Scream 7 First Reviews: Neve Campbell Is Fierce in Brutal but Familiar Thriller
Christopher Campbell wrote on February 26, 2026 that with the franchise’s 30th anniversary approaching, Scream 7 heads to theaters this weekend and early reactions to scream are mixed. The new installment reunites Neve Campbell with series creator Kevin Williamson and has drawn sharply divided critical opinions.
Scream 7 first reviews
Critics have responded with a wide spectrum of takes. Some reviewers call Scream 7 a return to form and praise Neve Campbell’s performance and a handful of inventive kills; others deem the film stale, limp, or disappointing. One review noted the film’s overfamiliarity and said the proceedings feel rote despite a high body count and copious gore.
Neve Campbell and Sidney Prescott
Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott, a central through-line for many critics. One critic argued the film functions almost as an apology to Campbell, writing that nearly every scene underscores how important Sidney Prescott is. Another review said the film’s intergenerational dynamic—particularly the mother-daughter relationship—provides emotional grounding amid the bloodshed. That daughter character, Tatum, played by Isabel May, is described in one critique as set up to live up to Sidney and Campbell’s legacy.
Kevin Williamson returns to direct
Kevin Williamson, the original scribe, co-wrote and directed this entry for the first time; one early reaction framed his return as long-awaited, saying it proved well worth the wait. Other critics felt Williamson had gone back to basics and produced a sequel that nods toward convoluted plotting but ultimately amounts to something basic. Another prominent voice said Williamson appears to have no new narrative tricks and that, from a visual standpoint, the film is rife with clichés.
Lowest score and review counts
With critic review embargoes having lifted early Thursday morning, the film currently stands at 42 percent positive across its 50 reviews. While more reviews could still be added and the average could change, that mark places Scream 7 as the worst-reviewed entry in the series, narrowly below the 2000 film Scream 3 at 45 percent. Other franchise scores cited include 2011’s Scream 4 at 61 percent and 1997’s Scream 2 at 83 percent. One assessment still argued the picture will likely be largely review-proof, with the movie expected to open around $60 million globally for the franchise’s second-best start.
Mixed critical reactions and quotes
Voices in favor described the franchise as having “got fun again, ” calling Scream 7 a return to form and a sturdier-than-expected sequel that justifies its existence. One critic called it far more engaging than any seventh film in a horror franchise has any right to be, and another said the sequel makes terrific departures from the series’ weakest points and may be close to the best of the bunch.
On the other side, several critics were blunt. One labeled the film a disappointing sequel and another said it would be a waste of time for franchise fans. A scathing take called the picture “shockingly terrible, ” describing it as sluggish, unscary and plagiaristic in unoriginal ways, arguing Williamson has no narrative tricks left and noting visual clichés such as repeated shots of autumn leaves blowing across lawns and recurring showdowns in an under-construction garage full of translucent tarps. Another voice said the usual bag of franchise tricks has run dry, leaving a thinly-sketched bore that resembles an in-universe knockoff — an impression of an impression — and that the movie suffers from self-inflicted wounds at nearly every turn. Yet another review judged the film entertaining but not unmissable, and one said skipping Scream 7 would not mean missing the best film in the franchise.
Critics also differed on tone: some called this entry campier than others, while one wrote that the film operates as an exercise in the very filmmaking fundamentals the series has at times lacked. Multiple reviewers singled out Campbell’s ferocity as a reason to see the film even when the sequel’s familiarity disappointed them.
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Overall, early coverage presents Scream 7 as a polarizing entry: praised for Neve Campbell’s return, some fresh kills and intergenerational drama, but criticized for familiarity, visual clichés, and a rote quality that some say makes the film feel like a slog.
Closing paragraph: Early reactions leave Scream 7 positioned as a divisive release—a film that many critics find flawed yet intermittently rewarding—arriving in theaters as the franchise marks its 30th anniversary.
