• Kevin Williamson’s Muse: Inspired by a Barbara Walters special on the Gainesville murders, Williamson crafted Scream after a late-night chat about horror tropes with a friend over the phone.
• The Script’s Evolution: Originally titled Scary Movie, Kevin Williamson’s screenplay sparked a bidding war, but Dimension Films ultimately acquired it.
• Origins of Ghostface: The mask was discovered by chance by producer Marianne Maddalena during a location scout. Wes Craven chose the black robe for its stark contrast and fear factor. Read more about Ghostface, here.

• Risky Jokes: Wes Craven nearly cut jokes about Tori Spelling and the Richard Gere gerbil rumor, but their inclusion added an edgy, self-aware humor to the film.
• Principal Himbry’s Death: Added at Bob Weinstein’s request to fill a 30-minute gap without murders. This scene allowed Kevin Williamson to intensify the party sequence.
• Tatum’s Garage Death: Conceived by Kevin Williamson’s assistant Julie Plec, replacing a more graphic neck-crushing concept.

• Tatum’s Neighborhood: Across the street from two legendary Santa Rosa landmarks—Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt (1943) house and Pollyanna’s (1960) home. The opening scene’s house is also near the setting of Stephen King’s Cujo (1983).
• Haunted Filming: Stu’s house (Springhill Estate) near Tomales, California, gained an eerie reputation after the crew discovered its previous owners had died there.
• Check the Filming Locations section to more!

• “Scene From Hell”: The grueling finale, nicknamed Scene 118, took 21 nights to shoot. Crew members commemorated their endurance with “I Survived Scene 118” t-shirts.
• Real Pain: Skeet Ulrich’s reaction during Sidney’s umbrella stab was genuine—one hit missed the padding entirely.
• Surprise Survival: Dewey’s survival was a last-minute decision by Wes Craven after positive test audience feedback.

• On-Set Romances: Neve Campbell and Matthew Lillard dated during filming, as did David Arquette and Courteney Cox.
• Marco Beltrami’s Big Break: Wes Craven’s assistant found the composer on an internet forum, leading to his memorable score.
• Blood and Gore: The film used 50 gallons of fake blood, a nod to the Carrie (1976) reference in Billy’s explanation.

• Santa Rosa Drama: The local high school banned the production over the script’s violence, prompting a cheeky “No Thanks Whatsoever to the Santa Rosa City School District Governing Board” in the credits.
• MPAA Battle: Wes Craven convinced the MPAA to keep Casey’s stabbing uncut by falsely claiming it was the only take available.

Tatum says, “I’m going to the video store. I was thinking All The Right Moves (1983). You know, if you pause it just right, you can see his penis.” Williamson mentioned that people always make jokes about that line to him.

Matthew Lillard ad-libbed, “Houston, we have a problem here!”—a reference to Apollo 13 (1995).

There are two references to Sharon Stone in Scream, who had previously worked with Wes Craven in Deadly Blessing (1981).

The first is Tatum’s remark about the killer possibly being a female, citing Basic Instinct (1992). The second reference alludes to Stone’s famous flashing scene, comparing it to Maureen Prescott’s behavior around men.

Stu mentions Candyman (1992) during the school scene.

Billy states that corn syrup is the same substance used for pig’s blood in Carrie (1976).

“As if,” Stuart replies to Randy’s interest in Sidney. Randy responds, “Really, Alicia!“—a nod to the famous quote from Clueless (1995).

The girl in the video store mentions a werewolf movie with “E.T.’s mom,” referring to Dee Wallace, who played Elliott’s mother in E.T. – The Extraterrestrial (1982). Wallace is renowned for her roles in classic horror films, including The Howling (1981), Cujo (1983), and Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes (1977), cementing her status as a scream queen.

Some footage of Frankenstein (1931) is displayed during the video store scene.

“Name the killer in Friday the 13th (1980)?”

Raise your hand if you yelled with Casey: Jason! I know I did.

To my surprise—or maybe due to a lack of attention—I had to face the fact that Jason didn’t actually appear as the killer until the sequel. The original murderer? None other than his vengeful mother, Mrs. Voorhees (Betsy Palmer).

Check out this video we made exploring all the connections between these two iconic franchises!

The Halloween franchise (1978, 1981) boasts the largest number of references in Scream. From dialogue to scenes and character names, Scream pays homage to John Carpenter’s horror masterpiece in multiple ways:

• Casey Becker’s Favorite: In the opening scene, Casey names Halloween as her favorite movie. Later, Ghostface asks the iconic trivia question about the killer, which Casey answers in a tone reminiscent of Rachel from Halloween 4: “It’s Michael… Michael Myers.”
• Popcorn Parallels: Casey’s preparation of popcorn mirrors Annie Brackett’s routine in Halloween.
• Silent Screams: Like Laurie Strode in Halloween II, Casey struggles to cry for help, her voice caught in terror.
• The Mackenzies: Mr. Becker tells his wife to “drive down to the Mackenzies,” echoing Laurie’s instructions to Tommy and Lindsey.
• Loomis Connection: Billy Loomis shares his last name with Dr. Sam Loomis, the relentless pursuer of Michael Myers. Interestingly, this name itself is a nod to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.
• Musical Tribute: “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” which plays during Billy’s window climb, was featured in Halloween (1978) as a cover by Blue Öyster Cult.
• Closet Scares: Ghostface’s closet attack on Sidney mirrors Michael’s assault on Bob Simms.
• Wes Carpenter: Tatum jokingly refers to the situation as something out of a “Wes Carpenter movie,” blending the names of Scream’s Wes Craven and Halloween’s John Carpenter.
• Movie Night: At Stu’s party, Randy brings Halloween, the film chosen for their viewing. Scream even features key scenes from the classic, building hypertextual connections.
• Carpenter’s Theme: John Carpenter’s Halloween theme plays as Dewey reenters Stu’s house.
• Closet Defense: Like Laurie, Sidney hides in a closet—but she fights back with ferocity.
• Final Fright: Randy’s warning about the “supposedly dead killer” coming back for one last scare nods to the indestructibility of Michael Myers and other slasher icons.
• Stuart’s Last Sight: A photograph of Laurie Strode is the final image seen by Stu before his demise.

Halloween’s influence on Scream extends beyond mere homage, reflecting Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven’s deep admiration for the slasher genre’s defining classic.

Henry Winkler, who plays Principal Himbry in Scream, pauses in one scene to slick his hair back—a playful nod to his iconic character, Fonzie, from the classic TV show Happy Days (1974).

Tatum Riley playfully references the cult classic I Spit On Your Grave (1978) during the garage scene in Scream, quipping, “What is this? I Spit On Your Garage?” This line adds a layer of dark humor while nodding to one of horror’s most controversial films.

Scream embraces self-referential humor, beginning with Casey Becker’s (Drew Barrymore) conversation about A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), which was created, written, and directed by Wes Craven. Casey acknowledges, “The first one was good, but the rest sucked,” subtly including Craven’s own sequel, New Nightmare (1994), in her critique.

The parallels between Scream and Nightmare don’t end there:

• Before her death, Casey pulls off Ghostface’s mask, mirroring Tina’s (Amanda Wyss) reveal of Freddy Krueger’s face in Nightmare.
• Billy Loomis’ appearance bears a striking resemblance to Johnny Depp’s character Glen in Nightmare, and Billy also climbs through his girlfriend’s bedroom window just like Glen.
• Sidney Prescott’s house was originally on 34 Elm Street, a direct nod to the Nightmare series, though this detail was ultimately cut.
• Joseph Whipp, who plays Sheriff Burke in Scream, previously portrayed Sgt. Parker, another lawman, in Nightmare.
• The trope of blaming the boyfriend as the killer is evident in both films: Rod Lane (Jsu Garcia) in Nightmare and Billy in Scream.
• Tatum Riley’s jersey, emblazoned with the number 10, is reminiscent of Glen’s in Nightmare.

Wes Craven ties these connections together with a memorable cameo in Scream. Dressed as Fred the janitor, he dons a Freddy Krueger sweater, solidifying the film’s playful homage to his earlier work.

The plot of Scream shares notable similarities with Prom Night (1980), another slasher classic. Both films center around a group of teenagers with dark secrets and feature a masked killer seeking revenge.

Randy mentions Prom Night during the movie, showcasing his encyclopedic knowledge of horror films. It’s also one of the titles rented for Stu’s party, further cementing its place among the foundational inspirations for Scream.

Billy Loomis draws a chilling parallel between Sidney’s issues and Jodie Foster’s character, Clarice Starling, in The Silence of the Lambs. This subtle nod to the psychological thriller underscores Billy’s manipulative nature while adding another layer of meta-horror to Scream.

Casey Becker’s lifeless body hanging from a tree eerily resembles the gruesome opening scene of Suspiria (1977), where a girl is similarly suspended in a macabre display. This visual nod connects Scream to another iconic horror masterpiece, highlighting Wes Craven’s penchant for paying homage to the genre’s most haunting imagery.

When Sidney confides in Billy, saying, “I’m scared I’m gonna end up like my mom. You know, like The Bad Seed or something,” she references the 1956 psychological horror classic. The film tells the story of a seemingly innocent girl with a sinister side, drawing a chilling parallel to Sidney’s own fear of inheriting her mother’s troubled legacy.

Billy claims he was watching The Exorcist (1973) before heading to Sidney’s house, referencing one of the most iconic horror films of all time. Adding to this connection, Linda Blair, who starred in The Exorcist, makes a brief cameo in Scream as an eager reporter. Blair and Wes Craven previously collaborated on the TV movie Summer of Fear (1978), further solidifying the nod to her horror legacy.

When Sidney frantically bangs on the attic window to escape Ghostface, the scene mirrors a moment from The Spiral Staircase (1941). This subtle homage ties Scream to the suspenseful classics that laid the groundwork for modern horror.

Randy humorously quips, “What’s Leatherface doing here?”—a nod to the iconic chainsaw-wielding killer from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). This line exemplifies the meta-humor that defines Scream, blending sharp wit with horror homage.

Sidney draws a chilling parallel between Woodsboro and the unsettling setting of The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976). This comparison underscores the eerie atmosphere in both stories, where small towns are haunted by masked killers and unspeakable terror.

The iconic opening scene of Scream draws a strong connection to When a Stranger Calls (1979), a film inspired by an urban legend. In both stories, a babysitter is menaced by unsettling phone calls, only to discover the terrifying truth—the caller is inside the house. This chilling trope amplifies the tension and sets the tone for the psychological dread that follows.

Randy injects some humor into the tension when he imitates Jerry Lewis’s iconic voice while saying, “Did you really put her liver in the mailbox?” This quirky delivery adds a touch of levity to the otherwise grim subject, showcasing Randy’s character as the film’s comic relief amidst the chaos.

The film pays homage to Jamie Lee Curtis, the ultimate scream queen, with several of her iconic horror and thriller titles mentioned or referenced throughout the movie:

• Prom Night (1980), The Fog (1980), and Terror Train (1980) are all highlighted by Randy, reinforcing Curtis’s status as the face of classic slasher films.
• Trading Places (1983), though a comedy, is another nod to her versatile career.
• A poster for Mother’s Boys (1993), a thriller starring Curtis, is spotted at the video store, further cementing her influence within the genre and Scream’s universe.

These references enrich the meta layer of Scream, acknowledging Curtis’s legacy while celebrating horror cinema’s interconnectedness.

The ultimate horror movie marathon during Stu’s infamous party includes a selection of classic slasher and supernatural titles, showcasing the deep respect Scream has for the genre’s history. The films referenced or seen in the stack are:

• Hellraiser (1987): Clive Barker’s iconic tale of pain, pleasure, and the supernatural.
• The Fog (1980): John Carpenter’s atmospheric ghost story featuring Jamie Lee Curtis.
• Terror Train (1980): A slasher classic starring Curtis, set on a New Year’s Eve train ride gone wrong.
• Prom Night (1980): Another Curtis-led slasher with themes of revenge and high school terror.
• The Evil Dead (1982): Sam Raimi’s blood-soaked masterpiece of demonic possession and cabin-in-the-woods horror.

This curated selection underscores Scream’s meta-awareness and its homage to the films that shaped the horror genre.

• When the police arrest Billy after Sid’s first attack, they place him in the car and close the car door, in which the windows are closed. After they’ve driven off, Sheriff and Dewey go to check on Sid, and in the background, we can still hear Billy calling out for Sid, crying out “SID!”
• Gale Weathers leaves the cameraman in the back of the truck; she is heard to say “I’ll be right back,” but her lips say something like “keep watching.”
• When Gale discovers Kenny on the roof, she starts to drive in a circle and says “Oh God. Kenny I’m sorry, but get off my fucking windshield!” but her lips aren’t moving.
• SPOILER: When Dewey gets stabbed in the back, Sidney mouths “No!” but says “Dewey!”
• SPOILER: At the end of the movie, when Gale Weathers is holding the gun in the kitchen, you can clearly hear the sound of the hammer being pulled before the camera goes to her. However, when the camera shows a view from behind, you can see the hammer on the gun is still up and not in a firing position. Also, on the standard Beretta 92FS handgun, the hammer is unable to be cocked back with the safety on, as Billy stated it was. Furthermore, when the safety is on, the trigger will pull freely. When Gale tried pulling the trigger, she encountered resistance.

• When Casey is making popcorn, she puts the salt shaker next to the stove and leaves the kitchen. When she comes back, the shaker isn’t there.
• When Casey is making the popcorn, she starts pulling the cover off with her left hand near the handle. In the next shot, she is seen using her right hand pulling the paper cover from the other side.
• When Casey sees Steve on the patio, the killer tells her to turn off the light. You see the shadow fall across his face. Yet when the camera flashes to Steve just before he’s killed, we see the already turned-off light go off again.
• SPOILER: When the killer is chasing Casey outside her house, the part of the mask that hides his neck is grey. But when the killer is strangling Casey on the grass, the neck part is jet-black, and the face of the mask is also wider.
• After Casey is stabbed the first time, she knocks the knife out of the killer’s hands, causing him to start strangling her with both hands. When she fights him off, the knife is suddenly back in his hand again.
• When Sidney looks out from her window and says, “Well, I call your bluff.” She then opens the door, and apparently opens the door to where it’s facing towards the outside. But when she steps out, the door is facing inwards, into the house.
• Sidney’s police jacket at the police station.
• No open handicap stall when Sidney enters the school bathroom.
• When Sidney is at the school bathroom sink, her bracelet continually moves from one wrist to the other in between cuts.
• The amount of paper on the floor, around the trash can, in the school bathroom.
• The placement of hanging clothes in the principal’s closet.
• When the principal goes to open the door the first time, the door opens left to right (the hinges are on the right side). When he closes it, he closes it left to right (the hinges are on the left side).
• Length of the sheriff’s cigarette during the conversation with the deputy.
• When Dewey walks into the party, he takes a beer bottle from a teenager, he then gives it back, but in the next shot, he still has it.
• SPOILER: When Gale and Dewey go into the party, Gale secretly places a video camera on top of the VCR facing the couch. The camera is placed at waist-level directly behind her. However, the height of both devices changes. When Randy picks up the phone to receive the news of Principal Himbry’s death, he is standing upright, and the camera is directly in front of his mouth.
• When Tatum is getting beers from the refrigerator in the garage, she is seen grabbing beers and holding them in her right arm. When she’s done, she is originally seen from behind holding a beer in her left hand, and closing the door with her forearm. Then it switches shots, and her left hand is holding two beers, tucked into her arm, and she closes the refrigerator door with her foot.
• When Tatum throws the beer bottles at the killer in the garage, they break and wet his costume. But when the killer runs and falls over her, his costume is suddenly dry.
• When Tatum is locked in the garage, she reaches up to hit the garage door button to get out with her left hand because the beer bottles are in her right. On the close-up of her hand pushing the button, it’s her right hand that hits it.
• SPOILER: The amount of blood on the knife in the garage after cutting Tatum.
• At Stu’s party, everyone watches Halloween (1978). However, the scenes shown from that movie do not correlate with the time passing in this movie. For example, the time between Laurie finding her friends murdered and the “closet scene” is ten to twelve minutes in Halloween; in this movie, closer to 30 minutes elapse.
• Randy says, “Here comes the obligatory tit shot” while watching Halloween (1978), and everyone cheers, supposedly at the sight of breasts. But the scene they are watching at that precise moment doesn’t show nudity. The girl’s breasts in Halloween aren’t revealed until a later scene (and, some claim, not at all in the video version).
• The number of standing beers on the table during the “rules” speech.
• When Randy and friends are watching horror movies, Randy says, “She always outsmarted the killer during the big chase scene. Virgins always do that.” However, when Kenny and Gale watch the footage on their hidden camera, the sentences have been shortened to, “The virgin always outsmarts the killer in the big chase scene.”
• The white car disappears when running Dewey and Gale off the road.
• SPOILER: When Tatum dies, her head is seen being squished completely, but later when Sidney finds her body, her head is still there, and her neck is being squished.
• SPOILER: When Tatum is killed in the garage, both of her arms hang in mid-air, but when Sidney finds her dead, only one of her arms is hanging down.
• SPOILER: The bloodstain after Billy gets stabbed.
• SPOILER: In the end, there are no cuts or stab marks on Stu after Billy stabs him many times.
• SPOILER: When Stu is setting up Sidney’s dad to be framed, you can see him put the cell phone in front of the voice changer box in his pocket. But when it cuts back and her dad is pushed to the floor, you see the cell phone is now behind the voice changer box.

• Reflection in the window of the opening sequence.
• When Casey is running to lock her front door, you can see the shadow of some equipment on the wall as she is running around the corner.
• As Sidney is walking up the side porch, after getting off the bus, a boom mic shadow is visible near her hand.
• When Billy is being put into the cop car.
• The camera crew is briefly visible in the reflection of the television after Dewey turns it off at breakfast, the morning after Sydney stayed at Tatum and Dewey’s house.
• Shadow in the school bathroom.
• When Billy says, “…and if you get it right, you die,” Stu bumps into the camera making it shake.
• SPOILER: Near the end, when Sidney’s dad crashes through the door tied up, you can see a crew member pushing mops/brooms etc. out after he falls (better spotted when paused and pressing frame advance button).

• The police station is supposedly on a one-way street, but a sign reading “Slow School X-ing” indicates traffic travels in both directions.

• Obvious stunt double when Sidney is attacked for the first time and knocked to the floor.
• When a guy walks out of the shop that closes its door because of the curfew, the reflection in the shop door shows him walking past the camera and stopping.
• SPOILER: The shadow of the dummy’s feet used when Tatum gets stuck in the garage is visible before the scene takes place.
• When watching Ghostface sneak up on Randy, Neve Campbell accidentally breaks character and calls him “Jaime!”
• SPOILER: When Billy gets “stabbed” by the killer, it shows the killer wiping off the knife, but right after it shows blood still on the knife. Then he wipes it off again.