The GHOST FACE mask

Masks have been an essential part of culture throughout history, serving diverse purposes—from religious rituals to theatrical performances, and as tools for identity transformation. Today, they are most commonly associated with Halloween festivities and play a vital role in the arts, particularly in horror films. Among them, one mask stands out as an icon: the Ghost Face® Mask.

A Horror Icon

Beloved by 10 out of 10 Scream fans, the Ghost Face® Mask has become one of the most recognizable symbols in American cinema. Adam Rockoff, in his book and film Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film, compares Ghost Face® to Edvard Munch’s The Scream, describing it as a “hyperbolic rendering” of the famous expressionist painting. This reference likely influenced the film’s title change from Scary Movie to Scream.

“The ‘face’ is twisted in an exaggerated, almost mocking grin, as if reflecting the look of terror and surprise on his victims’ faces,” writes Rockoff.

Since its debut in the Scream films, the Ghost Face® costume has become the top-selling Halloween costume in the USA, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon.

The Mask’s Origins

The Ghost Face® Mask was created by Fun World in 1991 as part of their Fantastic Faces collection. Initially called “Peanut Eyed Ghost,” its design drew inspiration from:

• Pink Floyd’s The Wall album cover
• The Betty Boop cartoon
• Edvard Munch’s The Scream painting

The mask caught the eye of Wes Craven while scouting locations for Scream. According to R.J. Torbert, licensing director at Fun World, Craven was adamant about including it in the film after discovering it in a mask collector’s home.

Evolution Through the Franchise

The Ghost Face® Mask has evolved with each installment of the Scream series:

• Scream: The original Fantastic Faces mask was used alongside the “KNB version,” created by the production team until licensing agreements were finalized.
• Scream 2: The mask was branded under the Fearsome Faces line.
• Scream 3: Officially trademarked as “Ghost Face®.”
• Scream 4: Introduced the Deluxe Movie Edition Ghost Face®.

For a detailed history, check out GhostFace.co.uk, an excellent resource created by collector Tim Wagstaff.

How to identify the version of my Ghost Face mask?