Top 10 Scariest Moments in the Scream Franchise

This is one fun slasher series. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten moments in the Scream franchise.



For this list, we’ll be ranking moments from the “Scream” film series based on their impact within their respective movies and their legacy over time. We’ll only be considering moments from the franchise however, so the TV series is excluded. Note: there will be spoilers aplenty.

“Scream 4” (2011)



When it was announced that there would be a fourth “Scream”, we all assumed that Sidney would finally bite it. We think the filmmakers played on this idea, because Sidney would just. not. die. And it was awesome! After being stabbed in the stomach, Sidney is taken to the hospital. It’s here that Jill strangles her, punches her stab wound and throws her into a glass cabinet. However, Sid is one tough lady, as she regains her composure and defibrillates Jill’s freaking head! Yeah, Emma Roberts’ performance could have been a bit better, and the “Clear” line was a bit cringey , but the scene is equal parts horrifying and badass and sent the series off in style.

“Scream 3” (2000)

“Scream 3” is the black sheep of the “Scream” franchise. It’s a little dull, the kills aren’t as exciting and the meta element is sorely lacking. That said, it’s not without its moments. In this scene, our heroes desperately wait to read their fates before the house explodes in spectacular fashion. Though Tom’s use of the lighter to read the script is questionable, considering there seems to still be quite a bit of light around, we also really want to know how the killer was so sure his victim would use a lighter. We forget all that in an instant though, as the gigantic explosion that immediately follows is so badass.

“Scream 2” (1997)

Dewey seems to be many people’s favorite character. He’s an endearingly bumbling officer who does what he can to protect the ones he loves. So watching him die... is just too much. In this scene, Dewey finds Gale, who is hiding from the killer. However, she doesn’t hear him calling out to her because she’s in a room that’s soundproofed, and he is stabbed from behind. The whole soundproof concept is a genius idea, and the combination of music and Courteney Cox’s tortured acting make this a highly emotional scene. Sure it was his second backstabbing, and he somehow managed to survive again - but for whatever reason, none of that really takes away from the scene.

“Scream 2” (1997)

If there was one breakout star from the original “Scream,” it was Jamie Kennedy. His portrayal of Randy was hilarious, and the character quickly became a fan favorite due to his meta-knowledge of horror movies. Luckily for everyone, he returned for the sequel. Unluckily, he didn’t make it to the credits. His death was a real shocker; it’s unpredictable, as he’s grabbed from behind in the middle of a speech, and it was also just surprising to see such a beloved and intelligent character taken down so quickly and easily. He returned in tape form for “Scream 3,” but that does nothing to alleviate the pain of losing him.

“Scream” (1996)

In most slasher movies, you have your single boogeyman: Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, etc. Therefore, we were all expecting “Scream” to have one baddie, especially considering its metafictional concept. Imagine our surprise when it was revealed that there were not one, but TWO villains! And one of them was so obvious that it came as a complete surprise… if that makes sense. It was not only a huge twist, but also a unique and fresh take on the tired slasher genre. The “Scream” franchise would keep trying to top this twist, but nothing beats the original. That said, the Jill reveal in “Scream 4” was pretty darn good.

“Scream 2” (1997)

We all know that horror movie sequels usually suck. Heck, “Scream 2” devotes an entire scene to the idea. However, we soon realized that we were still in good hands after witnessing the movie’s thrilling opening. The scene sees Maureen and Phil attending the premiere of Stab, the movie-within-the-movie. However, things go awry when Phil is stabbed through the ear and Maureen is killed by one of a hundred Ghostfaces while watching the movie. The concept of a cinema full of Ghostfaces is intriguing and unsettling, especially considering how easy it is for them to blend in. This series really knows how to open a movie.

“Scream 4” (2011)



Here’s another case in point. Screenwriter Kevin Williamson didn’t return as a writer for “Scream 3,” and his absence was painfully obvious. However, the series immediately gets back on track with “Scream 4” due to its original and highly entertaining opening sequence. In the first scene, we’re treated to curiously bad dialogue and acting before it’s revealed to be the intentionally bad opening of a movie-within-a-movie. OK, cute, you got us. THEN we’re treated to a metafictional speech about how cliché and tiring horror franchises are before getting quite the surprise. And then THAT is revealed to be ANOTHER false opening. It takes meta to a whole new level, and really, isn’t that what the Scream franchise is all about?

“Scream 2” (1997)

The Scream franchise’s horror mostly comes from sudden brutal stabbings, so it’s refreshing to see the movie take its time and treat us to a scene full of tension here. After Ghostface crashes a cop car, Sidney and Hallie are stuck in the backseat, which forces them to slowly climb over the unconscious killer. We’re expecting some sort of cheap jump scare, but nothing happens – it’s just good old-fashioned suspense. We wish the franchise did more scenes like this, because boy is it ever scary. We can’t help but hold our breath and cover our eyes.

“Scream” (1996)

While watching “Halloween,” Randy pauses to tell the party the rules of surviving a horror movie, which includes not having sex, not drinking, and not saying, “I’ll be right back.” What makes it even better is that “Scream” breaks the rules – Stu says, “I’ll be right back” and is not attacked (as he’s the killer), Randy drinks, while Sidney has sex, but neither die. (xref) This concept would continue with the sequel rules, but by that point, we were expecting it. No one knew “Scream” would reinvent the slasher genre through its own self-awareness, and the rules are a big part of that success.





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



Carrie Fisher’s Cameo

“Scream 3” (2000)





Doggy Door Murder

“Scream” (1996)





Derek Sings to Sid

“Scream 2” (1997)

“Scream” (1996)

When it comes to Scream’s best moments, there’s just no competing with its opening scene. It has become a classic ever since and is widely considered to be one of the best openings in horror history. The scene is a perfect example of how to do tension. It starts with innocent flirtation, becomes a little more unsettling over time, and ends in bombastic fashion with Casey’s disemboweled corpse hanging from a tree. Yeah, “Scream” pulled a “Psycho” on us by killing its megastar within the first 15minutes.The scene was so terrifying that it allegedly caused an influx of purchases in devices with caller ID within the United States. It’s truly unforgettable.