The seventh installment of the Scream franchise premiered in Los Angeles on February 27, 2026, bringing back Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott and featuring returning cast members like Courteney Cox and Mason Gooding. Directed by Kevin Williamson, the film introduces Sidney's daughter Tatum, played by Isabel May, as a new target for Ghostface. Early projections suggest a franchise-best opening of $59 million.
Scream 7 marks a significant return for the long-running horror series, which turns 30 in 2026. The premiere event in Los Angeles drew key cast members, including Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, Skeet Ulrich, Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Matthew Lillard, who reprises his role as Stu Macher through an AI deepfake element in the plot. The film, now playing in theaters, follows Sidney Prescott, who has built a new life but faces renewed terror when a Ghostface killer targets her teenage daughter Tatum in the quiet town of Pine Grove.
In a Deadline interview, Mason Gooding, returning as Chad Meeks-Martin alongside Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy, reflected on his growing association with the genre. "The ‘Scream King’ moniker thing always stresses me out because I feel like there’s just so much more I wanna do," Gooding said, noting his affinity for horror's ability to convey timeless themes. He also discussed the absence of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega from previous films, describing the return of Campbell and Williamson as a "natural process" after processing changes in the franchise. Gooding highlighted the evolution of his character, now working as one of Gale's "hot interns," emphasizing Chad's protective nature.
Matthew Lillard, in another Deadline sit-down, expressed surprise at the franchise's enduring popularity, crediting director Wes Craven's collaborative set and his chemistry with Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis. "Three decades after Scream redefined the modern slasher movie, it remains embedded in pop culture," Lillard noted. The plot incorporates AI recreations of past killers like Nancy Loomis and Dewey Riley to torment Sidney, with survivors including Sidney, Tatum, her husband Mark (Joel McHale), Mindy, and Chad.
Kevin Williamson, who wrote the original films and directs this entry, has teased ideas for Scream 8, though nothing is confirmed. The film's strong preview performance underscores its appeal, blending nostalgia with fresh kills and meta-commentary.
