The February 27, 2026 theatrical release of the slasher sequel Scream 7 is nearly upon us – and in fact, some fans and critics have already caught screenings of the film. The first reactions have dropped online, and you can check them out below to find out what these early viewers thought of the film.
Troubled History
Spyglass Media and Paramount once intended to make a Scream 7 that would have starred Scream (2022) and Scream VI leads Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, with Freaky and Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon at the helm. But then Ortega allegedly asked for a substantial pay raise – and as we saw when Neve Campbell dropped out of Scream VI due to a pay dispute, these pay issues don’t tend to work out. Then Barrera was fired from the project after comments she made about the Israel-Hamas war didn’t go over well with executives at Spyglass. Landon dropped out the of the project soon after. So Scream 7 has been re-developed, Campbell has signed on to return as Sidney Prescott, back in the lead role, while Kevin Williamson, who wrote the screenplay for the original Scream, directs the film from a screenplay by 2022’s Scream and Scream VI writer Guy Busick, who crafted the story with his co-writer on the fifth and sixth films, James Vanderbilt. (Vanderbilt is also a producer on the most recent sequels.) Williamson also did enough work on the script to earn a “screenplay by” credit alongside Busick.
Cast and Synopsis
Neve Campbell is joined in the cast by Isabel May of the Yellowstone prequel 1883, who has signed on to play Sidney’s daughter Tatum; Mckenna Grace of the Ghostbusters franchise, Grace’s Ghostbusters co-star Celeste O’Connor, Gen V‘s Asa Germann, The Fabelmans‘ Sam Rechner, Pitch Perfect‘s Anna Camp, Riverdale‘s Mark Consuelos, fellow franchise star Courteney Cox, who reprises the role of reporter / author Gale Weathers, Joel McHale (Community) as Sidney’s husband Mark Evans, and Ethan Embray (The Devil’s Candy). Although two of the “core four” characters established in the previous two movies are no longer around, Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown are back as Chad Meeks-Martin and Mindy Meeks-Martin.
Also in the cast are Matthew Lillard and Scott Foley, who played Ghostface killers in the original Scream and Scream 3, respectively, and did not appear to make it out of those movies alive. David Arquette is back as the dearly departed Dewey, who exited the world of the living in the fifth movie.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis: When a new Ghostface killer emerges in the quiet town where Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) has built a new life, her darkest fears are realized as her daughter (Isabel May) becomes the next target. Determined to protect her family, Sidney must face the horrors of her past to put an end to the bloodshed once and for all.
Scream 7 has earned an R rating with strong bloody violence, gore, and language.
First Reactions
The first reactions are, for the most part, quite positive, but not everyone was won over by the film:
#Scream7 had some of the best kills in the franchise! Bringing the story back to Sidney and her family was such a smart move. The suspense, the thrills, and that ENDING I can’t wait to watch it again. I love this franchise so much! pic.twitter.com/nVL6MJq2Lh
— Empeds Casul (@EmpedsCasul) February 25, 2026
#Scream7 understands its legacy and has real fun with it. Wildly creative kills, dark meta humour that lands, and a cast completely locked in. As a longtime fan, this is the most fun I’ve had since the original. Even going in spoiled, I still walked out loving it! pic.twitter.com/A2jT57HeRr
— Mike Gambaro (@mikegambaro) February 25, 2026
#Scream7 is the legacy sequel fans have been waiting for. A rip-roaring blast of bloody fun, with Craven-esque vibes fully in tact. Ghostface is back and as brutal as ever. Neve Campbell proves once again that she is THE all-time great Scream Queen. pic.twitter.com/2Rcw9P7mVp
— Epic Film Guys ® (@EpicFilmGuys) February 26, 2026
#Scream7 is a stab-ulous addition to the iconic franchise. Directed by original writer Kevin Williamson, this Sidney-centered slasher returns to its roots in a wildly creative way. It’s a bloody cut above out of the gate and goes some fun places. It’s a fun and darkly funny romp. pic.twitter.com/uWia5x70AO
— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) February 26, 2026
A few of the kills are insanely nasty and I’m here for that. Kudos! #Scream7
— Simon Thompson (@ShowbizSimon) February 26, 2026
THE horror film of the year has arrived. #SCREAM7 continues the incredible 30 year legacy of the slasher franchise with another nail bitting installment that will have you guessing till the last minute. As a life-long @ScreamMovies fan, there’s so much to scream & smile about. pic.twitter.com/vObTDu95ne
— Taylor Gonzales (@50shadesoftayyy) February 26, 2026
Scream 7 is BRUTAL. It feels like Scream 4 in ways, but with some jaw dropping kills. There’s some more nuanced commentary on modern slashers here. Isabel May is a real highlight alongside Neve Campbell making her return. It’s a triumphant sequel in this long series. #Scream7 pic.twitter.com/Dh1TNFd9jp
— Hunter Bolding (@HunterBVideo) February 26, 2026
There’s a surprising amount of Scream 3 silliness in here played endearingly straight. If Scream 3 and 4 somehow had a baby, that beautiful stupid baby would be Scream 7. And if you understood that sentence at all, I think you will have a lot of fun with Scream 7.
— ViewerAnon (@ViewerAnon) February 26, 2026
#scream7 is incredible. It makes a direct connection to Scream 4 in the motivation. It mocks Scream 6 without Sidney. It’s full of meta-language. The deaths are brutal. My screening was packed. The film was applauded at the end and the crowd went crazy when Gale appeared. Kevin
— Breas (@Breas92) February 26, 2026
#Scream7 OUT OF THEATER REACTION:
WOW JUST WOW After all the controversy and behind the scenes drama THIS MOVIE DELIVERS Focusing the story back on Sidney and her family was a smart choice. Pretty suspenseful thrills & kills & the ENDING can’t wait to watch it again pic.twitter.com/z7GWTmzNTM
— BlackNezzy (@BlackNezzy) February 23, 2026
Scream 7 is great at delivering the 2 things I love most about this franchise: being super meta & having insane kills. There are some issues but it is so good to have Sidney Prescott back doing what she does best! Plus, I’m always a sucker for a mother-daughter movie. #Scream7 pic.twitter.com/jqQIEi1GyO
— Tessa Smith – Mama’s Geeky (@MamasGeeky) February 26, 2026
#Scream7 is definitely one of the more fun series sequels. The AI stuff doesn’t always look good and the script is a fan of exposition, but it’s humorously self-aware, Neve and Courteney are great, Isabel May is a solid addition, and the kills rank as some of the most brutal. pic.twitter.com/569fANUIjZ
— Peter Gray (@ratedPDG) February 25, 2026
#Scream7 is a harmlessly entertaining sequel – self-aware, occasionally indulgent, but undeniably committed to giving audiences a good time. It’s not the franchise’s sharpest blade, but one that still cuts cleanly enough to justify its existence. https://t.co/RrB4hu2myE
— Peter Gray (@ratedPDG) February 25, 2026
Sidney revient enfin au premier plan, donc forcément j’ai adoré cet aspect. Gale est bien sûr de retour. Le rythme est bien soutenu, on voit pas le film passer. Je le mettrais derrière les films de Wes Craven qui semblent insurpassables, mais devant le 5 et surtout le 6. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/mDKhnhg5GQ
— Jaws (@JawsCinema) February 25, 2026
#Scream7 is the reset this franchise needed! Bringing our two mains back as the core of the franchise was the right decision, and the original writer (writer/director here) was the right move. Full review up tomorrow #scream7 pic.twitter.com/W83IZ8bAMS
— Alaisdair (@alaisdair) February 25, 2026
Okay guys, I saw it. I saw #Scream7. Just came out of the theatre. I have.. thoughts. Not a perfect film. But it was a ride. Funnier than I thought it would be.
— Club Campbell (@club__campbell) February 25, 2026
#scream7 is a nice bounce back after 6, Williamson deftly weaving nostalgia and tech into this entry as he proves he has the sauce behind the camera. Campbell rules and the set pieces are fun! However, its shaky 3rd act falters and has the most underwhelming Ghostface reveal yet. pic.twitter.com/J10sYLAqRX
— Tom Chatalbash (@TomChatalbash) February 26, 2026
#Scream7 is a perfectly average Scream movie.
Follows the exact formula of the last 6 films. Glad to see Neve Campbell back as Sidney; she’s excellent. Some FANTASTIC kills and suspense. A very weak final act Ghostface reveal.
Less meta commentary. Decently entertaining. pic.twitter.com/kDww9C6K7N
— Jonathan Sim (@TheJonathanSim) February 26, 2026
There are some genuinely good moments and kills in #Scream7, but it doesn’t escape the feeling that it was an amalgamation of franchise ideas that wasn’t actually ‘the plan’ for this outing. It was also the first of the franchise that felt like no characters were necessary.
— Jeff Ewing (@ReelJeffEwing) February 26, 2026
#Scream7 definitely plays like a movie written to cover up what they scrapped. Outside of Sidney, none of the young characters are developed and have personality. When it’s not recreating the first film it’s shitting on the last. Decent kills at least. pic.twitter.com/4eNpU9Varv
— Kristen Lopez (@kristenklopez) February 26, 2026
Are you looking forward to the film? What do you think of the first reactions to Scream 7? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
The post Scream 7 first reactions: a brutal, fun franchise reset with great kills appeared first on JoBlo.
