“Scream 7”
Genre: Slasher horror, Whodunnit, Mystery
Rated: R
Released: February 27, 2026
Run Time: 1h 54m
Trigger Warnings: Strong bloody violence, gore, language 

Rating: 5/10

After nearly three decades of Ghostface, fans expect each new “Scream” sequel to deliver the same thrill and sensation that made the original a classic. “Scream 7” doesn’t even come close.

A movie that shattered franchise records has earned the worst reviews the series has ever seen. According to Box Office Mojo, its debut grossed at $64.1M domestically and $97.2M globally. Yet it holds the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the entire series at 33%, making its box-office success feel odd for an achievement.

“Scream 7” picks up after the events of the previous film, with Sidney Prescott returning to the center of the story alongside her husband and her daughter, Tatum, when a new Ghostface emerges and begins targeting people she’s connected to. 

The movie reunites surviving characters like Gale Weathers as they try to uncover who’s behind the killings this time. As the attacks grow more public and the body counts rise, the group is forced into a final conflict that attempts to bring the franchise’s history together and deliver a surprising new twist.

The “Scream” franchise is known for its iconic opening scenes; moments that set the tone, raise the stakes and immediately pull viewers into the horror. “Scream 7” tried to follow that tradition, and while the introduction established the film’s tone, ‘iconic’ is not the right word for it. 

The scene felt disconnected from the rest of the movie, with characters who never mattered again and an entire sequence that was already spoiled in the trailer. It’s hard to feel the suspense when you’ve already seen those moments in promotional footage. Ghostface’s entrance was undoubtedly thrilling, but because the events were never tied into the main plot, viewers were left wondering why the scene was included at all.

As the film progressed, the pacing began to feel very rushed. The audience was introduced to several new characters, yet the movie gave them so little development that it was impossible to form any emotional connection to even remember their names. 

The plot focused almost entirely on the main cast’s search for the new Ghostface, leaving the side characters feeling more like background characters than people with purpose. Because they were so underdeveloped, their deaths carried almost no emotional weight; the film treated them as quick shocks rather than meaningful moments, making each kill feel more mandatory than impactful.

Not only did the movie rush through its characters, but it also introduced plot points that ended up feeling pointless. One example is a moment when Tatum’s boyfriend was caught doing something that seemed like a clear sign he might be the killer. Instead of building tension, the movie quickly revealed he wasn’t Ghostface, gave him a shallow explanation for his behavior, and then killed him off without addressing it again. The scene had no impact on the story and no connection to the real Ghostface reveal, making it feel like a misdirect only added for shock value.

There were also a few moments involving Stu Macher, a character who died in an earlier “Scream” film, that convinced both Sidney and the audience that he somehow might be alive. For a second, it felt like the movie was going to deliver a bold, shaking twist. Instead, it was revealed that the “return” is nothing more than an AI-generated version of Stu used to scare Sidney. 

Horror has always been an escape from reality, so relying on AI as a storyline feels strangely out of place. If Stu had actually been alive, it could’ve been a shocking and memorable reveal. However, the film settled for a twist that feels cheap and unsatisfying, using AI in a way that adds nothing to the story.

The Ghostface reveal was the worst part. In every previous “Scream” movie, the killers have a clear connection to the main characters, and their motives add emotional weight to the final act. This time, the reveal felt dull. The killers were so underdeveloped that, again, there was no real attachment to them, and two of them were introduced so abruptly that the audience barely knew who they were.

The motives were equally disappointing. One killer’s entire reasoning centered on wanting Sidney’s legacy to pass on to her daughter, a motive so poorly explored that it didn’t land with any emotional impact. The film had missed an opportunity to deliver a shocking reveal or a meaningful connection to the franchise’s history, and instead settled for a reveal that felt random, shallow and forgettable.

The movie isn’t without its strengths: the return of beloved characters, the brutal and creative kills, the touching mother-daughter storyline all had real potential. The score also still feels true to the franchise, using sharp sounds and tense music that give the chase scenes some much needed energy. But unfortunately, the weaknesses outweighed them all.

The rushed pacing, underdeveloped characters, abandoned plot lines and disappointing Ghostface reveals made it difficult for the film to live up to the franchise’s legacy.

It’s no surprise that online reviews have been overwhelmingly negative. “Scream 7” had every opportunity to revive the series, yet it ultimately left the fans incredibly disappointed and bored with how little it delivered.