Scream film franchise Written by Alison Eldridge Alison Eldridge was Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. Alison Eldridge Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 28, 2026 •History In the films of the Scream franchise, victims are stalked and hunted by Ghostface, a masked persona adopted by different killers in each installment. Starting with the first movie in 1996, the series cut through the growing predictability of the slasher horror subgenre by turning its unspoken conventions and clichés—including who survives, who dies, and in what order—into part of the story. Characters in the franchise are well-versed in the mechanics of horror films, and...

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