Scream Franchise: Ghostface’s eerie question, “Do you like scary movies?” has taken a familiar turn our response to Wes Craven’s iconic masked serial killer has evolved into, “Yes! Unless, of course, it’s another ‘Scream’ sequel.”
This once captivating film series, born in 1996 as a clever and frightening take on the horror genre, has stumbled into mediocrity, cuteness, and groan-worthy predictability. What began with promising young stars has now become, some say, campy; I say it’s more of a snooze-o-rama.
A recent turn of events adds an unexpected twist to our ‘Scream’ saga. Actress Melissa Barrera, who portrayed Sam in the previous two movies, akin to a Sidney Prescott 2.0, was let go from “Scream 7” due to pro-Palestine social media posts deemed by Spyglass Media as “flagrantly crossing the line into hate speech.” Additionally, Jenna Ortega, Sam’s little sister Tara, won’t be returning for “7” due to her demanding schedule with the Netflix series “Wednesday.”
With these popular, young leads exiting the stage, one might hope for the curtain to fall on this franchise. However, that’s not the case. According to Deadline, writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick are reimagining the story, possibly incorporating past stars, including Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox.
Getting Campbell back on board might be a challenge. The 50-year-old actress, who appeared in the fifth movie, declined to return for the sixth due to salary disputes, stating that the offer didn’t match her 25-year contribution to the franchise.
Even if Campbell and Cox agree to return, one must question the need. Instead of coaxing former stars into stilted cameos, perhaps it’s time to bid farewell to this series. Its glory days are a distant memory. In the 2020s, “Scream” is mere millennial nostalgia, a cinematic Ring Pop. Its once-cutting-edge allure has faded, with “Scream 6” struggling to capture the essence of New York City in a lackluster portrayal of Montreal.
While cinematic horror evolves, “Scream” remains fixated on its flip phone era. The genre shines when embracing the present, as exemplified by films like “Get Out” and “M3GAN.”
“Scream 6” performed well at the box office, grossing $169 million worldwide. However, part of this success may be attributed to Ortega’s growing popularity. A seventh installment’s success is far from guaranteed, as audiences can be fickle, especially with scary movies. Consider the recent “Halloween” trilogy the longer it persisted, the more its box office waned.
Universal’s massive $400 million investment in the rights to produce three “Exorcist” films resulted in “The Exorcist: Believer” grossing $135 million worldwide and receiving unfavorable reviews in October. Perhaps it’s time for “Scream” to gracefully exit the stage.
Also read: North West’s Fashion Critique: Kim Kardashian Met Gala Style Unfiltered
Our Reader’s Queries
Will there be a Scream 7?
The upcoming seventh film in the franchise has faced a setback, with reports of some cast members not returning for the sequel. Get ready to dive into all the latest details about the upcoming Scream sequel.
How to watch Scream in order?
To watch Scream in release order, start with the original film from 1996, followed by Scream 2 in 1997, then Scream 3 in 2000, and Scream 4 (also known as Scre4m) in 2011. After that, check out Scream: The TV Series from 2015, Scream: Resurrection from 2019, and the upcoming Scream from 2022. Looking ahead, Scream VI is set to be released in 2023.
Is Scream 6 last one?
Confirmation has been received about the upcoming seventh film in the Scream series, with filming set to commence this year. Smooth progress could potentially lead to the release of yet another Scream film next year.
How many Scream movies are they planning to make?
The latest update as of 01/02/2024 reveals that the two recent SCREAM films, which hit the screens in 2022 and 2023, were major crowd-pleasers. The triumph of SCREAM VI paved the way for the inevitable seventh installment, which is currently in the works.