Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ghostface killer returns for more bloody slayings.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scream 4
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 29 parent reviews
Parents say this movie has mixed reviews regarding its suitability for younger audiences, with some viewing it as appropriate for teens over 13, while others recommend caution due to the strong violence and language. Many highlight that while it retains the trademark fun and metafiction of the series, it may not live up to the earlier installments, and opinions vary on its storytelling and overall impact.
- mixed suitability
- strong violence
- teenage themes
- franchise opinions
- metafiction elements
- entertainment value
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 108 kid reviews
Kids say this installment of the horror franchise is surprisingly engaging, blending humor and gory visuals, although the extreme violence and explicit language may be concerning for younger audiences. Many viewers appreciate its return to form and originality, but some criticize its abrupt character introductions and overwhelming bloodshed, emphasizing that it’s best suited for older teens.
- engaging and entertaining
- excessive violence
- strong language
- suitable for older teens
- humorous elements
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) returns to the small town of Woodsboro on the last stop of her successful book tour. She reconnects with Dewey (David Arquette), now the sheriff, and his wife, Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), who has given up reporting to write fiction. But no sooner does Sidney arrive in town than the Ghostface killings begin again. Before long she discovers that her entire family -- including cousin Jill (Emma Roberts) and aunt Kate (Mary McDonnell), as well as Jill's friends -- are in trouble. Worse, this time the rules regarding sequels, remakes, reboots, and webcams are far too complicated and no longer apply. Will this finally be the end of Sidney?
Is It Any Good?
Director Wes Craven more or less phoned in Scream 3, but here, he and screenwriter Kevin Williamson appear refreshed and ready to attack the franchise with renewed vigor. With Williamson's clever, grinning screenplay and Craven's sharp, crisp direction, the movie juggles many postmodern themes, including the issue of many horror sequels, remakes, and reboots, as well as the explosion of social media and the Internet.
But these many themes never become unwieldy; rather, the movie constantly stays on its toes. Just as something begins to smell fishy, the movie points it out before anyone else can. It's alternately funny and tense just when it needs to be. And even though the younger characters barely resonate, the older ones bring their histories to this new movie and build on them dramatically. It's just too bad that Sid and the others don't have a relationship with old Ghostface, who's brought to life by a new character in each film; that could have been an interesting take.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the film's intense violence and blood. Is it necessary to get the movie's point across? How does it compare to other horror movies you've seen? What's the impact of these kinds of images?
Is the movie scary? Does it concentrate more on fright, suspense/mystery, or clever references? What would make the movie scarier -- or less scary?
How does the movie depict teen drinking? Are there realistic consequences?
How does the movie portray use of social media like Facebook? How has media's influence on teens changed since the original Scream movies came out?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 15, 2011
- On DVD or streaming : October 4, 2011
- Cast : Courteney Cox , Emma Roberts , Neve Campbell
- Director : Wes Craven
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Dimension
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 103 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence, language and some teen drinking
- Last updated : February 22, 2026
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