Scream is arguably the most important horror franchise of the past 25+ years. So when a new entry arrives in the series, it’s almost always a big deal. The 1996 original was a groundbreaking masterpiece was directed by the late great Wes Craven, who sadly passed away in 2015. Since then, various attempts have been made to revive the franchise. Luckily for us, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not) were inspired to continue the franchise.
Whether we appreciate them or not, the majority of the Scream sequels have showcased varying degrees of success. From the interesting-but flawed Scream 2, to the awfulness of Scream 3, to the ahead-of-its-time Scream 4, each entry has presented a new element to the franchise lore. So when it comes to Scream (5), the question must be addressed — How does the latest film stack up to the original?
In the latest edition of Mandatory Movie Battles, we pit Scream (1996) against Scream (2022). This is about to get confusing. Thanks, Paramount.
Cover Photo: Paramount Pictures
At the end of the day, there is probably never going to be a sequel to Scream that will top the 1996 version. That said, the 2022 iteration feels like a sequel that Wes Craven would be proud of. Whereas something like Matrix: Resurrections is highly ambitious (sometimes to a fault), the new Scream manages to find a natural balance between old and new. Even though Scream manages to justify its existence in numerous ways, Scream can’t help but remain the blueprint for the franchise. But will the franchise break its own mold in the future? Time will tell.
Overall Winner: Scream (1996)
Mandatory Movie Battles: Scream vs Scream
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Writing
Anyone who knows anything about Horror would be hard-pressed to deny that Kevin Williamson’s script for the original Scream is virtually perfect. Naturally, this is the goalpost that each of the subsequent sequels is measured against. In the case of the new Scream, the writing comes close, but never quite equals that of its predecessor. This is mostly because the new script is so derivative of the original, which is certainly part of what the new movie is commenting on.
Winner: Scream (1996)
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Meta Commentary
Speaking of commentary, the Scream franchise is also known for its hyper-stylized self-awareness. Although the meta-commentary in the original was groundbreaking for the horror genre, the new film takes it to a whole new level. Just as 2011’s Scream 4 seemed far ahead of its time in other ways, the follow-up serves as a prescient metaphor for the way that pop culture has evolved in the time since. The thesis of this movie will certainly be dismissed by the haters, but that doesn’t mean whatever these people will think is actually true.
Winner: Scream (2022)
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Story
The Story of the original Scream, while inventive in its own right, also tends to lean on 90s horror tropes of yesteryear. This isn’t to say that the new film doesn’t do the same. But in the modern context of being a Legacyquel, the new film really does find an ingenious way to tell a modern kind of Scream story. Part of the reason why the new film works so well is that it isn't a Sidney Prescott story, while also feeling like a classic Sidney Prescott story. This isn’t a bug, it’s a feature
Winner: Scream (2022)
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Legacy Characters
A big part of what makes the new iteration of Scream feel so vital is the return of the franchise’s holy trinity -- Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette. Arquette is the standout of the three, mostly because he is given the most to do. At the same time, the legacy characters are relegated to mostly secondary and tertiary roles. While this works to the new movie’s advantage, it also makes it redundant to the original.
Winner: Scream (1996)
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Supporting Characters
On the flip side of the same coin, the cast of supporting characters are solid in the new film. While most seaboots feature descendants of the original cast (Halloween, we’re looking at you), the new Scream manages to layer in some excellent new supporting characters. Jenny Ortega, Jack Quaid, and Jasmin Savoy Brown are excellent additions to the roster of the franchise’s memorable characters. While this is certainly by design, the supporting characters in the original film are so iconic that you can’t help but think of them when watching this one.
Winner: Scream (1996)
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Kills
In many ways, the original Scream pushed the boundaries of acceptable levels violence and gore in horror films. Especially by 1996 standards, Wes Craven’s masterpiece was extreme. Since then, the series has tried to top the violence in a myriad of different ways, some successful and some not. Nevertheless, the new version manages to capture the essence of what a good Scream kill should have - suspense, shock, and surprise. Despite the iconic nature of the kills in the original, the sequel manages to subvert these elements in new and interesting ways.
Winner: Scream (2022)
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Twist
The best part of the Scream franchise is that they are horror films disguised as a whodunit. Part of the brilliance of the original is (spoilers, I guess?) is that there are two killers instead of one. All of the films in the series have adhered to this template, so it should come as no surprise that the new film would follow suit. As fun as this guessing game is, it’s hard to deny that the new movie is just following in the footsteps of the original.
Winner: Scream (1996)
