Scream Fans are Furious About This Rotten Tomatoes Score!

Throughout his career, Wes Craven produced many well-known terrifying films, yet it struck me as unusual that his most renowned work has a lower rating on Rotten Tomatoes than its sequel. Craven is highly respected in the realm of horror and slasher flicks because of his significant contributions to these genres. From the A Nightmare on Elm Street series (which Craven originated) to The Last House on the Left, this filmmaker’s impact on the horror genre is boundless.

To this very moment, numerous horror movie directors, screenwriters, and producers admit that Craven’s work served as a catalyst for their own creative endeavors. For instance, Jordan Peele, a prominent figure in contemporary horror cinema, acknowledged one of Craven’s films as an inspiration during the production of “Get Out” (as reported by Vox). Without Craven’s contributions, the horror and slasher genres might not have evolved into what they are today. However, it’s astonishing that his masterpiece doesn’t hold his highest Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Scream 2 Somehow Has A Much Higher Tomatometer Score Than The 1996 Original

The Sequel Has An 82% RT Score

In Wes Craven’s work, the “Scream” films stand out as some of his finest. While the first sequel is undeniably impressive and ranks high, it doesn’t surpass the original movie in my opinion. Contrary to this viewpoint, Rotten Tomatoes seems to disagree. On their review aggregation platform, the initial “Scream” film from 1996 has a lower rating than “Scream 2.” Specifically, it scores 77% compared to the sequel’s 82%.

Scream Movie Release Date Rotten Tomatoes Score
Scream December 20, 1996 77%
Scream 2 December 12, 1997 82%
Scream 3 February 4, 2000 43%
Scream 4 April 15, 2011 60%
Scream (2022) January 14, 2022 76%
Scream VI March 10, 2023 77%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics commended Scream 2 for maintaining its self-referential approach (now satirizing sequels) and successfully avoiding the common pitfalls of sequels. Conversely, reviews for Scream emphasize the film’s sharp wit in its meta commentary and memorable opening scene. However, some critics found it a tad too witty or playful, which may explain why the original Scream has a higher rating among reviewers, possibly resulting in the sequel.

Why Scream Is Better Than Scream 2

Nothing Can Beat The Original

Wes Craven’s “Scream 2” is still an outstanding film and a worthy sequel. Many follow-up films to iconic movies fail miserably, but “Scream 2” managed to dodge this common pitfall. However, it seems illogical to place it above the original slasher film in the franchise (though it does have a playful charm). The first “Scream” movie is recognized for revitalizing the horror genre in the ’90s and has left an enduring impact that countless films aspire to replicate. As the pioneer, the original movie set the stage, and nearly 30 years later, “Scream” continues to be relevant and a powerful influence within the realm of horror movies.

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2025-04-27 22:18