After the third movie, Wes Craven and the cast had promised to never return for another sequel. However, a decade later, screenwriter Kevin Williamson conceived a new trilogy, presenting a unique opportunity to reunite and revisit the franchise.​

Williamson shared his experience with Entertainment Weekly:​

“One day I’m just sitting around and I go, ‘Oh wait—I think—oh my God, I think I have it.’ And then I started thinking about Scream 4. And I kinda worked it all out and what the story was and who generates the plot. I had written this treatment for Scream 3 that was not what they filmed. It was a return to Woodsboro. Scream 3 was supposed to take place in Woodsboro. You know how they’re making a movie in Hollywood? I had an entire film crew going to Woodsboro. So then, I always wanted to go back to Woodsboro. Once I figured out where Sidney was today, who dies and who doesn’t, I said, ‘Okay maybe now I can have a conversation with Bob [Weinstein, producer and co-chairman of Dimension Films].’ I called him up and I pitched him. Of course, he just heard Scream 4. [Laughs] Literally, after I pitched the first scene, I think he just stopped listening and was just like, ‘Write it, write it, write it.’“

The movie was officially announced in July 2008 by The Weinstein Company/Dimension Films. After years of rumors and negotiations, David Arquette and Courteney Cox signed up to reprise their roles in July 2009, with Neve Campbell confirming her return in September 2009. On March 22, 2010, Variety reported that Wes Craven was officially signed on as director.​

After missing previous deadlines, Kevin Williamson delivered the first draft of the script in mid-February 2010. Originally planned for an October 2010 release, the film was rescheduled to April 15, 2011, due to writing delays.​

Ironically and sadly, this was the last movie of Cox and Arquette as a couple; they met during the filming of the original Scream.

On a budget of $40 million, principal photography began on June 28, 2010. Filming was scheduled to end on September 6, after a 42-day shoot, but instead concluded on September 24. Filming took place in and around Ann Arbor, Michigan. Scenes portraying Woodsboro High School featured in the original Scream film were shot at Woodworth Middle School in Dearborn, Michigan. The former 16th District Court in Livonia, Michigan, was used as a police station.​

In April 2010, while scouting for a bookstore to use in the film, Craven spotted a new bookstore that had not yet opened in downtown Northville, Michigan, named Next Chapter Bookstore Bistro. Craven instantly loved the building as well as the name and decided to use both in the film. He also hired the owner’s chef to prepare the food and pastry for a scene in the film. The scenes were shot the first week of July.​

After a test screening in January 2011, Craven and Weinstein felt that two scenes did not play well with the audience. Aimee Teegarden and Alison Brie returned to Detroit in late January and early February 2011 for four days of additional shooting. The scenes involved Teegarden’s character being stalked at her home and Brie’s character being attacked in a parking garage.

Cathy Konrad’s Lawsuit

In May 2010, Cathy Konrad, the producer of all three previous movies in the Scream series, filed a lawsuit against The Weinstein Company, alleging that they violated a written agreement that entitled her company, Cat Entertainment, to first rights to produce all films in the series. The lawsuit was eventually dropped, with reports indicating that the Weinsteins had settled out of court with Konrad, the details remaining confidential, though it was claimed that she would receive a cash payment plus a percentage of the profits from Scream 4.

3 Writers for Scream 4

Also, during production, there was a need for rewrites and polishing on Kevin Williamson’s script. Due to his contractual obligations to the TV show The Vampire Diaries, Williamson was unable to make these modifications, leading the studio to bring in Ehren Kruger—much to the dismay of Williamson and fans, as Kruger was blamed by many for issues in Scream 3.​

The script was polished by Kruger, but also by Wes Craven:

“Look, there was a bumpy period when things shifted over from Kevin to Ehren. I signed up to do a script by Kevin and unfortunately that didn’t go all the way through the shooting. But it certainly is Kevin’s script and concept and characters and themes.”

The entire Scream 4 Script Drama was covered by HelloSidney.com.​

• Shenae Grimes and Lucy Hale have cameo appearances in the film as opener-victims of Stab 6.​
• Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell also make a joint cameo appearance, as Stab 7 actresses.​
• Nancy O’Dell, who appeared in Scream 2 and Scream 3, returns as an interviewer.​
• Heather Graham reappears as Casey Becker in the film Stab, during the Stab-A-Thon scene.
• Wes Craven, who made cameos in every previous Scream movie, also filmed a small role in Scream 4—but unfortunately, his scene was cut from the final version. He played a coroner examining the crime scene at Marnie’s house

CGI

For the first time in the series, Scream 4 utilized computer-generated imagery (CGI). Instead of using “collapsing knives,” the knife blades were added during post-production with CGI effects. This technique was employed to enhance the realism of certain scenes.

Petit Killer

Emma Roberts, who played Jill Roberts, is petite, standing at 5ft 1½ inches (156.2 cm). This presented some challenges in Scream 4 when portraying Jill as Ghostface. To compensate for the height difference between her and the stunt performers, several adjustments were made on set:

Roberts wore 7-inch platform boots during certain sequences to appear more imposing. Camera tricks and strategic angles were used to make her Ghostface persona more intimidating.

During an interview, Roberts shared her experience auditioning for Wes Craven via Skype, while Neve Campbell later joked about Jill’s height at TFW 2015, playfully noting how unusual it was for such a petite person to be Ghostface.

After the first test screening in January 2011, Weinstein and Craven determined that two key scenes needed improvements based on audience feedback. As a result:

• Aimee Teegarden and Alison Brie returned to Detroit in late January and early February 2011 for four days of reshoots.
• The updated sequences involved Teegarden’s character being stalked at home and Brie’s character being attacked in a parking garage—both intended to increase tension and horror.
• The resulting alternate scenes are included in the special features of the home entertainment releases.

Scream 4 was released on April 15, 2011, across 3,305 theaters on 4,400 screens.

• The film grossed $1 million in its midnight premiere.
• It earned $18.7 million in its opening weekend, which was considered underwhelming by industry experts.
• Despite a mixed-to-positive critical reception, it was generally seen as an improvement over Scream 3.
• Scream 4 grossed $97.1 million worldwide, making it the lowest-grossing film of the franchise at the time.
• Although the movie was intended to kickstart a new trilogy, its box office performance put those plans on hold.

“When I pitched Scream 4, […] I pitched a whole new trilogy. I guess Scream 4 never took off in a way they hoped, and so…”
— Kevin Williamson, Cinefilles

Ghostface also asks Kirby what is Freddy Krueger’s weapon. Freddy’s iconic bladed glove remains one of the most recognizable weapons in horror history, throwing in a reference to Wes Craven’s own A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).

In Scream 4, Kirby Reed’s response to the classic question—”What’s your favorite scary movie?“—is as unexpected as it is clever: “Bambi”
This moment mirrors Randy Meeks’ infamous response in Scream 2, when he sarcastically tells the killer that his favorite scary movie is Showgirls (1995).

In Scream 4, Dewey Riley’s phone ringtone is none other than the iconic theme from Beverly Hills Cop (1984)—a playful nod that fits perfectly with his quirky, lovable persona.

“Axel F” even made it onto the official Scream 4 soundtrack, further cementing the connection!

In Scream 4, Olivia Morris takes a jab at Sidney Prescott’s unlucky streak, delivering a sharp one-liner:

“Stab is the wrong franchise for her, it should be Final Destination.”
— Olivia Morris, Scream 4

This meta-reference plays into Scream’s self-aware humor, acknowledging that Sidney has survived multiple Ghostface massacres, much like how the characters in Final Destination keep escaping death—only to be hunted down by fate itself.

The joke also highlights Scream 4‘s commentary on horror trends, as Final Destination was one of the biggest horror franchises of the 2000s, thriving in the same era when remakes and reboots dominated the genre.

Kevin Williamson’s script for Scream 4 brings the franchise back on track with its signature slasher and thriller references—and it all starts at the very beginning of the genre.

The film pays homage to Peeping Tom (1960), widely regarded as the first slasher movie. Like Scream 4, Peeping Tom features a killer who films his murders, making it a perfect parallel to Charlie and Robbie’s live-streaming obsession.

In Scream 4, Kirby and Jill are seen watching this classic. Edgar Wright’s horror-comedy masterpiece, which parodies and celebrates the zombie genre in the same way Scream does for slashers.

In a classic Ghostface trivia moment, Scream 4 brings The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) into the mix with two key questions about Leatherface:

Charlie challenges Kirby, asking who played Leatherface first—to which she correctly responds: “Gunnar Hansen.”

Ghostface later asks Kirby what weapon Leatherface uses in the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and she instinctively answers: “Chainsaw.”

While her answer seems obvious, horror purists don’t agree—Leatherface doesn’t kill most of his victims with a chainsaw in the original film. Instead, he uses hammers and hooks just as often, making Ghostface’s question a sneaky trick.

As expected in a Scream film, Scream 4 continues the franchise’s tradition of paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock, referencing two of his most iconic films.

• Psycho (1960): The film directly mentions Psycho, a foundational slasher classic that has influenced countless horror films, including Scream.
• Rear Window (1954): One of the film’s most suspenseful sequences mirrors Hitchcock’s voyeuristic thriller when Jill and Kirby watch Olivia’s brutal murder from across the street—a clear reimagining of Rear Window’s central premise.
• A character named after Anthony Perkins – Scream 4 subtly honors the legendary actor who played Norman Bates in Psycho by naming Deputy Perkins (played by Anthony Anderson) after him.

As always, Scream 4 sneaks in subtle movie references through background details, including a collection of DVDs spotted in various scenes. Among them are:

🎬 Horror Classics & Cult Favorites:

• Suspiria (1977) – Dario Argento’s surreal and terrifying giallo masterpiece.
• Cabin Fever (2002) – Eli Roth’s gruesome flesh-eating virus horror.
• Teeth (2007) – A feminist horror film about a girl with, well… killer anatomy.
• Final Destination (2000) – A franchise that Scream 4 even jokes about (“Sidney should be in Final Destination, not Stab!”).
• Automaton Transfusion (2006) – A low-budget zombie flick known for its extreme gore.

🎭 Comedy & Action Films:

• Rush Hour 2 (2001) – Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker’s high-energy sequel.
• Clerks II (2006) – Kevin Smith’s cult comedy, connecting to his Scream 3 cameo as Silent Bob.
• Meet the Robinsons (2007) – A surprising nod to Disney’s animated sci-fi adventure.
• Avatar (2009) – James Cameron’s blockbuster phenomenon.
• Die Hard (1988) – The ultimate action classic, featuring a hero who just won’t quit—much like Sidney.

The prop department went all out in Scream 4, filling the cinema club’s walls and characters’ rooms with movie posters that add layers of horror history, film culture, and meta connections to the franchise.

Inside Woodsboro High’s cinema club, a treasure trove of horror, thriller, and cult classics can be spotted, including:

• Horror Icons & Genre-Defining Films:

  • Vertigo (1958) – Hitchcock’s legendary psychological thriller.
  • The Exorcist (1973) – One of the most terrifying horror films ever made.
  • The Hills Have Eyes (1977) – Wes Craven’s brutal survival horror.
  • Dawn of the Dead (1978) – George A. Romero’s zombie masterpiece.
  • The Thing (1982) – John Carpenter’s sci-fi horror classic.
  • Army of Darkness (1992) – The Evil Dead saga’s wildest installment.

• Cult & Horror Oddities:

  • Troll 2 (1990) – Infamously bad yet beloved among cult horror fans.
  • Tremors (1990) – A horror-comedy favorite featuring giant underground creatures.
  • Zombie Strippers! (2008) – A B-movie splatterfest embracing its absurdity.
  • Feast (2005) – A gory horror-comedy with over-the-top creature carnage.

• Meta Connections & Genre References:

  • Stab 3 – A nod to Scream 3‘s in-universe movie-within-a-movie.
  • Final Destination 2 (2003) – A franchise that Scream 4 directly references in dialogue.
  • Wolf Creek (2005) – A brutal slasher based on true events.
  • Death Proof (2007) – Tarantino’s slasher-inspired grindhouse film.
  • Piranha 3D (2010) – A self-aware horror remake, fitting given Scream 4’s theme.

The horror love doesn’t stop at school—Jill and Kirby’s bedrooms also feature posters that reveal their personalities and film tastes:

• Jill’s Room:

  • Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) – A universal monster classic.
  • An American Werewolf in London (1981) – A werewolf horror-comedy that changed special effects forever.

• Kirby’s Room:

  • Nosferatu (1922) – The original vampire horror film, setting the stage for the genre.
  • Rear Window (1954) – A Hitchcock classic, directly mirrored in Scream 4’s voyeuristic kill scene.

As always, Scream 4 sprinkles in pop culture references, keeping the dialogue sharp, self-aware, and grounded in reality. Among them are mentions of popular TV shows, reflecting the media landscape of the early 2010s:

• Top Chef: The long-running reality cooking competition gets a nod, adding a touch of humor amid the horror.
• Punk’d:  Ashton Kutcher’s infamous celebrity prank show is referenced, reinforcing Scream 4’s theme of deception and media obsession.
• Dateline: The investigative news program known for its true crime stories, fitting given the Scream franchise’s focus on sensationalized murder cases.
• Today: The morning news show, another nod to the media’s role in shaping narratives—especially relevant with Sidney’s book tour storyline.
• The View: The daytime talk show, famous for its strong personalities and heated debates, reflecting the public’s fascination with celebrity scandals and crime stories—something Sidney knows all too well.

These references serve as a reminder of Scream’s deep connection to media culture, reinforcing how the franchise has always been a reflection of its time.

• When Gale is typing at her computer, she continues to press keys even though the screen shows that she had finished the sentence she was writing.

• Sheriff Riley and his deputies wear six-point stars as a badge, yet on the sleeves, they have seven-point star patches. In any real Sheriff’s department, one or the other would be used, but never both.
• At the beginning of the movie, when Gale is sitting in front of her 6th-generation Apple iMac, instead of OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, it’s running OS X 10.4 Tiger. Every 6th-gen iMac came preinstalled with Snow Leopard, making this setup inaccurate.

• During the opening, when Jenny is talking to the killer (just before Marnie is thrown through the back-porch door), she is clearly standing in the kitchen by the stairs. However, when Marnie’s body crashes through the door, Jenny is suddenly back in the living room.
• When Jenny hangs up and goes toward the stairs to check on Marnie, she’s holding her phone in her left hand. In the next shot, her phone has disappeared.
• When the girl crawls away from Ghostface while bleeding, he moves to the garage door controls to close the door while she’s still under it. However, the garage door starts going down a second before we see Ghostface actually pressing the button.
• When Gale is home working on her computer, there is a plate of toast on the desk. The amount of toast changes between shots.
• During the “Stab-A-Thon,” when Stab is playing, the scenes are out of sequence. The first scene shown is the popcorn burning, followed by the shower scene—but in the original Stab, the shower scene happens before the popcorn burns.
• When Deputy Hoss gets stabbed in the back, there is no sound of the knife being pulled from his body. In the next shot, Ghostface’s knife appears completely clean, with no blood stains.

• When Kirby is on the phone with Jill while approaching the “Stab Fest” party, her iPhone screen is clearly on the contacts list instead of call mode. Additionally, iPhone screens automatically turn blank when held against the ear, but hers remains lit.
• When Sidney is unpacking her aunt’s groceries, the box of cereal has already been opened and closed shut. Given that the groceries were just brought inside, it should still be sealed.

• At Kirby’s house, after Sheriff Riley interrupts the Stabathon, Charlie says he will watch Stab 7 and puts in the DVD.
  • Later, when the film is playing, it shows the girls discussing a Facebook stalker—which was established as Stab 6.
  • This might seem like a mistake, but as Jenny and Marnie mention in the true opening, Stab 7 begins with Rachel and Chloe watching Stab 6—making the sequence accurate.

Continuity Errors

• When Jill and Charlie reveal themselves as the killers, Jill has a knife in her hand. However, when she walks over to Charlie, the knife is gone. He then hands her a knife to stab him with, even though she was already holding one moments earlier.
• When Charlie shows Sidney the footage of Ghostface stabbing a girl in her bed on his cell phone, it contradicts an earlier shot of Jill removing the camera from inside the Ghostface mask.
• Jill is holding both a gun and a knife while waving the knife in Sidney’s face. However, when she and Charlie go to stab each other, she’s only holding the gun, and Charlie hands her the knife.
• When Charlie holds his iPhone up to Sidney to show the murder footage, he’s holding it vertically, with his thumb on the bottom and four fingers on top. In the next shot, he’s suddenly holding it horizontally, using only his thumb, index, and middle finger.
• When Charlie and Jill reveal themselves, Charlie points to Jill with his knife, calling her the “new Sidney.” But when he points to himself, the ridge where the fake blade retracts is clearly visible, revealing it as a prop safety knife.
• When Jill dies, she falls face-down. However, the final shot of her shows her lying face-up.
• When Rebecca runs toward the exit door in the parking garage, an “EXIT” sign is clearly visible. But after she gets stabbed, the sign disappears, and the parked cars around her have changed positions.
• When Sidney runs to Olivia’s house, she enters the blood-splattered room and runs her hand down the blood-covered doorframe. However, none of the blood transfers onto her hand. If the murder had just happened, the blood would still be wet and smear onto her fingers.
• When Deputy Perkins is stabbed in the forehead and stumbles out of the police car, the stains all over his uniform are clearly not blood. The texture looks dry and artificial, making the effect less convincing.

Factual Errors

• When Jill enters Sidney’s hospital room, she pulls out the call bell cord to prevent Sidney from calling for help. In reality, removing a call bell cord triggers an alarm at the nurses’ station, but in the movie, no alarm goes off.

Revealing Mistakes

• When Jill examines the blood on her cheek after using Trevor’s hand to scratch herself, Trevor’s stomach can be faintly seen breathing, even though he is supposed to be dead.