There are five main theatrical Scream movies and four televised Scream films, produced between 1996 and 2022. This evergreen explainer clarifies what counts as an official Scream title, how numbering works across sequels, reboots, and television, and which releases are canon to the original storyline. Below you will find a concise table of every Scream film, key dates, and a comparison of theatrical features versus limited series, helping you quickly identify each entry and its relationship to the saga.
Defining What Counts as an Official Scream Film
In everyday usage, “Scream movies” refers to feature films in the horror franchise created by Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven that centers on the masked killer Ghostface. The most widely accepted official count includes five main theatrical features that continue the original story in linear release order. Count also depends on whether you include entries labeled requels, reboots, reimaginings, or short-form television, which can shift perceived totals. This guide treats an official Scream film as a narrative entry bearing the Scream trademark, produced under the franchise rights, released in theaters or as a broadcast-limited series with feature runtime and full character arcs.
The Canonical Theatrical Sequence
The original continuity runs chronologically, with each theatrical sequel advancing the story and timelines. Later additions complicate simple numbering because they revisit earlier events or reset timelines. Below is a compact table listing each theatrical film, its year, director, and its narrative relationship to the prior entries.
| Title | Year | Director | Narrative Label at Release | Relationship to Prior Films |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scream | 1996 | Wes Craven | Original | First entry, establishes Ghostface and the rules |
| Scream 2 | 1997 | Wes Craven | Sequel | Direct follow-up continuing Sidney and Woodsboro |
| Scream 3 | 000 | Wes Craven | Sequel | Begins production as Scream 3, later retitled |
| Scream (2022) | 2022 | Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett | Legacy Sequel / Requel | Set years later, inherits events but treats prior continuity selectively |
| Scream VI | 2023 | Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett | Sequel | Direct follow-up to 2022 film, moves story to New York |
Scream Television Entries and Restricted Releases
Beyond features, television projects and digital releases carry the Scream name but differ in format, length, and narrative function. These are not standard feature films, yet they expand the franchise footprint. Below are the principal limited series and specials, listed by original air year and scope.
| Title | Year | Format | Director | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scream (1997 miniseries) | 1997 | TV miniseries | Unknown | Short-form, aired before sequel; not widely distributed |
| Scream: The TV Series | 2015–2019 | TV series (3 seasons) | Various | Serialized storytelling separate from films; counts as franchise content |
| Scream: Resurrection | 2019 | TV miniseries | Jamie Travis | Limited series with new cast and self-contained mystery |
| Scream: The Other Side | 2019 | Digital short series | Unknown | Supplementary online content, not a full narrative entry |
| Scream (2020 quarantine special) | 2020 | Digital special | Unknown | Behind-the-scenes and fan content, not a plot installment |
Common Miscounts and Why Confusion Happens
Many people report six or seven Scream movies, which usually reflects one of these patterns: counting rumored projects, including unmade pitches, or conflating international edits and rereleases. Another frequent source of overcount is listing television series as multiple movies, or counting each director’s cut as a separate title, even when no new story content is added. Occasionally, parody, fan film, or unofficial spoofs are mistaken for licensed entries. None of these carry canonical status within the Scream saga, but they influence how people perceive the total number.
Quick Reference: Official Count at a Glance
- 5 theatrical features with the Scream name
- 4 broadcast or digital television-limited entries
- 0 unmade or rumored films that never entered production
How to Identify Scream Entries Yourself
When you encounter a new title claiming to be Scream, check three signals: the copyright holder, the Ghostface branding, and whether the project is presented as a feature versus a series. Licensed features include the studio logo and a MPAA rating; television entries will show network or streaming branding and episode structure. Fan projects and parodies typically avoid commercial distribution and clearly label themselves as fan-made. This helps prevent overcounting unofficial works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are concise answers to the most common questions people have about how many Scream titles exist and how they relate to one another.
- Are there six Scream movies if you count the reboot? In mainstream canon, the reboot is numbered as the 2022 film, continuing from Scream 3, so it is one of five theatrical features, not a sixth standalone movie.
- Do director’s cuts create extra numbered entries? Not within the official narrative; director’s cuts present revised edits of the same film, not new numbered sequels.
- Does the 1997 miniseries count as a movie? It is a televised miniseries with a feature-length runtime, but it is not a cinematic release and is usually tracked separately from the theatrical film count.
- Will there be a Scream 4? As of 2024, there is no announced Scream 4; the canonical next numbered entry after Scream 3 was the 2022 relaunch, branded as a legacy sequel rather than Scream 4.
Key Dates and Production Context
Understanding when each release arrived clarifies how the numbering evolved and why some titles feel like resets rather than straightforward continuations.
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| July 1996 | Screst original releases | Launched the franchise and defined Ghostface |
| December 1997 | Scream 2 opens | Continued high school story in a new setting |
| February 2000 | Scream 3 released | Concluded the original trilogy; long development and title changes |
| January 2022 | Scream (2022) released | Reboot/requel that revisits legacy while introducing new cast |
| November 2023 | Scream VI released | First sequel directly following 2022 film, shifts setting to New York |
Relationship Between Theatrical Features and Television
While television entries carry the Scream name, they serve different narrative purposes. Series explore side stories, backstories, and anthology formats that do not advance the main continuity of the five features. Think of the features as the core saga and television as adjacent content that enriches worldbuilding without resetting or replacing the film count.
Summary
In total, there are five official theatrical Scream movies that form the main numbered saga, complemented by several television projects that extend the universe in different formats. Counting only canonical cinematic features avoids confusion, while acknowledging television helps map the broader franchise. Use this guide to quickly identify which titles belong to the core story and how each release fits into the overall timeline.