The Scream movies started out as the 1990s’ answer to traditional horror films. With its mix of comedic and self-ironic nods to classic horror tropes, to its spectacular kills and the iconic Ghostface mask, the Scream franchise solidified itself as an enduring addition to horror capable of reinventing itself as often as the Ghostface killer.
Whether you’re gearing up for the Halloween season, or just want a cosy evening full of both nostalgic and new jump scares, the Scream franchise makes for perfect rewatching in any season. Check out the JustWatch guide to how to watch the Scream franchise in order, and find out where you can stream each instalment below!
How to watch the Scream franchise in order of release
Iconic horror director Wes Craven’s first Scream splattered across cinema screens in 1996, delighting and terrifying teens and adults across the globe with its tongue-in-cheek approach mixed with proper slasher elements. The film introduced audiences to ultimate survivors Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), and Dewey Riley (David Arquette), who are time and again terrorised by a knife-wielding serial killer wearing a Ghostface mask in the fictional small town of Woodsboro, California.
The 1997 sequel was even better received, as it doubled down on the self-referential irony and ratcheted up the over-the-top gore. Two more sequels directed by Craven continuing the story were released between 2000 and 2011. Wes Craven sadly passed away in 2015, and it wasn’t until 2022 that a new directorial team (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett) braved reviving the film series.
- Scream (1996)
- Scream 2 (1997)
- Scream 3 (2000)
- Scream 4 (2011)
- Scream: The TV Series (2015 – 2019)
- Scream (2022)
- Scream VI (2023)
However, between 2015 and 2019 not all was quiet on the Scream front. A standalone television series was adapted and ran for three seasons. The series took place in Lakewood, Colorado, not the classic Woodsboro location, and follows the story of a new group of teens who are stalked by a masked killer. The series also made the controversial decision to change the classic Ghostface mask.
In 2022 directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett released their first Scream film, featuring a mix of the old guard (Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, and David Arquette as Dewey Riley) with a new generation (Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter, Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter, and others). In 2023, the new directorial duo released the next instalment, Scream VI, which brought the young protagonists and classic survivors to an all-new setting: New York City.
Where to watch the Scream movies online
Find out how (and where) to watch all of the Scream movies in order by scrolling down to the list below. The films are all available to stream across a variety of platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, ITVX, and more!
