Scream
Dimension Films | Release Date: December 20, 1996 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews
Positive:
17
Mixed:
7
Negative:
2
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
TNT RoughCutSpencer H. Abbott
Wes Craven continues to explore (and blur) the lines between reelity and reality with his latest, and perhaps best, cinematic slice of horror.
91
Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman
A deft, funny, shrewdly unsettling tribute to such slasher-exploitation thrillers as "Terror Train," "New Year's Evil," and Craven's own "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Read full review
90
Dallas ObserverAndy Klein
Craven's other accomplishment here, besides resuscitating the genre, is the way he keeps things scary even when they're at their funniest. The grand finale, while thoroughly bloody and tense, has some genuinely hilarious shtick. Read full review
90
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
It's sensational in both senses of the word: a bravura, provocative sendup of horror pictures that's also scary and gruesome yet too swift-moving to lapse into morbidity. Read full review
90
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Finely crafted, tense, scary thriller from start to finish. Read full review
90
L.A. WeeklyPaul Malcolm
A meta-horror film that hilariously parodies the genre's clichés with smarts to spare. It's also the scariest fucking movie Craven has made since the first "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Read full review
80
Washington PostRichard Harrington
Deftly mixes irony, self-reference and wry social commentary with chills and blood spills. Read full review
80
Film.comSean Means
Craven creates his savviest and most frightening movie since the original "A Nightmare on Elm Street" by spoofing the horror cliches and simultaneously reinventing them to scare you all over again.
80
IGNClint Gage
While playing with the trope he made famous, Wes Craven crafted a lighter, more self-reflective tone for Kevin Williamson’s script to shine a light on everything we love (and everything we think is kind of silly) about slasher movies. Read full review
78
Austin ChronicleMarc Savlov
Craven is obviously having a ball here, and it's impossible not to sit back and go grinning into this dark, gory ride. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
What did I think about this movie? As a film critic, 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. It is really violent. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsDave Kehr
Builds to a splattering finale that should leave genre fans highly satisfied. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Scream is a rarity: a horror movie spoof that succeeds almost as well at provoking scares as laughs. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineFrank Lovece
Compared with most of what passes for scary movies these days, this is golden: It's not stupid, it's not wussy and it pulls off a couple of pretty nasty jolts. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
May not be the most scary or the grossest horror film you've ever seen, but it has one distinct feature: it actually talks up to the audience. By the conclusion, you won't be shaking in your seat, but you may enjoy the status of someone who has earned a Master's in Slashology. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneJohn Petrakis
Pretty run-of-the-mill stuff. [20 December 1996, Friday, p.J]
63
USA TodaySusan Wloszczyna
While Scream has its frights, it feels more like one of those solve-the-mystery jigsaw puzzles than a real movie. Read full review
50
Film.comJohn Hartl
Doesn't know when to stop with the jokes about other horror movies and settle down to tell a coherent story.
50
Chicago ReaderLisa Alspector
Tiresome, blood-filled comedy. Read full review
50
VarietyLeonard Klady
Though the material is more intelligent than the norm and has an unusual third-act twist, it also employs some very clunky stereotypes. Read full review
50
San Francisco ChroniclePeter Stack
Wicked fun with flickers of intelligence. Read full review
50
The New York TimesJanet Maslin
Wes Craven (of the 'Nightmare on Elm Street' films) is in the mood for parody. Read full review
50
Mr. ShowbizMichael Atkinson
Just another basketcase with a blade. Read full review
40
TimeRichard Corliss
An idiot-savant movie, knowing but not smart. Read full review
25
San Francisco ExaminerBob Stephens
An artificial and hypocritical effort to escape the artistic limitations of teenage slasher flicks. Read full review
25
Baltimore SunAnn Hornaday
Indeed, Scream is better than the average slasher film, as its advertisers insist. And, indeed, it is probably Wes Craven's best film, as they also insist. But that is a little like saying the pimple on the left side of your nose is "better" than the pimple on the right side. Read full review
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