Scream is an American meta horror slasher film series created in 1996 by Kevin Williamson. Each of the films features a large ensemble of actors and actresses. The leading role of the series is Sidney Prescott, portrayed by Canadian actress Neve Campbell, who is accompanied by ambitious news reporter Gale Weathers, played by Courteney Cox, and the police officer Dewey Riley, played by David Arquette, who appear in all five Scream films. Other major recurring characters include film-geek Randy Meeks, played by Jamie Kennedy, and falsely accused opportunist Cotton Weary, played by Liev Schreiber, in the first three films. The series consists of seven films: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), Scream 3 (2000), Scream 4 (2011), Scream (2022), Scream VI (2023), and Scream 7 (2026). The first four films were directed by Wes Craven and scored by Marco Beltrami, who later composed again the seventh film. Kevin Williamson wrote Scream, Scream 2 and Scream 4, but scheduling commitments meant he could provide only notes for Scream 3, with writing duties instead helmed by Ehren Kruger.
The Weinstein Company stated that the success of Scream 4 could lead to potential sequels and a new Scream trilogy, with Arquette, Craven and Williamson all having been contracted or expressed interest in appearing in future installments. However, it was eventually announced the franchise would continue through Scream, a television production that debuted on MTV in 2015. In 2019, Spyglass Media Group acquired the rights to the series. Scream (2022) was announced in 2019, with Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett signed on to direct. Campbell, Cox, and Arquette all signed on to return for the film.
The series is notable in the horror genre for casting established and popular actors which, before Scream (1996), was uncommon and difficult, the genre not taken seriously by mainstream actors. In particular, its cast of famous female actresses such as Drew Barrymore and Courteney Cox in prominent, strong roles was considered to give the genre credibility and allow future Scream and other horror films to attract big name actors with greater ease.
Cast
Character Film Scream(1996) Scream 2(1997) Scream 3(2000) Scream 4(2011) Scream(2022) Scream VI(2023) Scream 7(2026) Main/recurring characters Ghostface Roger L. Jackson Sidney Prescott Neve Campbell Neve Campbell Gale Weathers Courteney Cox Dewey Riley David Arquette David Arquette David Arquette Randy Meeks Jamie Kennedy Jamie Kennedy Jamie Kennedy colspan="2" Cotton Weary Liev Schreiber Liev Schreiber colspan="4" Billy Loomis Skeet Ulrich colspan="3" Skeet Ulrich Stu Macher Matthew Lillard colspan="5" Matthew Lillard Debbie Salt / Mrs. Loomis Laurie Metcalf colspan="4" Laurie Metcalf Roman Bridger colspan="2" Scott Foley Scott Foley colspan="1" Scott Foley Martha Meeks colspan="2" Heather Matarazzo Heather Matarazzo colspan="2" Kirby Reed colspan="3" Hayden Panettiere Hayden Panettiere Hayden Panettiere Judy Hicks colspan="3" Marley Shelton colspan="2" Sam Carpenter colspan="4" Melissa Barrera Tara Carpenter colspan="4" Jenna Ortega Chad Meeks-Martin colspan="4" Mason Gooding Mindy Meeks-Martin colspan="4" Jasmin Savoy Brown Tatum Evans colspan="6" Isabel May Supporting main characters Tatum Riley Rose McGowan colspan="6" Casey Becker Drew Barrymore colspan="6" Maureen Prescott Lynn McRee Lynn McRee colspan="4" Mickey Altieri Timothy Olyphant colspan="5" Derek Feldman Jerry O'Connell colspan="5" Hallie McDaniel Elise Neal colspan="5" Cici Cooper Sarah Michelle Gellar colspan="5" Maureen Evans Jada Pinkett colspan="5" Mark Kincaid colspan="2" Patrick Dempsey colspan="4" Jennifer Jolie colspan="2" Parker Posey colspan="1" Parker Posey colspan="2" Angelina Tyler colspan="2" Emily Mortimer colspan="4" Sarah Darling colspan="2" Jenny McCarthy colspan="4" Tom Prinze colspan="2" Matt Keeslar colspan="4" Steven Stone colspan="2" Patrick Warburton colspan="4" John Milton colspan="2" Lance Henriksen colspan="4" Tyson Fox colspan="2" Deon Richmond colspan="4" Jill Roberts colspan="3" Emma Roberts colspan="3" Charlie Walker colspan="3" Rory Culkin colspan="3" Robbie Mercer colspan="3" Erik Knudsen colspan="3" Trevor Sheldon colspan="3" Nico Tortorella colspan="3" Rebecca Walters colspan="3" Alison Brie colspan="3" Kate Roberts colspan="3" Mary McDonnell colspan="3" Richie Kirsch colspan="4" Jack Quaid Jack Quaid Amber Freeman colspan="4" Mikey Madison colspan="2" Liv McKenzie colspan="4" Sonia Ben Ammar colspan="2" Wes Hicks colspan="4" Dylan Minnette colspan="2" Ethan Landry colspan="5" Jack Champion Quinn Bailey colspan="5" Liana Liberato Wayne Bailey colspan="5" Dermot Mulroney Anika Kayoko colspan="5" Devyn Nekoda Danny Brackett colspan="5" Josh Segarra Supporting minor characters Principal Arthur Himbry Henry Winkler colspan="6" Kenny Brown W. Earl Brown colspan="6" Sheriff Burke Joseph Whipp colspan="6" Steve Orth Kevin Patrick Walls colspan="6" Neil Prescott Lawrence Hecht Lawrence Hecht colspan="4" Hank Loomis C. W. Morgan C. W. Morgan colspan="4" Reporter Nancy O'Dell colspan="3" Guy at Party Matthew Lillard colspan="2" Matthew Lillard colspan="2" Chief Louis Hartley Lewis Arquette colspan="5" Joel Duane Martin colspan="5" Lois Rebecca Gayheart colspan="5" Murphy Portia de Rossi colspan="5" Phil Stevens Omar Epps colspan="5" Joshua Jackson Joshua Jackson colspan="2" Joshua Jackson colspan="2" Dawnie Marisol Nichols colspan="5" Gus Gold David Warner colspan="5" Officer Andrews Philip Pavel colspan="5" Officer Richards Chris Doyle colspan="5" Christine Hamilton colspan="2" Kelly Rutherford colspan="4" Detective Wallace colspan="2" Josh Pais colspan="4" Bianca Burnette colspan="2" Carrie Fisher colspan="4" Ross Hoss colspan="3" Adam Brody Adam Brody colspan="2" Anthony Perkins colspan="3" Anthony Anderson colspan="3" Olivia Morris colspan="3" Marielle Jaffe colspan="3" Marnie Cooper colspan="3" Britt Robertson colspan="3" Jenny Randall colspan="3" Aimee Teegarden colspan="3" Sherrie colspan="3" Lucy Hale colspan="3" Trudie colspan="3" Shenae Grimes colspan="3" Rachel colspan="3" Anna Paquin colspan="3" Chloe colspan="3" Kristen Bell colspan="3" Vince Schneider colspan="4" Kyle Gallner colspan="2" Deputy Farney colspan="4" Reggie Conquest colspan="2" Deputy Vinson colspan="4" Chester Tam colspan="2" Christopher Stone colspan="5" Henry Czerny Jason Carvey colspan="5" Tony Revolori Laura Crane colspan="5" Samara Weaving Stab characters Sidney Prescott Tori Spelling colspan="4" Tori Spelling Dewey Riley David Schwimmer colspan="5" Gale Weathers colspan="2" Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey) colspan="1" Jennifer Jolie (Parker Posey) colspan="2" Billy Loomis Luke Wilson colspan="5" Casey Becker Heather Graham Heather Graham Drew Barrymore colspan="2" Sherrie colspan="3" Lucy Hale colspan="3" Trudie colspan="3" Shenae Grimes colspan="3" Rachel colspan="3" Anna Paquin colspan="3" Chloe colspan="3" Kristen Bell colspan="3" Ghostface colspan="4" Matthew Lillard colspan="2" Stu Macher colspan="4" Vince Vaughn colspan="2" Tatum Riley colspan="4" Alicia Silverstone colspan="2" Randy Meeks colspan="4" Christopher Speed colspan="2" Principal Himbry colspan="4" Ron Howard colspan="2" Notes
Awards and nominations The cast of the Scream series have won, or been nominated for, several awards, most notably Campbell who has received the most wins and nominations of the cast for her role as Sidney Prescott, including the Saturn Award for Best Actress and MTV Movie Award for Best Performance. For Scream (1996) Skeet Ulrich and Drew Barrymore received Saturn Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. Cox received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in Scream 2 but lost to Gloria Stuart for Titanic (1997). Despite her brief cameo appearance as "Sidney Prescott" in the film within a film "Stab" series, Tori Spelling was nominated for a Razzie Award for "Worst New Actress" in Scream 2. Campbell and Arquette won Blockbuster Entertainment Awards in the "Favorite Actress – Horror" and "Favorite Actor – Horror" categories for their roles in Scream 2, respectively. Arquette also won Teen Choice Awards and Blockbuster Entertainment Award for his role in Scream 3 in the "Choice Chemistry" (along with Cox) and "Favorite Actor – Horror" (Internet Only) categories, respectively.
Parker Posey's role as Jennifer Jolie received near unanimous praise from critics, with The New York Times' Elvis Mitchell saying "[Posey] alone makes the picture worth seeing. Dizzy and nakedly – hilariously – ambitious, she's so flighty she seems to be levitating." So well received was her performance that she received an MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance nomination in 2000 for the role but lost to Adam Sandler for Big Daddy (1999). Year Ceremony Category Nominee(s) Associatedfilm Result 1996 23rd Saturn Awards Best Actress Neve Campbell Scream Best Supporting Actor Skeet Ulrich Best Supporting Actress Drew Barrymore 1997 6th MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance Neve Campbell 18th Golden Raspberry Awards Worst New Star Tori Spelling Scream 2 1998 24th Saturn Awards Best Actress Neve Campbell Best Supporting Actress Courteney Cox 7th MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance Neve Campbell 4th Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actor – Horror David Arquette Favorite Actress – Horror Neve Campbell Courteney Cox Favorite Supporting Actor – Horror Jamie Kennedy Favorite Supporting Actress – Horror Jada Pinkett-Smith 2000 9th MTV Movie Awards Best Comedic Performance Parker Posey Scream 3 Best Female Performance Neve Campbell 2001 7th Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actor – Horror David Arquette Favorite Actress – Horror Neve Campbell Courteney Cox 2011 6th Scream Awards Best Horror Actress Neve Campbell Scream 4 Best Cameo Kristen Bell and Anna Paquin Fright Meter Awards Best Supporting Actress Hayden Panettiere 2022 30th MTV Movie & TV Awards Most Frightened Performance Jenna Ortega Scream 2023Golden Scythe Horror AwardsBest Actress in a Leading RoleMelissa BarreraScream VI 31st MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Fight Courteney Cox (Gale Weathers) vs. Ghostface 2024 4th Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Actress in a Horror Movie Jenna Ortega
References