Critics’ reviews

Scream VI (2023)

22 reviews from 22 publications. Critics’ score 66: 9 positive, 4 mixed, 2 negative.

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66
Positive
9
Mixed
4
Negative
2

Most critics like Scream VI, and the praise lands in the same place almost every time: the set pieces. The subway sequence is named again and again as the film’s best stretch, with the opening murder and a bodega attack close behind, and several reviews credit the move to New York with giving a tired formula some fresh danger in crowds. The performances are the other reliable strength, particularly Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega as the Carpenter sisters. The reservations cluster around the meta humour, which even admirers find worn thin, and a sense that the film has little to say beyond the fact that the franchise must continue. The spread is wide. The i Paper dissents hardest, finding an anaemic self-parody with skin-deep characters, and Screen Daily sees a by-the-numbers slasher leaning on nostalgia. Nobody argues it is frightening; the case for it rests on craft and pace.

Empire
8 March 2023 · Olly Richards
80*

The critic notes it is tough without Sidney but praises the directors' distinct nastier style and creative sequences like the train of Ghostfaces. It is seen as inventive and entertaining, best when having fun rather than rewriting rules.

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The Guardian
8 March 2023
80*

The film is a standout slasher sequel with plenty of fun, gory set pieces and a smart tonal balance that keeps it sprightly despite franchise fatigue. The directors find their groove immediately, delivering surprising twists and strong sibling dynamics among the cast.

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Evening Standard
8 March 2023 · Charlotte O'Sullivan
75*

The critic finds Scream VI to be gory, tense and funny top-quality fan service that keeps secrets well and gives juicy roles to women while offering modern cultural observations. She notes it gets silly at times with recycled twists and is never as scary as the original but still recommends continuing the series.

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Financial Times
9 March 2023 · Jonathan Romney
75*

The sequel returns to form with novelty from the New York relocation and lively execution that stays one step ahead of the formula. It is genially smartarse, highlighted by a cannily orchestrated subway scene.

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Vulture
10 March 2023 · Bilge Ebiri
68*

The self-referential jokes have grown tired, but the horror set pieces stand out as mean and effective, particularly the subway scene and opening murder. Despite reservations about endless sequels, the film grips enough to satisfy series fans.

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The Hollywood Reporter
8 March 2023 · Frank Scheck
65*

The film delivers the expected gory kills and meta commentary on horror tropes but feels like more of the same rather than cutting-edge. It praises elaborate set pieces like the subway sequence and some witty dialogue while noting the franchise's durability with fans.

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Radio Times
8 March 2023 · ★★★ · Terry Staunton
60

The critic notes that Scream VI gives the franchise a new lease of life with a fresh New York location and strong performances, particularly from Jenna Ortega, while maintaining the meta elements and twists.

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The Telegraph
8 March 2023
50*

The film continues the tired formula of the franchise but relocates to New York and offers one or two surprises along with some strong set pieces amid the gore. It feels like Murder, She Wrote with added blood and meta commentary.

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Screen Daily
8 March 2023
40*

The review describes it as essentially a by-the-numbers slasher that relies on nostalgia and gore, with the franchise showing cracks despite fan appeal; it notes some interest in the legacy of trauma but finds this drowned out by familiar elements.

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The i Paper
10 March 2023 · Geoffrey Macnab
30*

The critic calls the film anaemic self-parody that has squeezed the blood out of the franchise, with skin-deep characterisation and repetitive shocks. Slick set pieces and strong performances from Barrera and Ortega are praised, but the overall verdict is that a fresh formula is needed.

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Los Angeles Times
8 March 2023 · Katie Walsh

The critic calls it a tasty new slice of horror that hits the spot with big-city frights and moves the franchise forward. Praises the brawny style, the subway sequence as suspense filmmaking, and Melissa Barrera as the evolved final girl.

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The New York Times
8 March 2023 · Jason Zinoman

The critic finds that meta commentary and Ghostface return but the weight of franchise obligations ultimately drags the film down. Some nicely staged vignettes provide meta commentary on scary movies.

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The Times
8 March 2023 · ★★★★☆ · Kevin Maher

This gutsy postmodern horror delivers tense and brutal set pieces, including a standout subway sequence, proving the franchise could run and run. It evolves beyond past entries with inventive danger-in-crowds concepts.

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Variety
8 March 2023 · Owen Gleiberman

The critic finds it a pretty good thriller that lives up to the rules of a bigger, showier franchise sequel with fresh ways to heighten scares in New York. Notes strong staging and performances but says it goes on too long.

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Collider
8 March 2023 · B+ · Ross Bonaime
83

The critic finds Scream VI a strong entry that functions as a requel to Scream 2, moving the action to New York while honoring the series' history and subverting expectations in fun ways. Praise goes to the new cast stepping up, inventive kills, and the balance of nostalgia with fresh energy.

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Consequence
25 April 2023 · B+ · Clint Worthington
83

Scream VI is a vital, deeply fun follow-up that takes the series in new directions while honoring its legacy, with well-paced action, inventive kills, and strong character work for the core cast. It bounces back from the previous film's weaknesses with a lock on the mystery tone and gags that land for fans.

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NME
8 March 2023 · ★★★★ · Alex Flood
80

The critic praises the aggressive new Ghostface and the strong chemistry between the Carpenter sisters but criticizes tiresome meta references, exposition dumps, and a confusing subplot. The verdict calls it a bloody, thrilling ride overall.

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Den of Geek
9 March 2023 · ★★★½ · Joe George
70

The critic praises the brutal set pieces and fresh horror filmmaking in the New York setting but notes perfunctory character development and underdeveloped themes. The verdict highlights the electrifying kill scenes as pure horror perfection.

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The Ringer
10 March 2023 · Miles Surrey
70*

Scream VI delivers bloody thrills and creative set pieces in locations like a bodega and subway, while reflecting on franchise IP demands in a meta way that feels cynical. The critic notes the enormous body count and pulse-pounding sequences but sees the film's concession that the franchise matters more than characters as potentially disheartening for future entries.

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Deadline
8 March 2023 · Pete Hammond

The critic praises the increased violence and body count, swift pacing by the directors, and a well-chosen cast that helps deliver a bigger, more ambitious sequel. Fans will enjoy how it builds on the 2022 reinvention with more Grand Guignol thrills in an abandoned movie palace climax.

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Film Stories
8 March 2023 · Lauren Miles

The film is good fun with strong suspenseful set pieces in the New York setting but loses some stakes and fails to deliver meaningful commentary like prior entries.

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The Wrap
8 March 2023

The critic notes reliable meta-humor, gory murders, exciting set pieces and delightful characters but finds it hard to shake that the film makes a lot of noise without much to say, settling into familiar territory as a consistently thrilling but not particularly impactful amusement park ride.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate