Scream 7 Reviews: Neve Campbell Shines but Critics Call It the Worst-Reviewed Film in the Franchise
Scream 7 opened in theaters on February 27, 2026, and the verdict from critics is in — and it is not pretty. Directed and co-written by Kevin Williamson, the man behind the original 1996 film, Scream 7 has earned the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the entire franchise, dividing casual fans and devastating longtime devotees. Despite terrible reviews, the movie is tracking toward a massive opening weekend box office haul.
Scream 7 Earns Franchise-Worst 34% on Rotten Tomatoes
Scream 7 stands at only 34% positive across 135 Rotten Tomatoes critic reviews — the lowest score in the entire franchise by a wide margin. It ranks below the previous franchise low of 2000's Scream 3, which holds a 45% score. The other films in the series scored considerably higher, ranging from Scream 4 at 61% to the franchise high-water mark of Scream 2 at 83%.
The IMDB audience score tells a different story, with fans rating it a 6.0 out of 10 — considerably warmer than critics. Many fans praised Neve Campbell's performance specifically, calling it among her best work in the franchise, with Courteney Cox also drawing strong audience praise for her return as Gale Weathers.
What the Critics Are Saying About Scream 7
Critical consensus is that Neve Campbell delivers but the script lets everyone down badly. Mashable's Kristy Puchko said Scream 7 may not be the best of the bunch but is damn close, while Digital Spy's Ian Sandwell called it one of the worst Ghostface reveals in the series. FILMINK's Cain Noble-Davies said it snatches the title of weakest entry from Scream 3.
RogerEbert.com's Brian Tallerico was among the harshest voices, calling it genuinely inept in every way and far and away the worst of the franchise — a shallow rendering of things that worked better in other films, concluding the film threatens to do something new several times before reversing course and going through the stabby motions as half-heartedly as possible.
CinemaBlend's review was headlined as "The Slasher Franchise Has Finally Become What It Originally Parodied," capturing the central irony that a series built on satirizing tired horror conventions has now fully succumbed to them.
Neve Campbell and the Mother-Daughter Dynamic Are Scream 7's Saving Grace
Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott, now living in Pine Grove, Indiana, married to local police chief Mark played by Joel McHale, with a 17-year-old daughter named Tatum played by Isabel May. She has even opened her own coffee shop. The back-to-basics setup works in some ways and against the film in others.
The AU Review's Peter Gray noted that where Scream 7 works best is in its intergenerational dynamic, with the mother-daughter relationship providing genuine emotional grounding amid the bloodshed. TheWrap's William Bibbiani called it one heck of an apology to Neve Campbell, noting that almost every scene is built around how important Sidney Prescott is.
The Killer Reveal Is Getting Destroyed — AI and Deepfake Themes Wasted
Multiple reviewers cited the killer reveal, dynamic, and motive as the weakest in the entire franchise. The climax from the reveal to the final fight is described as rushed, with everything happening at breakneck speed and leaving audiences feeling the film did not stick the landing.
Reviewers also flagged a major missed opportunity around the film's use of deepfake and AI technology themes, which the script raises but never meaningfully develops into anything substantive or satirically pointed — a particularly frustrating waste given how culturally relevant those ideas are in 2026.
Scream 7 Tracking for $66 Million Opening Weekend Despite Brutal Reviews
Despite the terrible reviews, Scream 7 is a massive commercial hit so far. Thursday previews plus Friday numbers bring the total to $28.8 million, with the full opening weekend tracking toward $66 million — a strong result that would represent the second-best opening weekend in franchise history.
The film was always considered largely review-proof going in, given the franchise's loyal fanbase and the marquee return of Neve Campbell. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the overfamiliarity would be more palatable if the dialogue were as fresh and funny as in the early installments, or if the kills were more creatively staged, but a rote quality to the proceedings makes it feel like a slog despite its high body count and copious gore.
