The movie “Scream 7,” directed by Kevin Williamson, was released on Feb. 27, 2026. It is the seventh movie in the American slasher franchise that focuses on the masked killer known as “Ghostface.” This franchise goes back to 1996 with the first film “Scream,” and since then has expanded to video games and even merchandise.
If you choose to watch “Scream 7” as the first movie in the franchise, then you will definitely be on the edge of your seat wondering who the killer could possibly be. However, if you have watched a good majority of the previous movies, you begin to get an idea of how the movies usually go. Regardless of the continuous pattern, throughout the movie you will most likely still spend the whole time trying to figure out what the killer’s motive is and who the killer is.
It is a good addition to the franchise, considering the change in cast as most of the original characters have either died or the actors ended up leaving the series altogether. These new additions kept the focus on the character, Sydney Prescott, which allowed the franchise to go back to its origins.
The overall story presented in the new movie follows the usual theme of “Scream” movies. This addition to the franchise connects the plot a great deal more with the earlier movies, rather than some of the previous films like “Scream 6.” The mother-daughter plot in this movie however may be seen as a little predictable. Regardless of the focus on the main plot, there was a great job done in keeping the suspense and mystery of who the killer’s identity could be.
The acting in this movie was performed very neatly, mainly in the sense of everyone playing a typical character that could possibly be the killer. Along with the return of actor Neve Campbell and other actors from the original cast, the actors who played new characters all portrayed their characters skillfully.
The pacing of the film was fairly quick but also allowed for buildup and suspense. The graphic violence in the film may not be for everyone, but it’s nothing new compared to the previous movies though.
[Spoiler for the movie “Scream”]
The “Scream” franchise begins with key characters Sydney and her boyfriend Billy Loomis, who is revealed as the killer with his accomplice Stu Macher. A year after Sydney’s mom was murdered, a killer began targeting high school students, including Sydney. Each victim would first receive a call from Ghostface. The call would start with Ghostface asking the question “What’s your favorite scary movie?”, a classic movie quote which has become a highlight to franchise fans. From then on, the rest of the “Scream” movies continued to add to the overall plot, revealing more about the original plot seen in the first movie.
This specific movie focuses more on the continuation of Sydney being the “final girl,” while also passing on the legacy to her daughter, Tatum, as she becomes a target. The film goes back into Sydney’s past, that she had so badly hoped to leave behind. Sydney gets a call from the new masked killer, who is going under the identity of one of the first ever Ghostface killers. She has to step up to help her family. The killer’s main goal is then later revealed as making her daughter the “new final girl,” which forces Sydney to go back to her roots of fighting and come up with a way to leave this nightmare alive and safe with her family.
This movie being more recent includes new factors to solving the mystery of who Ghostface is, such as the use of AI, which may develop mixed opinions among viewers.
Victoria Cortines, a freshman at Karen Wagner High School, stated “Scream 7 was alright. It wasn’t my favorite overall. The plot wasn’t that interesting to me. The AI thing kind of threw me off. I liked the returning characters and the ending.”
Regardless of the performance of each movie, this franchise brings something that many people enjoy.
East Central High School sophomore Sofia Acevedo-Estrada stated, “I continue to watch the Scream movies because despite the fact that they have the same plot line, watching the movies give a form of comfort and some curiosity to see new characters introduced to the franchise.”
The ending of the film was definitely unexpected, keeping the viewers engaged; however, throughout the beginning, there wasn’t that much of a new story being followed. It seemed to follow the pattern of previous movies, which even though the repetition is what makes Scream movies unique, it can get a little boring for some viewers. Overall, I would rate the movie an 8.5/10, since it does connect to the beginning of the overall plot but it could be better in terms of being less predictable. It is a good movie, but in my opinion, I believe that previous ones such as “Scream” and “Scream 6” in the franchise are better.