FOR CHILDREN 10AND UP IS OK.
Scream
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Graphic mystery-homage to teen-slasher movies.
Themes in this movie include: emotional abuse, physical abuse, revenge
updated 09.22.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 17–18
What to watch out for
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Role models:
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Scream was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
Parents need to know that this movie nearly got an NC-17 rating for violence. Be aware especially that the "unrated" home-video editions contain the extra frames of bloodshed, usually mutilation by knife. Despite the (often foulmouthed) dialogue's flirtation with self-awareness and satire, the gore here really comes across as intended -- brutal and intense.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about why the film was so popular.
- Do fans consider it a realistic movie, a dark comedy, or a hip whodunit with post-modern twists?
- Why are teens in particular so interested in horror movies?
- Families can talk about how the teenagers are protrayed. What kind of role models are they?
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on Scream
What’s the Story?
SCREAM's opening pays tribute to WHEN A STRANGER CALLS, as menacing phone calls torment a girl, played by Drew Barrymore. The voice belongs to a robed and masked psychopath, who viciously slices his prey and leaves her hanging from a tree. Slaying A-list starlet Barrymore immediately and pitilessly is just the first curveball the filmmakers throw. The maniac's real target is Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), a high-schooler whose own mother (described as a tramp) was raped and murdered exactly one year before. Sidney barely survives an attack herself by the hooded marauder. This renewed bloodletting creates a media sensation in Sidney's small town of Woodsboro, and brings a visit by tabloid-TV journalist Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), whom Sidney already knows and detests. Then again, a lot of the characters here are detestable. Craven and Williams do a good job etching teen subculture, but give very few of these endangered kids redeeming features. Instead there's the nihilistic sense of jaded, horror-movie-loving teens who are smart but desensitized and mean. The one grownup who launches into a righteous, outraged tirade about the kids' morals soon gets skewered himself by the maniac (it's hinted that he's a hypocrite anyway), and the young people celebrate his demise with a beer blast and HALLOWEEN viewing party. Meanwhile the murderer gets especially busy and Sidney faces her worst fears.
Is It Any Good?
Written by hot scriptwriter Kevin Williamson, SCREAM was a monster hit when it premiered. It brought a sharper level of intelligence, production values, and acting talent to a disreputable (but to adolescent and post-adolescent viewers, irresistible) genre that exploded in ticket sales almost 20 years earlier -- the teen-slasher horror film. Williamson, aided by Wes Craven (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), had the great idea not only to write SCREAM on a smarter level -- it's a cunning "whodunit" with Agatha Christie twists -- but also set it amidst media-savvy protagonists. These SCREAM players have seen that slasher-movie slop, and they know (or think they know) the tricks. One boy is even a video-store clerk who spells out "the rules" of horror films to try and predict what's going to happen next.SCREAM nearly earned an NC-17 for violence. Despite the dialogue's flirtation with self-awareness and satire, the gore here is brutal and intense. While you'll see critical raves about SCREAM being "funny," know that the undeniable witty lines mix with deadly-serious killings and betrayals. Though the thrilling pace and steady jolts keep young audiences watching, we can't recommend SCREAM for adolescents and teens.
Movie Details
Studio: Dimension, Director: Wes Craven
Run time: 111 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/20/1996, DVD release: 12/8/1998
MPAA Rating: R for violence, profanity, sex, mature themes
Run time: 111 minutes
Theatrical release: 12/20/1996, DVD release: 12/8/1998
MPAA Rating: R for violence, profanity, sex, mature themes
Our Members Say
See all 37 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
10 AND UP OK
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
love it
I love it. It's such an amazing movie and wes craven is a genius. My younger brother is 14 and he can totally handle this movie.
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I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
Good for adults
Great movie, but you hear F**K a lot.
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Great Fun!
There is virtually NO language in this movie. Probably 10 f-words, tops. I *just* watched it and it is great. Pretty funny at times and very entertaining overall.
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
perfect for kids over 11, it is a classic horror flick, so be careful.
I am eleven and it was an amazing movie. this stupid website brainwashes parents. It had one mild sex scene, it was very violent, and very little language.
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Scary
" Strong Graphic Horror Violence and Gore" they aint kiddin. very good, however. so good i named myself "Scream"
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
Great movie for youn teens ages 13+
Pretty good, does mention quite a few movies including Halloween, a Nightmare on elm street, Friday the 13th, Carrie, etc., etc., etc.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
The movie was pretty good , good just to watch and laugh at. :)
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
LOOOOOOOOVE IT
i luv this movie it is awesome i watch it all the time and i guess the language and stuff is kinda bad and all the killing but i like it it's my kinda movie.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
oh wow i love it but . . . .
its just really- well scary. hahaha. but seriously its awesome but the profanity and violence is something to be very concerned about! its gory and in most parts i had to cover my eyes!
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I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
WOW~
Wow, okay i have never actually seen this movie, but I was shocked! Kids used to come dressed up as "scream" for halloween in the first grade!!!! Just wanted to make my point!
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
This movie is an awesome, cool, totally outrageous horror flick on the must-see halloween movie list for older kids, but anyone younger than 11 shouldn't see it, 2 year olds will literally, "scream".
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
A Great Film
A great slasher comedy. Gory, funny and scary. Nothing can top it.
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I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
okay for older (and jaded) teens
this is a really smart movie because yes, teens are very sophisticated and jaded now, and that sophistication is built into the screenplay...BUT it is so over the top violent that the cleverness and humor was almost an afterthought.
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I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
I loved this movie alot thats for sure. Though its chalkfull of brutal violence, bad language and even some sexual stuff. This movie is not for kids. Ill say that. That being said I enjoyed this alot.
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I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
It's a great horror film, a bit violent just like any other slasher flick. Anyone over 11 should be fine
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
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I rate this title off for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
If this wasn't a comedy, then I wouldn't have rated it 15 in here. It's very bloody. 16 year olds can handle it.
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I rate this title on for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
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I rate this title pause for age 13 and give it
I couldn't believe it!
I am 13 and usauly watch the horror movies that come out now. But when I saw Scream I was shocked. I put it as the number 1 horror movie on my list. It was funny, scary, and entertaining. I absolutly loved it. My favorite part was at the end when Gale Weathers says, "I didn't forget the saftey this time...basterd." I laughed so hard at that part.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 60% | of parents say it's too violent |
| 40% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
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