Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Same violent stuff in hit slasher saga, for the third time.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Scream 3
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 10 parent reviews
Based on 75 kid reviews
Kids say the third installment of the franchise is the weakest, often feeling more comedic and less scary than its predecessors, with toned-down violence and a focus on plot and dialogue. While some viewers appreciate the engaging mystery and plot twists, many criticize it for a lack of creativity and the excessive use of profanity, making it less enjoyable for die-hard fans of the series.
- weakest in franchise
- less scary
- toned-down violence
- strong language
- engaging mystery
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the last semi-sendup of slasher films, Scream 2, we learned of a hit horror film-within-the-film called Stab inspired by the killings in Scream. That detail dominates SCREAM 3, centered around the studio making Stab 3, third of the true-crime perils of Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), who by now has suffered so many attacks from masked marauders that she lives in behind security locks and alarm systems, and works anonymously at home on a violence-counseling hotline. Suddenly, knife murders by a new killer wearing the familiar robe strike Los Angeles, causing police to shut down the "Stab 3" set. Sidney, meanwhile, is tormented by dreams about her mother (whose offscreen rape-murder years before set in motion all the Scream atrocities in the first place). She emerges from hiding to help hunt for the latest slasher who's obsessed with her.
Is It Any Good?
The third in the series is watchable and entertaining -- if you can take the blood, swearing and cynicism -- but shows signs of stretching characters and gimmicks a little too far. When you've been Screaming over three movies, it's not surprising that the voice starts to get hoarse. Two new characters (Emily Mortimer, Parker Posey) are self-centered actors who'll do anything to make it big, giving director Wes Craven the chance to skewer the movie industry. Roger Corman and Carrie Fisher provide campy cameos. The whodunit narrative is unwieldy this time, but to the film's credit, you don't need to see the first two to enjoy this one.
Late in the movie the thrill-ride takes on a disturbing dimension with ideas of parental neglect and dysfunctional relationships that give birth to monsters, falling in line with Craven's other horror films in which young people discover horrible things connected to their parents. There's also a suggestion at the end that the Scream storyline represents a maturation arc for Sidney, who learns to get over her fears about the past and embrace the present.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how fictitious violence portrayed in entertainment might incite real-life mayhem. They can also talk about whether screen bloodshed has a social effect.
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 4, 2000
- On DVD or streaming : July 4, 2000
- Cast : David Arquette , Emily Mortimer , Neve Campbell , Parker Posey
- Director : Wes Craven
- Studio : Dimension
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 117 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : violence, profanity, adult themes
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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