---
title: "Scream"
year: 1996
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/scream-1996"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 4232
imdb_id: "tt0117571"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 112
community_rating: 7.4
vote_count: 8065
content_rating: "R"
---

# Scream (1996) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/scream-1996

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Drew Barrymore, among others. Set in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California, the story follows high school student Sidney Prescott, who becomes the target of a masked killer known as Ghostface. The killer terrorizes Sidney and her friends while referencing horror movies as part of a deadly game. The film revitalized the slasher genre and became a defining horror movie of the 1990s. It was released on December 20, 1996.

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "A teenage girl and her friends are hunted by a masked killer playing a deadly movie game."

### Why Watch
- innovative horror genre approach
- iconic masked villain

### Caveats & Content Note
- contains intense violence
- Tone & Suitability: The film contains graphic violence and intense sequences of terror.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: slasher, suspenseful, meta, thrilling

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel | Kanopy, Hoopla | JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads | None | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV |
| **Canada (CA)** | Crave, Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads, Crave Amazon Channel, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels | None | Apple TV Store, CosmoGo, Amazon Video |
| **Australia (AU)** | Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Foxtel Now, Stan, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads | None | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Wes Craven
- **Networks / Studios**: Dimension Films, Woods Entertainment

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Neve Campbell** as *Sidney Prescott*
- **Skeet Ulrich** as *Billy Loomis*
- **Rose McGowan** as *Tatum Riley*
- **Matthew Lillard** as *Stu Macher*
- **Courteney Cox** as *Gale Weathers*
- **David Arquette** as *Dewey Riley*
- **Jamie Kennedy** as *Randy Meeks*
- **W. Earl Brown** as *Kenny Brown*
- **Joseph Whipp** as *Sheriff Burke*
- **Liev Schreiber** as *Cotton Weary*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Who directed the film?
The film was directed by Wes Craven.

### Q: When was the film released?
The film was released in 1996.

### Q: What is the name of the killer?
The killer is known as Ghostface.

### Q: Where is the story set?
The story is set in the small town of Woodsboro, California.

### Q: Who wrote the screenplay?
The film was written by Kevin Williamson.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Watch Scream (1996) - Free Movies | Tubi](https://tubitv.com/movies/100054992/scream)
- [Scream (1996 film) - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_(1996_film))
- [Official site](http://www.miramax.com/movie/scream)
- [Scream (1996): The Complete Guide to the Film That Redefined Horror](https://creepycinema.com/scream-1996-the-complete-guide-to-the-film-that-redefined-horror/)
- [Scream (1996) - IMDb](https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0117571/)
- [Scream (1996 film) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_(1996_film))

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*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*