Which Ghostface Is the Best Ghostface?

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This list was originally published in 2022. It has been updated to include Scream 7.

Despite the ominous lyrics of “Red Right Hand,” often associated with the killer, Ghostface in the Scream movies isn’t a supernatural being. While the 1996 film is famous for bringing the slasher genre back to life, the script by Kevin Williamson, directed by Wes Craven, stood out by keeping the killer’s identity hidden until the final act. Unlike villains like Freddy Krueger or Michael Myers, Ghostface was simply a person—or, actually, two people—wearing a mask. Scream wasn’t just a typical slasher film; it was also a mystery focused on figuring out who the killer was.

Instead of bringing back the killers Billy and Stu in later movies, the Scream series smartly decided to always focus on the big reveal of who the killer is. This approach means Ghostface can never truly be stopped, because the threat can come from anyone – anyone can become the killer. This keeps the movies feeling realistic, which is rare in horror. It also turns the audience into detectives, keeping them engaged not just by seeing Sidney Prescott survive, but also by trying to figure out the killer’s identity each time.

Not all of the killers in the Scream movies are equally frightening. With the new film, Scream 7, now playing, we’re ranking every Ghostface killer from the past 30 years, from least to most terrifying. (Be warned: This article contains major spoilers for all Scream films, including Scream 7.)

16.
Marco (Ethan Embry) — Scream 7 (2026)

The latest Scream movie had several flaws, but the reveal of who the killers were was arguably the biggest disappointment. While all three Ghostfaces in Scream 7 felt like weak choices, it’s more entertaining to pick just one as the worst. Each unmasking felt silly and didn’t deliver much excitement, but Marco stands out as particularly bad. He’s barely a character – he doesn’t even have a last name! Plus, it’s immediately obvious he’s a killer when he tells a clearly unbelievable story about Stu still being alive, and Sidney and Gale surprisingly believe him.

Let’s talk about Marco. He’s the link between Jessica and Karl, both former patients at the psychiatric hospital where he works. He also happens to be an AI expert – he used to work at Google – and that’s how he created the realistic fake videos of Stu and other Ghostface killers to terrorize Sidney. It’s never clear why he went to so much trouble impersonating Stu, someone with no connection to the other killers, but he seems to enjoy wasting everyone’s time with this elaborate scheme.

15.
Karl Gibbs (Kraig Dane) — Scream 7 (2026)

It feels odd even considering Karl as a suspect, as he’s essentially just working for Marco and Jessica. His motivations in the final part of Scream 7 are confusing, but it’s established that he was already a dangerous killer before getting involved. We also see that he’s a fan of the Stab movies – specifically, Sidney Prescott, played by Tori Spelling.

Karl manages a small win against Marco by participating in one of the film’s few genuinely exciting moments: stabbing through the wall where Sidney and her daughter, Tatum, are hiding. This home invasion scene creates much-needed suspense, giving Karl a slight advantage. He also has a memorable death – getting hit and then run over by Gale. While there’s no evidence Karl ever actually killed anyone as Ghostface, he remained committed to the role until the very end.

14.
Jessica Bowden (Anna Camp) — Scream 7 (2026)

Although not as unsettling as her son, Lucas, Jessica immediately feels suspicious when she appears on screen. From the start, Sidney’s neighbor and friend seems untrustworthy, making her eventual reveal as Ghostface predictable rather than surprising. However, the biggest issue with Jessica’s character is her confusing motivation. She claims she was inspired to kill her husband after reading Sidney’s memoir, Out of Darkness, and is now seeking revenge simply because Neve Campbell didn’t return for Scream VI.

She doesn’t explain it this way herself, but Jessica’s anger towards Sidney for leaving and not coming to New York constantly brings up the fact that Neve Campbell wasn’t in the last Scream film. This anger doesn’t make much sense as a reason for her actions, and the more she talks, the more it feels like she’s inventing things as she goes. Eventually, she claims Sidney is too old to be the ‘Final Girl’ and that killing her in front of Tatum will restart the cycle of violence, saying she’s trying to ‘create Sidney 2.0.’ It’s all very confusing. What’s even more frustrating is that Jessica never explains the purpose of the deepfakes, making them seem pointless, especially since it turns out she has no real connection to Sidney or anyone from her past. It leaves you wondering, what’s the point of all this?

13.
Ethan Landry (Jack Champion) — Scream VI (2023)

The original Scream cleverly revealed that there were two people under the Ghostface mask, which solved a lot of practical problems and became a pattern in most of the sequels. Scream VI broke that pattern by having three killers. While previous films showed that both killers usually have significant roles, the sixth installment demonstrates that having three means one killer will be largely overlooked.

Ethan’s role in Scream VI is so small that he’s easily forgettable. When the movie tries to make him seem like a red herring – pointing out his crush on Tara and his Letterboxd account – it doesn’t really work. Like in other Scream films, when he’s revealed as the killer, it feels predictable rather than shocking. The fact that he’s Detective Bailey’s son is equally underwhelming because you have to remember who Ethan even is for the twist to matter. Honestly, Jack Champion’s performance as Spider in Avatar: Fire and Ash was more memorable.

12.
Charlie Walker (Rory Culkin) — Scream 4 (2011)

Among the less memorable side villains, Charlie really feels unnecessary. He’s just another movie-obsessed character who turns to killing because of unrequited love – a familiar trope. He doesn’t really bring anything new to the table, and when you compare him to his much more capable partner, his weaknesses become even clearer.

Charlie desperately wanted to be Jill’s partner in crime, but he ended up as a less impressive version of another character, and mainly served as a hurdle for Jill to overcome on her path to fame. As Ghostface, he was a shockingly violent killer – his attack on Olivia was one of the most gruesome killings in the series since Casey Becker. However, once his mask came off, he wasn’t particularly memorable. While revealing him as the killer was a strong moment – especially his stabbing of Kirby after she tried to help – the movie could have explored the issue of violent, isolated individuals more thoroughly if it had chosen to do so.

11.
Quinn Bailey (Liana Liberato) — Scream VI (2023)

Quinn is unique in the Scream franchise as the first Ghostface victim revealed to also be a killer—if you don’t count Roman, whom the later films largely ignore. Her return as a ghost gives her an edge over her brother. She’s also a more compelling character from the start, initially shown having an intimate encounter, while her brother dies never having had sex. Scream VI deserves credit for a truly surprising twist, as misdirection is a key element of what makes the Scream movies exciting.

Beyond the shock of her return, Quinn doesn’t stand out as a particularly compelling Ghostface. Compared to previous female killers in the series, who were known for their intense anger and desperation, Quinn feels somewhat flat. If she had a unique motive – one that wasn’t shared with the other killers – she might have been more memorable.

10.
Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) — Scream 3 (2000)

You’d expect Roman to be a standout killer since he’s the only one who acted alone. However, he’s hampered by being Ghostface in Scream 3, which is generally considered the weakest film in the original trilogy. Even if that weren’t a factor, Roman struggles because he has no real connection to the other characters and isn’t particularly sympathetic. He’s simply a ruthless director who commits murder – and that’s not enough to make him a compelling villain.

Turns out, there’s a family connection: he’s Sidney’s secret half-brother, a dramatic plot twist that the recent Scream movies both poke fun at and partially accept. In a frustrating rewrite of history, Roman reveals he orchestrated everything that happened in the first three films, secretly filming key scenes and manipulating Billy into becoming a killer. It’s a classic case of someone stepping in late and claiming all the credit – and it doesn’t work for Roman.

9.
Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney) — Scream VI (2023)

Whether you like the NYPD or not, Detective Bailey being the killer wasn’t much of a surprise. He even admits it with a line acknowledging how obvious it was, which is a clever touch but also a little disappointing. While it’s nice to guess Ghostface’s identity correctly beforehand, it makes the reveal feel rushed and predictable. His motive also becomes clear quickly – as soon as his connection to Quinn’s brother is mentioned, it’s obvious he’s targeting Sam for revenge.

The new movie clearly references Scream 2 by presenting Detective Bailey as a similar character to Mrs. Loomis – a parent seeking revenge on the person who killed their child. In this case, he’s after Sam, who killed Richie in the previous film. While some might see these similarities to past movies as uninspired, it’s actually exciting and true to the Scream franchise that the writers are revisiting and reimagining old ideas. This is emphasized in the final scene, which takes place in front of a movie screen showing a fan-made Stab film directed by Richie.

8.
Mickey Altieri (Timothy Olyphant) — Scream 2 (1997)

Mickey is one of the less memorable killers, largely because the story focuses so much on what Mrs. Loomis is doing. It’s difficult for anyone to stand out when acting opposite Timothy Olyphant, and in Scream 2‘s finale, Mrs. Loomis completely dominates the scene – you barely even register Mickey’s presence (especially since he’s mostly incapacitated). Even a strong performance from Timothy Olyphant is eclipsed by Laurie Metcalf’s powerful performance immediately following.

Another issue with Mickey is that, similar to Detective Bailey, the movie makes it pretty clear from the start that he’s the killer. The Scream series often uses a trick where the most obvious suspect turns out to be the murderer, and while that can be surprising, it doesn’t work with Mickey. He gives away too much information that only the killer would know, making his reveal feel flat. Plus, the other characters don’t really have a strong connection with him, so his betrayal doesn’t feel impactful – it just feels expected.

7.
Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison) — Scream (2022)

Guns don’t really fit the style of these movies and should be used rarely. They’re meant to be suspenseful thrillers, not action-packed shooters. However, Amber unexpectedly pulling a gun and shooting Liv is arguably the most impactful killer reveal in the series. While it wasn’t entirely unpredictable – Amber had seemed suspicious – the sheer violence of the moment is genuinely shocking and stays with you even after you know who the killer is.

Mikey Madison delivers a fantastic performance, convincingly portraying both a terrifying villain and a sympathetic victim, skillfully eliciting audience sympathy whenever her character, Amber, is in trouble. Her attempt to shift blame to Reddit is a particularly memorable moment. While Amber is revealed as a killer early on, she still gets a powerful arc, brutally killing a beloved character (poor Dewey!) and going down fighting – a fitting end for her. What more could she have wanted?

6.
Jason Carvey (Tony Revolori) — Scream VI (2023)

You’re right to point out that Scream VI had three Ghostface killers! That’s true by the end of the movie, but at the start, Jason is the one wearing the mask and committing the first murder. There is another accomplice, but since we don’t see them actually kill anyone – only as a dismembered body in a fun reference to Friday the 13th Part 2 – it wouldn’t be right to include them in a ranking. So why is Jason, who appears only in the very beginning, ranked so highly? Because that opening scene is exceptionally well done.

I was completely shocked by Scream VI! They killed off Ghostface in the very first scene – seriously, right away! – and it was such a bold move, especially for a sixth movie in the series. The actor playing that first Ghostface, Jason Carvey, was great, even in that short time. He and his victim had this really clever conversation about slasher movies that felt really smart, and the kill itself was super creative – luring her with a fake dating app match! Honestly, if he had been the main Ghostface revealed at the end, it might have felt a little underwhelming. But as just the first one, the one in the cold open, he really stood out. It was a fantastic way to start the movie!

5.
Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) — Scream (1996)

It feels wrong to rank one of the original Ghostface killers so low, but the competition is really tough! Stu set the stage for a pattern of less-impactful killers that appears throughout the rest of this list. In the movie Scream, when Tara references the in-universe film Stab, she remembers Billy as the killer but completely forgets about Stu. It doesn’t help that Stu’s reasons for killing are unclear. There’s a hint of attraction between Stu and Billy, and if the movie had explored that more, Stu might be a more memorable villain. However, it was 1996, and things were different.

The ending of Scream is so effective, and surprisingly funny, largely thanks to Stu, played brilliantly by Matthew Lillard. His delivery of the line, “My mom and dad are gonna be so mad at me,” is iconic, as is the equally memorable “liver alone.” While a slip with the fake blood caused Billy to accidentally hit Stu with the phone, Lillard’s spontaneous reaction to it was absolutely perfect.

4.
Mrs. Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) — Scream 2 (1997)

Okay, let’s talk about the big reveal in Scream. It definitely came as a shock to learn that the seemingly random reporter, Debbie Salt, was actually Billy Loomis’s mom. The filmmakers were clearly nodding to Friday the 13th with that connection to Mrs. Voorhees – remember how Casey didn’t know that, and Steve paid the price? But honestly, out of all the Ghostface unmaskings, this one felt like a bit of a cheat. Mrs. Loomis was essentially a complete non-entity until that moment, a background character suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Mickey says, “Didn’t see that coming,” and he’s not wrong – because there was absolutely no way anyone could have!

Laurie Metcalf is so captivating as Mrs. Loomis that she’s quickly become the most popular villain in the Scream movies. While the ending might seem like a convenient twist when you think about it, it’s genuinely exciting to watch. Metcalf brings incredible energy, unpredictable emotions, and a chilling intensity to the role, transforming a simple plot twist into a truly terrifying threat for Sidney. It’s brilliant, really.

3.
Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) — Scream (2022)

Richie, as the new guy and potential love interest, immediately raises suspicion – even Dewey points this out when they first meet. However, unlike the original killer Billy Loomis, Richie – played with genuine warmth by Jack Quaid – appears to be a genuinely good person caught in a terrible situation. He also serves as a stand-in for the audience, realistically worried about survival, eager to escape the danger in Woodsboro, and quick to recognize the familiar tropes of horror movies.

Richie’s reveal as Ghostface was a masterful performance – no previous killer was as convincing at appearing to be a sympathetic character. That’s what makes his betrayal so shocking and impactful. It also cleverly mirrors how harmful online behavior can translate into real-life actions. He’s both a caring partner and an obsessive fan, and his reason for killing – anger over a movie – is disturbingly bleak, perhaps the darkest motive the series has ever presented. While the social commentary isn’t nuanced, it’s incredibly relevant and deliberately provocative, sure to upset those it’s aimed at.

2.
Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) — Scream (1996)

Everyone remembers their first love, and Billy embodies that feeling. Heavily inspired by Johnny Depp’s role in A Nightmare on Elm Street, he’s the quintessential dreamy boyfriend from the ’90s, with a touch of rebellious attitude. Skeet Ulrich plays Billy with such intense focus that you can see why Sidney would be attracted to him, but also instinctively want to be wary – even before his dark secret is revealed.

Looking back, it’s clear Billy was Ghostface for a good portion of the movie. But when audiences first watched Scream, it was easy to overlook him as a suspect. Viewers had been conditioned to think the killer was always the most unexpected person. Scream actually flips that idea, showing us that sometimes people appear dangerous because they truly are. Billy tricks Sidney by pretending to be just a troubled guy, but gut feelings are important, and Billy gives off seriously bad vibes.

1.
Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) — Scream 4 (2011)

The idea of the “Final Girl” actually being the killer is intriguing – the Scream movies have hinted at Sidney being Ghostface, but never fully explored it. Jill, a character reminiscent of Sidney, comes the closest. Her motivation felt both ahead of its time and perfectly suited to the moment: she craved fame and realized it’s easier to gain fans than build genuine friendships. This is a disturbing commentary on the self-absorption of millennials in 2011, but it’s also so exaggerated that it’s genuinely funny – almost as funny as Jill playfully re-enacting the final, violent scene from the first movie all by herself.

What truly drives Jill is more compelling: her long-held resentment towards Sidney, stemming from always being compared to her famous cousin. A brilliant casting choice in Scream 4 is Emma Roberts, who comes from a famous acting family, which adds a fascinating layer to Jill’s envy. (Her character’s last name is Roberts, if you didn’t catch that connection.) It’s possible that Emma Roberts used frustrations with being seen as a product of nepotism to deliver the best performance of her career.

*Correction: An earlier version of this article neglected to mention Roman’s fake death in Scream 3.

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2026-02-28 01:59