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Scream

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Scream

R

Released Dec 20, 1996

1h 51m

Horror

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

129 Reviews

80%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There's a killer in their midst who's seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly nobody is safe, as the psychopath stalks victims, taunts them with trivia questions, then rips them to bloody shreds. It could be anybody...

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Critics Consensus

Horror icon Wes Craven's subversive deconstruction of the genre is sly, witty, and surprisingly effective as a slasher film itself, even if it's a little too cheeky for some.

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Geoff Brown

Times (UK)

Aside from the in-jokes, Craven ensures we scream alongside his characters at the indestructible killer in the Halloween who taunts down the phone.

Nov 18, 2024

Full Review

Peter Howell

Toronto Star

Scream is a howling great time.

Oct 17, 2024

Full Review

Jeff Daniel

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Scream succeeds through its ability to elicit both shrieks of horror and hilarity, as every bad horror movie moment becomes a target for ironic deconstruction and campy send-up.

Oct 16, 2024

Full Review

Megan Fisher

Loud and Clear Reviews

Scream stands alongside the viewer and lets them in on the jokes and conversation. [...] More than that, Scream expects the viewer to talk back.

Rated: 4.5/5

May 6, 2025

Full Review

Jason Margolis

Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Alberta)

It's probably got more film jokes than the works of Joe Dante, John Landis, and Paul Bartel put together. I guess that's why I had fun watching it.

Nov 19, 2024

Full Review

St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay Times Staff

Tampa Bay Times

Scream trots out one suspicious and underdeveloped character after another to fake its ingenuity, and still comes up with a clunky climax, later than necessary.

Rated: C-

Oct 31, 2024

Full Review

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Tiquila Holliday

It was kinda cool and nostalgic to watch an old movie on the big screen. Felt like it was my first time watching it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

Full Review

taipan1124 R

Scream is part parody of slasher movies but a film that stands on its own and pulls it off. Great actors and under 2 hours so you dont get bored. And I have to admit that I saw this in theaters when it came out in 1996 and its truly a time capsule.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/05/25

Full Review

Eyrdie R

I love the running themes to other horror movies and inside nods. It's the perfect film to watch!! The storyline is fresh and the actors are excellent.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/04/25

Full Review

Elizabeth B

Love this movie!! So glad I got to see it in theaters!! Ive loved this movie since 1996!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

Full Review

Shawn

A true classic and fun screening.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/14/24

Full Review

Kristina

One of my favorites. I love watching it now knowing how it ends and who the killer is and just watching the different interactions.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

Full Review

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Wes Craven

Director

Neve Campbell

Sidney Prescott

David Arquette

Deputy Dwight "Dewey" Riley

Courteney Cox

Gale Weathers

Matthew Lillard

Stuart 'Stu' Macher

Skeet Ulrich

Billy Loomis

Scream: Official Clip - Wrong Answer

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Scream: Official Clip - Do You Like Scary Movies?

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Scream: Official Clip - More Creative Psychos

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Scream: Official Clip - Do You Want to Die, Sidney?

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Scream: Official Clip - School's Out

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Scream: Official Movie Clip - Death by Doggie Door

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Scream: Official Clip - Casey Is Killed

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Scream: Official Clip - Turning the Tables

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Scream: Official Clip - How to Survive a Horror Movie

1:35

Scream: Official Clip - Surprise, Sidney!

2:02

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Synopsis

The sleepy little town of Woodsboro just woke up screaming. There's a killer in their midst who's seen a few too many scary movies. Suddenly nobody is safe, as the psychopath stalks victims, taunts them with trivia questions, then rips them to bloody shreds. It could be anybody...

Director: Wes Craven
Producer: Cathy Konrad, Cary Woods
Screenwriter: Kevin Williamson
Distributor: Miramax Films
Production Co: Dimension Films, Woods Entertainment
Rating: R (Strong Graphic Horror|Violence|Language|Gore)
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 20, 1996, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $103.7M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, Surround, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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