel based on the gruesome Woodsboro killings, Sidney and other survivors are once again drawn into a game of horror movie mayhem.

Released: February 4, 2000
Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Parker Posey, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Foley, Lance Henriksen, Matt Keeslar, Jenny McCarthy, Emily Mortimer, Deon Richmond, Patrick Warburton

It’s easily the worst Scream film, but as a franchise, there’s not a film in the Scream franchise that isn’t somewhat enjoyable. What makes Scream 3 hit the bottom of our list, however, isn’t a lack of exciting kills; it’s the wonky logic behind everything that happens in the film and an odd distinction between what’s happening to Sidney’s character and everyone else in the movie. While Sidney is dealing with PTSD and looking to reach a place of peace where she can sleep at night, there’s a more comedic (than ever before) Scream film happening on the other side of the country, with the majority of Scream 3 taking place on the set of the latest Stab film. As the only Scream movie (outside of Scream 6) to move the location outside of Woodsboro entirely, this film feels brave yet lacks conviction in what it wants to do. Real-world events affected the script and level of violence the studio was happy to show at the time, but it’s not an excuse for the somewhat messy film and the finale at the time.

– Dylan Blight

4. Scream 2 – 6 Points

Sidney is in college and once again finds herself the target of a psychotic killer. However, this time, the killer’s murder count is higher and the killings more outrageous.

Released: December 12, 1997
Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy, Laurie Metcalf, Jerry O’Connell, Elise Neal, Timothy Olyphant, Jada Pinkett, Liev Schreiber

Scream 2 is a fantastic follow-up to the original film, expertly playing on the idea of sequels and how they try to replicate what made the original special. It plays on your expectations from the first film and uses that to build the mystery of who the killer could be, like getting you to question whether Sidney’s boyfriend in this film is the killer again. Scream 2 also introduces the Stab films to the Scream universe which would prove to be a pivotal element of the franchise going forward. With more blood, a star-studded cast, some incredibly tense scenes and a surprising final reveal, Scream 2 is still a really fun watch.

– Ashley Hobley

3. Scream (2022) – 10 Points

Sam Carpenter returns to Woodsboro after her sister gets attacked by the Ghostface. She approaches Dewey Riley to help catch the killer, who warns Sidney and Gale.

Released: January 14, 2022
Directed by: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Melissa Barrera, Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Heather Matarazzo, Roger L. Jackson, Marley Shelton, Skeet Ulrich, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Neve Campbell

With a completely new creative team behind the camera and a new cast of actors in front of it, the 2022 Scream does a stellar job at moving the franchise forward while honouring the work done before. Introducing a new lead actress and cast with ties to the original films, Scream succeeds in ways other legacy sequels have not, all while poking fun at the new category of sequels that have risen in the past decade. Taking the violence up a few notches, this is the bloodiest entry so far and features a killer reveal that perfectly skewers the internet “fanboy” critics before they even have a chance to. A great new start for the franchise.

– Ashley Hobley

2. Scream 4 – 12 Points

Listen to our discussions on What If…? here.

At the end of her book tour, Sidney visits her home town after ten long years. As she catches up with old friends, her return not only brings back memories but also beckons the return of Ghostface.

Released: April 15, 2011
Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, Anthony Anderson, Alison Brie, Adam Brody, Rory Culkin, Marielle Jaffe, Erik Knudsen, Mary McDonnell, Marley Shelton, Nico Tortorella, Roger L. Jackson

Way ahead of its time, Scream 4 was the first go-around at rebooting the franchise for a new audience. Sidney, Gale and Dewey return, but there’s a bunch of young new characters introduced in the form of Jill (Emma Robert), Kirby (Harden Panettiere), Sherrie (Lucy Hale), Charlie (Rory Culkin), Robbie (Erik Knudsen) and Trevor (Nico Tortorella). In another world, all of which could have been the cast returning for a follow-up sequel if the film had done better at the box office, just like we’ve seen Scream (2022) do with its quick turnaround into Scream 6. What makes Scream 4 one of the best in the franchise is its prediction of just how bad society’s influencer and fame-seeking culture would grow to be, and with that being a prominent reason for the killer(s) in the film, it’s stood the test of time easily. Watching it now is only more impactful, with TikTok and live streaming on Twitch being massive platforms. The gory kills and commentary on the mid-noughties obsession with films like SAW and Hostel was also a big part of the film’s commentary making for some more ruthless Ghostface killings than ever before.

– Dylan Blight

1. Scream (1996) – 14 Points

Listen to our discussions on The Falcon and the Winter Soldier here.

A year after Sidney’s mom is murdered, more murders start to occur. She begins to suspect if these murders are related and tries to find the killer as everyone seems to be a suspect.

Released: December 20, 1996
Directed by: Wes Craven
Written by: Kevin Williamson
Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, Drew Barrymore

Scream is not only my favourite scary movie, it’s in my top 5 movies of all time. It’s the best Scream movie, it is where it all started. It revived the whole slasher genre, Scream spawns I Know What You Did Last Summer and H20, which is written by Kevin Williamson as well. It reinvigorates the horror genre by poking fun at itself and playing with it, Wes Craven even makes fun of himself but he never insults your intelligence as someone who likes horror movies. It is just iconic from the opening scene which is synonymous with Scream and one of the best openings in horror ever. The swerves, the two killers; it’s hard to sum up in a little blurb but it is just iconic.

– Buddy Watson