Top 10 Funniest Scream Moments

“Scream” (1996)

Jamie Kennedy and Matthew Lillard turn in arguably the two funniest performances across the “Scream” franchise, so what better way to kick off this list than with a scene involving the two of them? With the town of Woodsboro in a frenzy over the recent killings, Randy’s video store has a run in the mass-murder section. So like any good friend who’s secretly a murderer, Stu comes in to distract Randy while he’s stocking the shelves. The dialogue in “Scream” movies is always at its best when characters are speculating whodunit, and this scene does not disappoint, as Stu’s theories get Randy all riled up in the best way imaginable.

“Scream 2” (1997)

Suffice it to say, we’re gonna be seeing a lot of Randy on this list. Seeing as “Scream 2” is the first sequel, the film was naturally going to deliver some choice commentary on sequels in the horror genre, as exemplified by the students in this scene. Hang on, can we actually roll the tape on “Aliens” real quick? Sheesh, looks like even the biggest film geeks can get it wrong. Anyway, this open debate is priceless and features small parts from some of the ‘90s biggest TV stars like “Buffy” herself Sarah Michelle Gellar and Joshua Jackson of “Dawson’s Creek” fame. Honestly, who among us didn’t want to enroll in a film class after seeing this scene?

“Scream 4” (2011)

Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers was absolutely inspired casting, and she proves she’s still got it fifteen years after the original with this scene. Struggling with being a small-town writer, Gale immediately puts on her reporter hat looking to solve the new string of murders. But as she marches into the police station for intel, she locks horns with Deputy Judy, who seems to be a little too comfortable with Sheriff Dewey with her lemon squares. No, that’s not an innuendo. Outside, Gale’s approached by Sidney’s publicist Rebecca, played by an always terrific Alison Brie. Rebecca perhaps a bit too like a proto Gale, our Gale makes sure to put her in her place.

“Scream 2” (1997)

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this entry, we have to highlight this hilarious line for any of you “Friends” fanatics. Okay, moving on. When the gang gets a call from Ghostface, Gale and Dewey task Randy with keeping him on the line while they try to find the caller. What follows is a hilarious exchange as Randy uses his trademark sense of humor to deflect away his rising fear. Meanwhile, Gale and Dewey get some hilarious moments of their own as they incorrectly hassle strangers talking on cell phones. Sadly, the scene ends in tragedy as Randy gets jumped and killed by Ghostface, but at least he got to go out on one of his classic rants.

“Scream 4” (2011)

Ever since the first “Scream,” the opening scenes have given us some great sequences as recognizable celebs cameo before getting the axe. “Scream 4” takes things to the next level by including a trio of scenes stacked on top of each other. The first shows Lucy Hale from “Pretty Little Liars” and Shenae Grimes from “90210” getting texted and killed by Ghostfaces, but this turns out to be the opening to “Stab 6,” being watched by legendary actors Kristen Bell and Anna Paquin. They get some great commentary too, before they too are revealed to be characters from “Stab 7,” being watched by actual characters from “Scream 4.” We honestly didn’t think the franchise could get any more meta.

“Scream 3” (2000)

Even from beyond the grave Randy is too funny not to make an appearance. Prior to his death, Randy recorded an instructional video on the nature of film trilogies just in case he didn’t live long enough to see a third killing spree. His sister Martha delivers the tape to Sidney, Gale and Dewey, and immediately things take a turn for the comedic. We don’t know exactly how Randy knew Dewey would interject exactly when he would, but we are not complaining. It honestly makes us wish Randy could’ve gotten the Dewey treatment and been shown surviving on a stretcher somewhere. But we guess any Randy is better than no Randy.

“Scream” (1996)

Ghostface killers have always prided themselves on taunting their victims over the phone, so how great is it when Sidney manages to sneak away and put Billy and Stu on the other end of the line? At one point, Billy takes the phone from Stu before slamming it down in anger, but the fake blood on actor Skeet Ulrich’s hand accidentally caused him to hit Matthew Lillard with it, giving us this great improvised line. Immediately after, Stu gets another hilarious line when he shows he’s really not Ghostface material at his core. Honestly, with a performance this good, we can see why so many fans have theorized that Stu actually survived having his head crushed by a TV.

“Scream 2” (1997)

With the fictional “Stab” movie recreating the events of the first “Scream,” you gotta know screenwriter Kevin Williamson would have some fun getting even more meta. As much as we adore Heather Graham stepping into the Drew Barrymore role, the pièce de résistance has to come when Dewey and Randy watch a clip from the movie. Remember in the first movie when the characters talk about fan casting? Well, they actually got Tori Spelling to play Sidney in “Stab,” and what follows is a hilarious beat-by-beat recreation of a scene from “Scream,” also starring Luke Wilson as Billy. We so wish we could’ve actually seen a clip of David Schwimmer playing Dewey.

“Scream 3” (2000)

Parker Posey’s Jennifer Jolie was a hilarious foil to Gale. And gone too soon, we might add. But their best bit comes when their investigation brings them to a Carrie Fisher lookalike, played by the actual Carrie Fisher. Fisher was a titan of the industry; that much is common knowledge. But it’s little scenes like these that make us love her even more as she shows she wasn’t above poking a little fun at herself, too. “Scream 3” is often considered the weakest of the original trilogy, but it makes a case for the funniest, and though we never thought we’d say it, we have Carrie Fisher to thank for that.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Look Behind You, “Scream” (1996)
Jamie Kennedy’s Randy Tries to Get Jamie Lee Curtis to Turn Around, but He’s One to Talk

Gale Meets Jay & Silent Bob, “Scream 3” (2000)
Fun Fact: Wes Craven Returned the Cameo in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”

Director Cameo, “Scream” (1996)
Speaking of Craven, Here He’s a Janitorial Freddy Krueger

Trevor Blocks Charlie & Kirby, “Scream 4” (2011)
Honestly, Kirby Was Probably Better off Not Kissing the Guy Who’d Later Kill Her

Gale Criticizes Kenny, “Scream” (1996)
We Love Gale, but Boy Did She Used to Be Mean

“Scream” (1996)

It wouldn’t be a “Scream” movie without someone spouting off a new batch of rules, and this is where it all started. Though we all know the standard horror movie rules now - and we probably did back in 1996 - it was still a breath of fresh air to get a slasher movie where the characters were just as savvy as we are. Randy loves nothing more than to talk about the genre. While he can never seem to find the right audience, that doesn’t stop him from letting his geek flag fly. Capping off the scene comes perhaps the best series of lines in any “Scream” movie, and is a great way to send us out on.