---
title: "Scream 7"
year: 2026
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/scream-7"
fi1m_id: "scream-7"
imdb_id: "tt27047903"
tmdb_id: 1159559
wikidata_id: "Q124758309"
fi1m_score: 48
critics_score: 46
critics_reviews: 8
published: "2026-09-09"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:44.689298+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Scream 7 (2026)

Directed by Kevin Williamson · 1h 54m · MPA R · Horror, Mystery, Crime

## Identity

Scream 7

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/scream-7
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** scream-7
- **IMDb ID:** tt27047903
- **TMDB ID:** 1159559
- **Wikidata ID:** Q124758309
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27047903/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1159559, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124758309

**Fi1m score: 48** · Critics 46 from 8 reviews

*In a sentence:* The killer has seen every horror film ever made; the victims, seven entries in, still have not

> Kevin Williamson directs his own script at last, Neve Campbell is back and on form, and the film around them is the least sharp the series has produced. Competent murders in the dark, suspects you will spot from the sofa. For the faithful, and only just.

## Synopsis

Sidney (Neve Campbell) has a new surname, a husband, Mark (Joel McHale), and a daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), who has grown up knowing what her mother survived. Then a phone rings, the Voice (Roger L. Jackson) is on the other end, and someone in a mask begins killing people who know the family. Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) comes back, as do Mindy and Chad Meeks-Martin (Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding), the twins who kept the last two films’ scorecards. Around Tatum is a set of friends and neighbours (Anna Camp, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Asa Germann, Mckenna Grace), any of whom might be holding the knife. Kevin Williamson, who wrote the first film, directs for the first time.

## Review

Kevin Williamson wrote [*Scream*](https://film.one/film/scream) in 1996 and Wes Craven directed it, and the joke of that film was that its characters had seen the same horror films as the audience. Thirty years on Williamson is directing for the first time, from a script he wrote with Guy Busick, on a story by Busick and James Vanderbilt. Sidney (Neve Campbell) is Sidney Evans now, with a husband, Mark (Joel McHale), a daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), and a life that has been quiet for long enough to be suspicious. The phone rings, as it must. It is watchable, it is not stupid, and it is the first entry in the series with almost nothing to say about horror films.

The opening states the problem. It is a long prologue about the rules of the genre and the rules of this series, and it goes on well past the point where the rules are established. The 1996 film did this in three minutes because nobody had done it before. Here the routine runs and runs, and by its end we were already checking how much of the 114 minutes remained.

Campbell is the reason the film is not worse. She plays Sidney as a woman who has been managing fear for so long that it has become a set of habits, checking doors, choosing where to sit, and Williamson gives her room to do it without a speech. When Courteney Cox arrives as Gale Weathers the film briefly has a pulse. Thirty years of playing these parts has given them a shorthand, and every scene they share is better played than the scenes around it. We were gladder to see them than we expected to be, and we noticed that the gladness was doing work the script should have done.

The murders are the trouble. Tim Ives and Ramsey Nickell shoot most of them at night in a murk that hides the layout of each house, so that we often could not tell which door the mask had come through, and a stalking scene where you cannot read the space is not frightening, only noisy. Jim Page cuts them to a similar shape each time, approach, lunge, escape, so that the fourth plays like the second. We were bored by the halfway mark, and then we were cross about being bored, because these are the scenes the series exists for.

The younger cast are given costumes and a grudge each and not much more. Anna Camp, Celeste O’Connor, Sam Rechner, Asa Germann and Mckenna Grace stand around Tatum as a ring of suspects, and the film points at them so evenly that two announce themselves early. Isabel May is fine, and stuck; the script wants Tatum to be the new Sidney and keeps handing the interesting decisions to the old one. Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding, so good in the two previous films, are here mostly to remind us of them.

Marco Beltrami, who scored the original, returns with a score that leans on his old themes, and John Collins’s production design and Leigh Leverett’s costumes keep everything in the flat suburban key of 1996. This is a return to the first film’s ground, made by the man who drew the map. What it lacks is the thing that made the first film matter, a point of view about the genre it was standing in. Roger L. Jackson’s Voice still asks its questions down the line. Nobody in this film has an answer he has not heard.

Most critics have landed roughly where we have, divided between the mildly entertained and the fed up. Against the series’ own best, the first film and the last two, this is the entry with the least on its mind. Against the run of ordinary slasher sequels it is tidy and acted by grown-ups.

See it if you have seen the other six and would feel odd stopping now; the 18 certificate is honestly earned and Campbell will not let you down. Everyone else can wait, except for the surprise of the suspects, which the film has already given away.

*Fi1m score 48, published 9 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

The reviews for Scream 7 land between lukewarm and hostile, and nobody is prepared to call it a success. The praise clusters almost entirely around one thing: Neve Campbell’s return as Sidney Prescott, which most critics find lively and well judged, with several enjoying her scenes alongside Courteney Cox. A handful of the kills are called inventive, and Kevin Williamson, directing for the first time, gets occasional credit for a clever framing choice.

The reservations are consistent and settle on the script: the meta wit that defined the series is thinner, the suspects are obvious, the reveals feel arbitrary, and the younger cast leave little impression. The spread is fairly narrow, running from grudging three-star notices to one-star dismissals. The Telegraph and Collider both call it the worst film in the series. Deadline and Radio Times are the warmest, finding a crowd-pleaser executed with some zest. Nobody thinks it is as sharp as the original.

## Straight answers

**Is Scream 7 worth watching?**

*Scream 7* is worth watching only if you have seen the other six and would feel odd stopping now; we scored it 48. Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox are on form and the film is tidy and acted by grown-ups, but the murders are shot in a murk that hides the space, the suspects announce themselves early, and it has almost nothing to say about horror films.

**How long is Scream 7, and what is it rated?**

*Scream 7* runs 1h 54m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a horror and mystery film.

**Where can I watch Scream 7 in the US?**

*Scream 7* is streaming on Paramount+, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and The Roku Channel in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $5.99. It leaves The Roku Channel on 28 September. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Scream 7, and is it suitable for children?**

*Scream 7* carries a UK 18 certificate that is honestly earned, and it is not suitable for children. It is a slasher film built around repeated stalk-and-stab murders, most of them at night, so the squeamish should stay away. Older teenagers used to the series will find it less frightening than noisy, since the scenes are hard to read.

**How does Scream 7 compare to Scream VI?**

*Scream 7* is the weaker of the two. [*Scream VI*](https://film.one/film/scream-vi) has two of the series' best set pieces in years, even if the talk between them is tired and its mystery is its weakest; the seventh film has no set pieces of that quality, and its murders play to a similar shape each time. The newer film does have Sidney back, and Campbell's return is its chief pleasure.

**Do you need to have seen the other Scream films before Scream 7?**

*Scream 7* is not a good place to start, and it rewards viewers who know the earlier films. The plot follows on from Sidney's history, brings back Gale Weathers and the Meeks-Martin twins, and leans on Marco Beltrami's old themes and the suburban look of the 1996 original. A newcomer can follow the murders but will miss most of the point, and the first film is the one to begin with.

**What should I watch after Scream 7?**

After *Scream 7*, try [*Scream*](https://film.one/film/scream) (1996, Fi1m 86): The original, when knowing the rules was still a new and frightening idea. Then [*The Cabin in the Woods*](https://film.one/film/the-cabin-in-the-woods) (2011, Fi1m 80): Five students, one cabin, and an explanation for every horror cliché you have ever groaned at.

**What order should I watch the Scream films in?**

Release order is the safe choice for Scream, and it is the order [our collection page](https://film.one/collections/scream) lists them in. *Scream 7* is the most recent of the 7 Scream titles on Fi1m; before it comes [*Scream VI*](https://film.one/film/scream-vi). [The full order.](https://film.one/collections/scream.md)

### Reviews we read (17)

- **Radio Times**, Terry Staunton (3/5): The critic finds faults, plot holes and a dubious ending but praises the film as a crowd-pleaser executed with zest. Williamson's direction and the return of Neve Campbell as Sidney are singled out for adding style, wit and self-referential fun to the formula. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scream-7-review/)
- **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis (60/100, inferred): The mix of yuks and yucks isn’t as tasty as before, but after 30 years the unkillable series hasn’t entirely bled out. It revisits the franchise’s greatest hits with a reunion cast including Williamson’s directorial debut, but features an overlong meta opener and disposable characters who ignore horror-movie rules. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/movies/scream-7-review-neve-campbell.html)
- **The Guardian** (55/100, inferred): The film is a scrappy but mostly entertaining chapter that returns to Neve Campbell and Kevin Williamson but feels like it is treading water. It offers inventive kills and some strong returns for familiar characters but lacks the sharp meta-commentary expected from the franchise creator. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/26/scream-7-review-neve-campbell)
- **Variety**, Owen Gleiberman (50/100, inferred): Williamson returns the series to its roots in a straightforward, analog way that has enough shocks and yocks to keep audiences turning out for a weekend. The result is a back-to-basics sequel that nods at being convoluted but is really just a little too basic, lacking the meta scholarship or inventive scares of prior entries. [Read](https://variety.com/2026/film/reviews/scream-7-review-neve-campbell-kevin-williamson-1236672637/)
- **The Telegraph** (2/5): The seventh film is the worst in the series and one to miss, with an underwhelming finale and obvious suspects throughout. Williamson directs but fails to deliver twists or energy that land effectively. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2026/02/27/scream-7-review/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Amy Nicholson (30/100, inferred): The convoluted plot leaves the series limping despite Neve Campbell’s return as the trauma-scarred Sidney; the fun isn’t there. Arbitrary reveals, characters making dumb choices, and a script that burns energy on surprises suggest Williamson may be trying to kill the franchise off himself. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2026-02-26/scream-7-neve-campbell-courteney-cox-joel-mchale-kevin-williamson)
- **Empire**, Jamie Graham: The film has solid emotional underpinning and a handful of ace scenes, but is no match for the original Scream or elevated horror like The Babadook. It praises the return of Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott and some effective stalk-and-slash set-pieces. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/scream-7/)
- **Financial Times**, Jonathan Romney (★☆☆☆☆): The film leans heavily on nostalgia but repeats the same formula without reinvigoration, making the series feel its age despite Neve Campbell's lively return. It goes lighter on meta-commentary than usual and comes across as bloodless despite the gore. [Read](https://www.ft.com/content/179db257-94dc-4ee4-bd21-bbb408e07f58)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck: The critic concludes the film is creatively dead and the franchise should end, as its mechanics feel numbingly familiar and stale. Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox provide some lift amid the rote proceedings and lack of flair from the younger cast. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/scream-7-review-neve-campbell-kevin-williamson-1236514871/)
- **The Times** (★★☆☆☆): Scream 7 is a bland and rote patch-up job that removes the franchise's signature irony and sharp cultural awareness, making it feel like just another bad horror movie. Returning stars Campbell and Cox are welcome but the overall effort is a disappointing bum note. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/scream-7-review-neve-campbell-courteney-cox-mxz9v8mbg)
- **Total Film**, Jordan Farley: Never as sharp or as smart as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve. The review highlights some inventive moments amid its shortcomings. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/scream-7-review/)
- **Vulture**, Bilge Ebiri: The review deems the film a turgid exercise in franchise obligations that lacks the wit and conceptual justification of prior entries. Dim lighting and repetitive kills add confusion rather than menace, with little charm or creativity in the set pieces. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/scream-7-review-nothing-matters-and-everything-sucks.html)
- **Den of Geek**, David Crow (2/5): The critic finds Scream 7 a flavorless and banal legacy sequel that lacks the wit, metatextual irony, and visual flair of previous entries, despite Kevin Williamson directing. They single out Neve Campbell’s spirited return as Sidney Prescott for praise, but note the film ultimately feels like a heartless cash-grab. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/scream-7-review-finally-a-bad-one/)
- **Collider**, Ross Bonaime (30/100, inferred): The critic calls Scream 7 the worst entry in the franchise, arguing it is hollow and relies excessively on nostalgia for the original film without offering anything new or insightful about horror. They single out some clever directorial framing choices by Williamson and the chemistry between Neve Campbell and Courteney Cox as the main points of praise amid an otherwise tired effort. [Read](https://collider.com/scream-7-review-neve-campbell/)
- **Deadline**, Pete Hammond: The critic finds Scream 7 a fun, nostalgia-tinged sequel that benefits from Kevin Williamson finally directing his own material. Neve Campbell's return as Sidney Prescott is singled out as indispensable and perfectly pitched. [Read](https://deadline.com/2026/02/scream-7-review-neve-campbell-sequel-horror-franchise-1236737025/)
- **/Film**, Jeremy Mathai (4.5 out of 10): The critic calls the film an overly nostalgic and perfunctory sequel that lacks the original's cleverness, the flair of earlier entries, and recent crowd-pleasing thrills, leaving the franchise on life support. Memorable gory set pieces stand out but fail to compensate for predictability and deficiencies elsewhere. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/2110549/scream-7-review/)
- **The Wrap**: The critic calls the film a competent but unremarkable and uninspired sequel that functions mainly as an apology letter to Neve Campbell. It singles out the film's narrow focus on Sidney's greatness and lack of new identity or momentum. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/scream-7-review-neve-campbell/)

## Details

- **Director:** Kevin Williamson
- **Director:** Kevin Williamson
- **Screenplay:** Guy Busick, Kevin Williamson
- **Story:** Guy Busick, James Vanderbilt
- **Cinematography:** Tim Ives, Ramsey Nickell
- **Editor:** Jim Page
- **Music:** Marco Beltrami
- **Production design:** John Collins
- **Costume design:** Leigh Leverett
- **Producer:** William Sherak, Paul Neinstein, James Vanderbilt
- **Cast:** Neve Campbell as Sidney Evans; Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers; Isabel May as Tatum Evans; Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin; Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin; Roger L. Jackson as 'The Voice' (voice); Anna Camp as Jessica Bowden; Joel McHale as Mark Evans
- **Runtime:** 1h 54m
- **Certificate (MPA):** R
- **Release (the US):** 27 February 2026
- **Genres:** Horror, Mystery, Crime
- **Part of:** [Scream](https://film.one/collections/scream.md) · 7 of 7
- **Budget:** $45 million
- **Box office:** $214 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g8OciWNJn4

## Where to watch in the US

- Paramount+: streaming
- Apple TV: add-on, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd, leaving 2026-09-28
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $5.99, uhd
- Apple TV: rent $5.99, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $7.99, uhd
- Apple TV: buy $7.99, hd

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, DE, DK, EC, ES, FI, FR, GB, HR, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PT, RS, SE, SI, TR, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Scream* (1996), Fi1m 86: The original, when knowing the rules was still a new and frightening idea. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/scream.md)
- *Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon* (2006): A mockumentary slasher that takes the genre’s mechanics apart with real affection.
- *The Cabin in the Woods* (2011), Fi1m 80: Five students, one cabin, and an explanation for every horror cliché you have ever groaned at. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-cabin-in-the-woods.md)
- *Deep Red* (1975): Argento’s Italian whodunit: a masked killer, a witness who saw too much, colours you can taste.
- *Bodies Bodies Bodies* (2022): Rich kids, a party game and a storm; the murder mystery as group chat gone wrong.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/scream-7