Scream 4

Ten years after the Woodsboro killings, a famous survivor returns to town to promote a memoir about living through the nightmare. The comeback stirs old wounds and fresh paranoia as the town finds itself stalked once again by a masked killer wearing the Ghostface mantle. A new generation of high school students becomes the target, while cameras, fans, and rumor mill frenzy complicate the investigation. Friends and rivals alike wonder who among them could be orchestrating the deadly game, and why the past seems to echo through every hallway. As the body count climbs, trust becomes scarce and the line between horror fiction and real danger blurs. Old secrets resurface.

Directed by Wes Craven with a screenplay by Kevin Williamson, Scream 4 revisits Woodsboro, bringing back familiar voices and a sharp eye for media while continuing the franchise's signature blend of suspense and wit. It nods to the horror landscape.

Worldwide, the film grossed about 97.2 million against a 40 million budget, marking a solid return for a mid range horror sequel and signaling renewed audience interest in the Scream franchise after a period from fans and casual viewers alike.

Scream 4 leans into the franchise's meta tradition, updating references for the social media age while preserving the self aware humor that fans expect. It helped remind viewers that horror can comment on itself while delivering scares, and that a familiar killer can still surprise through new twists and suspects.

Critical reception framed Craven's return as a capable revival that balances nostalgia with contemporary anxieties. The film examines legacy trauma, the lure of fame, and how communities process violence when media coverage amplifies every murder, forcing characters to question truth, responsibility, and audience appetite in the age of instant feedback.