Scream 7 First Reviews: Neve Campbell is Fierce in Brutal but Familiar Thriller — scream Early Responses

Published by Christopher Campbell on February 26, 2026, early critics are split on Scream 7 as the franchise approaches its 30th anniversary and the film heads to theaters this weekend. The first reviews have arrived online with mixed appreciation, although Neve Campbell returns and a new Ghostface killer terrorizes her family.

Scream reviews and quotes

Reaction ranges from praise to disappointment. Critics and reviewers highlighted Campbell’s performance, some fresh kills and a sense of return to basics, while others called the sequel stale or dispensable. Sample lines from critics include:

• "The Scream franchise just got fun again… Scream 7 is a return to form. " — Kristy Puchko
• "Scream 7 proves sturdier than expected… enough to justify its existence. " — Peter Gray
• "It may have taken 30 years for Williamson to finally get to steer his own ship, but with Scream 7, it proves well worth the wait. Fans will approve. " — Pete Hammond
• "Scream 7 is far more engaging than any seventh film in a horror franchise has any right to be… a solid entry in a franchise that felt like it was beginning to lose its way. " — Anthony O’Connor
• "It is an entertaining movie, but it isn’t unmissable. " — Grant Watson
• "If you skip Scream 7, you’re not missing the best film in the franchise. " — William Bibbiani
• "Williamson has gone back to basics, but the result is a Scream sequel that, while it nods in the direction of being seductively convoluted, is really just… basic. " — Owen Gleiberman
• "A disappointing sequel in a saga that has never failed so evidently. " — Manuel São Bento
• "For fans of the franchise, Scream 7 will prove to be nothing but a waste of time. " — Gregory Nussen
• "Scream 7 operates as an exercise in what those films are ironically lacking: horror filmmaking fundamentals. " — Taylor Williams
• "This sequel makes terrific departures from the franchise’s weakest points. " — Kristy Puchko
• "Where Scream 7 works best is in its intergenerational dynamic… The mother-daughter relationship provides emotional grounding amid the bloodshed. " — Peter Gray
• "It’s one heck of an apology to Neve Campbell. Almost every scene is about how important Sidney Prescott is. " — William Bibbiani
• "Scream 7 may not be the best of the bunch, but it’s damn close. " — Kristy Puchko
• "Tonally, this is one of the campier entries in the franchise. " — Peter Gray

Production turmoil and firing

The film’s path back to theaters was turbulent. In late 2023, Melissa Barrera, the star of 2022’s "Scream" reboot and 2023’s "Scream VI, " was fired from the seventh installment by Spyglass over social media messages the production company deemed antisemitic. After war broke out in Gaza that year, Barrera reshared a post accusing Israel of "genocide and ethnic cleansing" as well as a magazine article alleging the Israeli government was distorting "the Holocaust to boost the Israeli arms industry. "

Shortly after Barrera’s axing, her on-screen sister Jenna Ortega announced she wouldn’t return for Scream 7, citing scheduling conflicts with her hit Netflix series "Wednesday. " The film’s original director, Christopher Landon, left the project because he was getting death threats over Barrera’s firing, even though he didn’t make the decision to boot her.

Script rewrite and cost

At a creative crossroads, producers turned to franchise veteran Kevin Williamson to take over directing duties on the seventh film. Williamson and Guy Busick, a writer on the prior two installments, co-wrote the screenplay, which required a serious retooling after the exits of Ortega and Barrera; those characters had been the protagonists of Scream VI in lieu of Neve Campbell’s Sidney Prescott. The rewrite has been pegged at roughly $500, 000.

Campbell’s return and paydays

Neve Campbell returned for Scream 7, a move that eased concerns. With the sixth film, Paramount executives had been worried about making a Scream movie without Campbell, who previously didn’t return over a salary dispute, though the studio’s influence was limited because Spyglass had the final ruling on creative decisions. Scream VI earned $161 million at the global box office.

Industry figures estimate Scream 7 is tracking a North American debut of $45 million to $50 million, which would deliver a series-best kickoff. Spyglass chief Gary Barber is described as one of Hollywood’s toughest dealmakers, but Campbell had more leverage to return and secured a nearly $7 million deal. Courteney Cox was awarded a $2 million payday.

Shawn Robbins, director of movie analytics at Fandango and founder of Box Office Theory, said, "Neve Campbell is to ‘Scream’ what Jamie Lee Curtis is for the ‘Halloween’ franchise. " He added that she is a big draw, especially for older ge unclear in the provided context.

Mixed stakes as film opens

The combined picture is a film being judged on two fronts: critics parsing whether the new installment is a comeback and an industry watching box-office traction after significant cast and creative upheaval. Early reviewers are split on whether Scream 7 is a necessary revival or a familiar retread, even as Campbell’s presence and several critics’ praise make the film notable heading into its opening weekend.

Christopher Campbell’s round-up of early reviews was published on February 26, 2026, as the franchise marks its 30th anniversary and Scream 7 arrives in theaters this weekend.