The assumption that there's something inherently clever about a slasher movie making reference to both its genre and the filmmaking process is a fundamental flaw of this tiresome, blood-filled comedy.
Comment
09/21/07
Scream (1996)
83
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:52
Fresh:43
Rotten:9
Average Rating:7/10
Consensus: A great mixed of bone chilling suspense and witty dialogues.
Runtime: 2 hrs 6 mins
Genre: Horror/Suspense
Synopsis: A hyper-intelligent serial killer preys on the teenage denizens of a small town, using their fascination with horror movie conventions to set up his diabolical doings. An intelligent, well-crafted... [More]
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Drew Barrymore, Skeet Ulrich
Director: Wes Craven
Get This Movie
Rent DVD
Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.
Buy DVD
Reviews for Scream
Top CriticThe image of Barrymore on her portable phone, with her sweater sleeves draped over her palms, in the house with the big picture windows, has already become one of the great indelible images of the 1990's.
01/01/00
Its commercial success was well-justified.
09/04/03
Scream is a rarity: a horror movie spoof that succeeds almost as well at provoking scares as laughs.
01/01/00
Top CriticScream is funny, scary and self-mocking -- director Wes Craven's facetious send-up of his own resume.
01/01/00
The film opens with one of the best, most intense, most unexpected opening sequences I’ve ever seen then rips on for another ninety minutes or so, rarely flagging in terms of pace.
02/14/01
Self-knowing badness is in fact badness; it might actually be worse than just regular old badness because it is, in addition to everything else, smug.
07/12/09
If there's a problem with Scream it is that its very success dooms it to spawn a wave of cash-in imitations, few of which will exhibit their predecessors skill and intelligence.
01/01/00
Ironically, the predictability is actually one of the film's virtues.
09/15/05
I liked it. I liked the in-jokes and the self-aware characters. At the same time, I was aware of the incredible level of gore in this film.
01/01/00
Top CriticStrap in and enjoy the ride.
01/01/00
The movie is less concerned with explaining motivations than it is with dismantling the social mechanisms which produce them.
01/01/00
Witty, tightly structured, and often effective as a straight horror film.
08/18/07
It appeared to be clever, dangerous, witty, and fresh, but it sadly became victim to the movies it mocked, even before it had ended.
05/30/01
The best fright fest of the ’90s.
01/22/02
Top CriticIt's a genuine jump-from-you-seat, cover-your-eyes, scream-aloud, warn-the-characters thrill ride. When you're not howling with laughter, you'll be shrieking with fright.
01/01/00
Scream is so hip and irreverent that you almost forget it's a slasher movie. Almost.
01/01/00
Scream cleverly plays with movie conventions and the audience's expectations so that we're kept constantly guessing.
01/01/00
a nineties-style teenage slasher movie with just enough tongue-in-cheek understanding of its own silliness to make it gruesomely fun without being insulting
02/27/01
It breaks new ground, and hopefully, it opens us up to new formulas and creative situations in these movies.
01/01/00
Latest News for Scream
September 25, 2009:
Neve Campbell Returning for Scream 4? 
Did someone make a boo-boo, or did Variety just break the news that Neve Campbell will be starring in the new "Scream"? More...
July 15, 2009:
Arquettes Confirmed for Scream 4
It's official: David Arquette and Courteney Cox Arquette will return for the fourth installment of "Scream." More...
June 09, 2009:
Wes Craven Talks Scream 4
According to Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson's new "Scream" trilogy isn't a reboot, it's an extension of the series -- and Craven may just end up directing "Scream 4." More...
June 03, 2009:
Are the Arquettes Ready to Scream Again?
Kevin Williamson is apparently hard at work on a whole new "Scream" trilogy -- and Courteney Cox Arquette and David Arquette are in talks to reprise their roles. More...
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
History of Disney Animation
MSN Movies offers a little background on the success of Disney Animation.
90 Years of Screen Vampires
TIME takes a look back at the history of vampires on film.
Virtuoso Vistas of Lovely Bones
Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.
Recent Headlines as TV Movies
AOL put together a list of 10 recent news items that would be perfect as TV Movies.
The Death of Original Thought
Hollywood.com's C. Robert Cargill explores how remakes and reboots have warped our thinking.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!
IGN RSS Feeds