How To Survive A Scream Movie: 10 Rules That We’ve Learned Over 27 Years & 6 Films

After multiple movies across 27 years, certain sure-fire guidelines for surviving a Scream movie have presented themselves. The Scream franchise is partly known for its scenes defining the slasher genre’s rules and exploring these tropes. Despite the characters being aware of these rules, they have proffered little assistance in keeping them alive. However, 10 additional rules actually would ensure a character survives a Scream movie.

The Scream franchise started in 1996 and has spawned a total of six movies, with a further sequel titled Scream 7 confirmed. Each has followed the murderous exploits of the iconic Ghostface killer, who initially terrorized Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and her friends, before moving on to stalking Samantha and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega). The first Scream featured an iconic scene in which Randy explained the rules for surviving a slasher movie, and each subsequent movie explained that movie’s relative rules. However, after considering the entire franchise, several other rules show what it takes to get through a Scream movie unscathed.

10 Wear A Bulletproof Vest

As Per Scream 3 and Scream 6

Wearing a bulletproof vest has become essential in surviving a Scream movie. Ghostface often revealed a firearm after being unmasked, but Scream 6 set a terrifying new trend of brazen gun use. The harrowing bodega scene from Scream 6 should convince anyone a bulletproof vest was necessary, but later in the movie, Kirby was saved directly because of one. Sidney’s life was also saved by a bulletproof vest in Scream 3 when she kept one beneath her clothing to fool Roman into thinking she was dead. As the Scream franchise continues to evolve, a bulletproof vest has become paramount – and a rather simplistic method of protection.

9 Buy A Gun

As Per Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, Scream (2022), and Scream 6

The majority of Ghostface killers have ultimately been defeated by a gunshot; Billy, Mickey, Mrs. Loomis, Roman, Jill, Amber, Richie, and Quinn were each stopped using a gun. Surprisingly, it took Sidney several movies to purchase a gun, previously relying on Ghostface dropping one or Dewey appearing with his in the nick of time. Following Dewey’s death in Scream (2022), Kirby assumed Dewey’s role of armed protector, though why so few characters remain armed at all times is quite baffling. Especially as it is noted in several Scream movies that the only way to stop the killer is to shoot them in the head.

8 Stick With Dewey

As Per Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, and Scream (2022)

Despite being a laughably ineffectual law enforcement officer, Dewey Riley was known for bold and heroic actions. Nevertheless, Dewey was instrumental in keeping each of the protagonists alive, including Sidney, Gale, Samantha, and Tara. Furthermore, if Ghostface is going to appear suddenly and stab someone, it’s going to be Dewey. Dewey very nearly died in the first three Scream movies, finally encountering a gloriously grisly end in Scream (2023) after rescuing Tara and Samantha. Indeed, sticking with Dewey is the best way to stay protected, or at least have someone else nearby to be attacked first.

7 Never Return To An Unconscious Ghostface

As Per Scream 2 and Scream (2022)

Returning to a slasher villain who has been rendered unconscious is firmly established in slasher movies as a fatal decision. It has been directly addressed in the Scream movies, but characters have still made this deadly mistake. In Scream 2, Sidney returned to Ghostface when he was unconscious in a car, but by the time she got to the vehicle, he had appeared behind Sidney’s friend Hallie and killed her. In Scream (2022), Dewey went back to kill Ghostface but was briefly distracted, allowing time for Ghostface to hide before savagely killing him. Apparently, if a character is lucky enough to knock out Ghostface, they should simply flee.

6 Beware The Movie Buff

As Per Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, Scream (2022)

Ghostface is always a movie fanatic. There were countless horror movie references throughout Scream, including the infamous, “What’s your favorite scary movie?” phone calls. However, on three occasions, Ghostface was a well-known film fan. These include Mickey in Scream 2, Charlie in Scream 4, and Roman from Scream 3. The trend evolved in Scream (2022) when Richie revealed himself as a horror buff when he was unmasked. Many of these engaged in filming crime scenes and displayed an unhealthy obsession with movies, and horror in particular. Accordingly, suspecting the movie buff would be a recommended rule for surviving a Scream movie.

5 There Is Always More Than One Killer

As Per Scream, Scream 2, Scream 4, Scream (2022), and Scream 6

Except for Scream 3, every single movie has more than one person working together as Ghostface. The tradition was cemented by Billy and Stu working together during the first Scream movie. A second person was necessary to accomplish the killer’s inhuman feats, to seemingly survive near-fatal injury, or to quickly appear in numerous places. It was therefore a surprise in itself that Roman managed to achieve all these stunts on his own in Scream 3. The multiple killer trend was finally addressed in Scream (2022), yet many primary characters still have not fully grasped this likelihood.

Related

Scream 6’s First Ghostface Fakeout Finally Utilized Emma Roberts’ Scrapped Return

The Scream franchise once had plans to bring back Emma Roberts as Jill, which would have included a Ghostface twist finally used by Scream 6.

4 Never Date A Main Character

As Per Scream 2, Scream 4, And Scream 6

Ancillary characters are often dispatched pretty early in Scream movies, but there is one way to guarantee an early death: dating one of the main characters. Sidney’s boyfriend Derek was stabbed and shot by Mickey in Scream 2. In Scream 4, Trevor was shot in the head by his ex-girlfriend Jill. Liv, Chad’s girlfriend in Scream (2022), was shot and killed by Amber, while Mindy’s girlfriend Anika was savagely killed in Scream 6. Being anywhere near a main character in Scream will likely draw Ghostface’s attention and will likely prompt an attack, but dating one is particularly deadly.

3 If You’re A Protagonist, Never Date Anybody

As Per Scream and Scream (2022)

If a main character’s romantic partner is not murdered by Ghostface in a Scream movie, they will likely be the killer themselves. This convention was established in the first Scream movie with Sidney and Tatum dating the original Ghostface killers, Billy and Stu. It was subsequently repeated in Scream (2022) with Samantha’s boyfriend, Richie. Dewey acknowledged this himself in Scream (2022), which served as a great misdirection for when Richie was indeed revealed as the killer. Ultimately, though, any protagonist’s romantic partner will either be killed or will ultimately be the killer.

2 The Killer Always Comes Back For One Last Scare

As Per Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, Scream (2022), and Scream 6

This guideline was specified by Randy in the first Scream movie, but it was never a part of his official rules. Regardless, each Scream movie has featured a final scare from a supposedly deceased Ghostface, startling both characters and audiences alike. Sidney wised up to this rule in Scream 2, but her fellow protagonists have taken much longer. The latter Scream movies have toyed with this expectation by drawing attention to one Ghostface, while another delivered an unexpected final scare. Amber from Scream 5 is the perfect example of this, surviving several devastating injuries to provide one last shock.

1 Randy and Mindy’s Rules Will Be Undermined

As Per Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4, Sceam (2022), and Scream 6

It’s worth remembering that the rules explained by Randy and Mindy throughout the Scream movies are not always adhered to. They should be considered rough guidelines and tropes of the wider slasher genre, which the majority of Scream movies specifically subvert to dupe audiences and provide more compelling frights. Several characters have survived Scream movies despite breaking Randy’s rules (most notably Sidney), while others have died regardless. Whether a Scream movie will adhere to these rules often determines the outcome of the movie and, as a result, how likely somebody is to survive.