Scream (1996)

Last updated:
September 19, 2025

Wes Craven’s Scream (1996) reinvented the slasher genre with a sharp mix of horror, mystery, and meta-humor. Written by Kevin Williamson, the film plays with the rules of horror movies while still delivering genuine scares. Below is a complete breakdown of the film and everything surrounding it.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Infamous Opening Scene

The film opens with one of the most iconic horror introductions of all time. Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) receives a phone call from a mysterious man who quizzes her on horror movie trivia. What starts as playful banter quickly turns sinister as the caller threatens her boyfriend and ultimately kills both of them. This brutal and shocking opening sets the tone for the movie and establishes Ghostface as a terrifying killer.

Meeting Sidney Prescott

We’re introduced to Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a high school student still grieving the murder of her mother a year earlier. She lives with her father and tries to maintain a normal life, though the anniversary of her mother’s death looms over her. Sidney is surrounded by her boyfriend Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich), her best friend Tatum (Rose McGowan), horror fanatic Randy (Jamie Kennedy), and Tatum’s goofy cop brother Dewey (David Arquette).

The Town of Woodsboro in Panic

As more murders occur, the town becomes paralyzed with fear. News reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) sees the killings as an opportunity to revive her career and keeps pushing Sidney for comments, believing there’s more to her mother’s murder than people realize. Suspicion falls on multiple characters, especially Billy, who always seems to be nearby when Ghostface strikes.

The Rules of Horror

One of the film’s cleverest touches is the way Randy explains “the rules” of surviving a horror movie: never have sex, never drink or do drugs, and never say “I’ll be right back.” These meta references both parody and celebrate the genre, while ironically foreshadowing who will live and who will die.

The House Party Massacre

The climax takes place at a house party, where teens gather despite the curfew. Ghostface strikes again, and chaos erupts. In a sequence that mixes suspense with dark comedy, one by one the characters are hunted down.

Movie Ending

In the final act, Sidney discovers that the killers are not one but two: Billy Loomis and his best friend Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard). Billy reveals that he murdered Sidney’s mother, who was having an affair with his father, breaking apart his family. Billy and Stu’s plan is to kill Sidney and frame her father for the murders, making themselves appear as survivors.

They stab each other superficially to look like victims, but their plan unravels when Sidney turns the tables. Gale Weathers intervenes, surviving a near-death encounter, and Sidney outsmarts Billy and Stu by using horror clichés against them. She shoots Billy in the head after his supposed death, following Randy’s rule that “the killer always comes back for one last scare.”

The movie ends with Sidney safe but traumatized, her father freed, and the killers dead. Gale reports live from the bloody scene, already turning the night into a media story.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No, Scream (1996) does not have a post-credits scene. Once the credits roll, the story is complete.

Type of Movie

The film is a slasher horror movie with meta-humor and mystery elements. It is both a self-aware parody of horror tropes and a chilling murder mystery in its own right.

Cast

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott
Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher
Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers
David Arquette as Deputy Dewey Riley
Rose McGowan as Tatum Riley
Jamie Kennedy as Randy Meeks
Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Marco Beltrami, who infused the soundtrack with suspenseful orchestration that became a defining sound of late ’90s horror. The film also features ’90s rock tracks that cement its cultural identity.

Filming Locations

Most of the film was shot in Santa Rosa, California, particularly at Santa Rosa High School and various locations in Sonoma County. The rural California setting helped balance the seemingly peaceful suburban life with the lurking terror of Ghostface.

Awards and Nominations

While Scream didn’t sweep major awards, it was praised for revitalizing horror. It won the 1997 MTV Movie Award for Best Movie and earned nominations for its cast performances. It has since become recognized as one of the most influential horror films ever made.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Wes Craven initially passed on the project, thinking it was too violent, but changed his mind after realizing the script’s humor and intelligence.
Drew Barrymore was originally cast as Sidney but requested to play Casey, believing her unexpected early death would shock audiences.
Ghostface’s mask was discovered by chance in a box while location scouting. Its simplicity and eeriness made it perfect.
The movie’s working title was Scary Movie, later used for the parody franchise.

Inspirations and References

The film draws heavily from classic slasher movies like Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street (also directed by Craven), and Friday the 13th. It openly references these films while subverting their clichés.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

The script went through multiple rewrites, with alternate dialogue and slightly different death sequences. Some scenes were trimmed for violence to avoid an NC-17 rating. No alternate ending where a different killer is revealed has ever surfaced.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Scream was novelized for a young adult audience shortly after the film’s release. While faithful to the plot, the novel is less graphic in its descriptions of the murders.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Casey Becker’s opening death sequence.
Sidney’s first phone call from Ghostface, ending with the killer appearing inside her house.
The “horror movie rules” speech by Randy at the party.
Sidney donning the Ghostface costume to turn the tables on Stu.

Iconic Quotes

“Do you like scary movies?” – Ghostface
“Never say ‘I’ll be right back.’” – Randy
“We all go a little mad sometimes.” – Billy (quoting Psycho)

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

Billy’s surname Loomis references Dr. Loomis from Halloween.
Tatum’s death in the garage (trapped in a doggy door) was a nod to campy horror kills.
Ghostface’s clumsy movements were intentional, showing he’s just a human in a mask, not a supernatural entity.

Trivia

The movie grossed over $170 million worldwide against a $14 million budget.
Ghostface’s voice was performed by Roger L. Jackson, who was never allowed on set to maintain his mystery.
The cast wasn’t told who the killer was until late in production, keeping them genuinely suspicious of each other.

Why Watch?

Scream is essential for horror fans because it manages to be both scary and funny, breathing new life into the genre. It’s a perfect entry point for newcomers to horror and a nostalgic classic for longtime fans.

Director’s Other Movies

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
The Last House on the Left (1972)
The People Under the Stairs (1991)
Scream 2 (1997)
Scream 3 (2000)
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Scream (1996)