ⓘ Details

Movie TitleScream

Release DateDecember 20, 1996

TaglineSomeone has taken their love of scary movies one step too far.

Runtime111 minutes

DirectorWes Craven

Screenplay Written ByKevin Williamson

Based OnOriginal screenplay

Is It a Remake?No. It is an original slasher mystery that launched the Scream franchise.

BudgetApproximately $14 million

Box OfficeApprox. $103 million domestic / Approx. $173 million worldwide

↑ Return to Top

👥 Main Cast

Neve CampbellSidney Prescott

Courteney CoxGale Weathers

David ArquetteDewey Riley

Skeet UlrichBilly Loomis

Matthew LillardStu Macher

Drew BarrymoreCasey Becker

Rose McGowanTatum Riley

Jamie KennedyRandy Meeks

W. Earl BrownKenny

Joseph WhippSheriff Burke

Liev SchreiberCotton Weary

Roger L. JacksonGhostface, Voice

↑ Return to Top

🏆 Awards

⭐ Saturn Award Winner — Best Horror Film

⭐ Saturn Award Winner — Best Actress, Neve Campbell

⭐ MTV Movie Award Winner — Best Movie

⭐ MTV Movie Award Winner — Best Female Performance, Neve Campbell

⭐ MTV Movie Award Winner — Best Villain, Skeet Ulrich and Matthew Lillard

⭐ No verified Academy Award nominations found.

↑ Return to Top

📖 Short Plot Summary

One year after her mother’s murder, Sidney Prescott becomes the target of a masked killer who stalks the town of Woodsboro while quizzing victims about horror movies. As Ghostface’s attacks escalate, Sidney, her friends, a fame-hungry reporter, and local law enforcement try to uncover the killer’s identity. The result is a slasher that both celebrates and skewers the genre’s rules.

↑ Return to Top

❝ Key Quotes

“What’s your favorite scary movie?” — Ghostface

“Movies don’t create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative.” — Billy Loomis

“There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie.” — Randy Meeks

“Not in my movie.” — Sidney Prescott

“Everybody’s a suspect!” — Randy Meeks

↑ Return to Top

💡 Trivia

Director

Scream was directed by Wes Craven, already a horror legend from The Last House on the Left, The Hills Have Eyes, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.
Craven balanced real suspense, slasher violence, and self-aware comedy without turning the film into a straight parody.
The 3 Guys and a Flick ratings page lists the film as Episode 135 with Wes Craven as director.

Cast / Casting

Drew Barrymore was one of the film’s biggest names and appears in the now-famous opening sequence as Casey Becker.
Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott became one of modern horror’s defining final girls.
Courteney Cox played against her sitcom image as aggressive tabloid reporter Gale Weathers.
Roger L. Jackson provided the voice of Ghostface, giving the killer one of horror’s most recognizable phone voices.

Soundtrack / Score

The film’s score was composed by Marco Beltrami.
Scream was one of Beltrami’s breakthrough studio scores.
The soundtrack combines horror scoring with 1990s alternative and rock tracks, matching the film’s teen-slasher energy.

Location

The story is set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California.
Filming took place in California, including Sonoma County locations.
The house used for Stu Macher’s party became one of the franchise’s most recognizable locations.

Behind-The-Scenes

Kevin Williamson’s screenplay was originally titled Scary Movie.
The title was changed to Scream before release.
The movie’s opening sequence shocked audiences by killing off a major star early, echoing the impact of Janet Leigh’s early exit in Psycho.
The film grossed more than $173 million worldwide against an estimated $14 million budget.

Nostalgia

Scream helped revive mainstream interest in slashers during the late 1990s.
Ghostface became one of horror’s most recognizable modern icons.
The movie’s rules about surviving horror films became a major part of pop-culture horror vocabulary.

Easter Eggs

Wes Craven makes a cameo as a janitor wearing a Freddy Krueger-style outfit.
The film repeatedly references Halloween, including characters watching John Carpenter’s classic during the party sequence.
Billy Loomis’ name nods toward Dr. Loomis from Halloween.

Misc.

Scream was released in the United States on December 20, 1996.
The movie runs 111 minutes.
The film launched a long-running franchise of sequels, television projects, and Ghostface pop-culture presence.
Your 3 Guys and a Flick ratings page lists Don at 4.75, Ken at 3.00, Jon at 4.75, and the Overall Rating as 4.17.

↑ Return to Top