‘Scream 7’ Breaks Franchise Record for Lowest Rotten Tomatoes Score

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The latest installment in the Scream series, Scream 7, is now in theaters, but it’s receiving negative attention. Directed by Kevin Williamson and co-written by him and Guy Busick, the film’s story was created by James Vanderbilt and Busick. It was originally planned for a 2026 release.

The film brings back familiar faces like Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Matthew Lillard, and Mason Gooding. Joining them are new cast members Isabel May, Anna Camp, Michelle Randolph, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, and Joel McHale. The story centers around a new Ghostface targeting the daughter of Sidney Prescott.

Making the film was a bumpy ride. After directing ‘Scream VI,’ Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett stepped down in 2023. Christopher Landon was initially hired as the new director, but he also left when stars Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega moved on to other projects. Things changed again in March 2024 when Neve Campbell announced she’d be back, and Kevin Williamson took over as director. Filming finally began in January 2025 and finished in March.

The latest Scream movie, Scream 7, came out in the U.S. on February 27, 2026, after premiering on February 25th. However, critics haven’t been impressed, giving it a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – the lowest score of any film in the Scream series.

According to Kristen Lopez of The Film Maven, the recent sequels had a clear story direction for the character Sam, and the filmmakers didn’t have a backup plan when the actress playing her was fired. Lopez believes attempts to rewrite the story or explain character actions after the fact won’t solve the problems created by this decision. Caralynn Matassa from CBR described the upcoming Scream 7 as the worst film in the series, criticizing it as rushed, illogical, and uninspired, despite expectations for another sequel.

Film critic Alonso Duralde pointed out that losing actors Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera significantly impacted the movie, and the studio’s attempt to recapture the feel of previous installments didn’t work. Matt Donato from Daily Dead agreed, noting that while earlier Scream films successfully balanced horror and character development, this film lacked the latter.

While a few critics found some enjoyment in the film – David Crow of Den of Geek called it “simple, straightforward, and a shit ton of fun,” comparing it favorably to the original Scream movies – the majority felt the story was convoluted and relied too heavily on past references. Anthony Morris from It’s Better in the Dark noted that the film abandoned the storylines of the previous two installments, but also lost the cleverness, self-awareness, and visual style that defined the rest of the series.

Get ready for a terrifying new chapter! Watch the official trailer for Scream 7, coming to theaters on February 27, 2026.

— Scream (@ScreamMovies) October 30, 2025

While Scream 7 offers plenty of thrills and welcomes back familiar faces, it falls short with its story, speed, and how well its characters are developed. Most reviewers consider it the worst installment in the Scream franchise to date.

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2026-02-26 20:45