Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dense, extra-brutal slasher sequel has strong characters.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Scream VI
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 29 parent reviews
Parents say the film has received mixed reviews, with some praising its thrilling and gory elements while others criticize the cringey dialogue and disturbing content, especially for younger viewers. Many reviewers recommend an age limit of at least 12 or 13 due to the graphic violence, strong language, and sexual content, with some suggesting it's not suitable for kids at all, while others believe that mature teens could handle it.
- gory elements
- mixed reviews
- strong language
- age recommendations
- disturbing content
Summarized with AI
Based on 86 kid reviews
Kids say that the movie is highly entertaining but extremely gory, filled with graphic violence and strong language, which makes it unsuitable for younger viewers. Many fans appreciate its fun twists and the continuation of the franchise, though some argue the plot and character development are lacking compared to earlier films, emphasizing that it’s a must-watch for horror enthusiasts who can handle intense scenes.
- gory violence
- strong language
- age restrictions
- entertainment value
- mixed reviews
- plot concerns
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SCREAM VI, Tara (Jenna Ortega) and her friends Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding) have moved to New York City following the terrible events of Scream. Tara's older sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera), has tagged along and is putting a crimp in Tara's social life with her overprotectiveness. Nevertheless, they're all sharing a house with some new roommates, Mindy has a new girlfriend, and they're all trying to move on. Unfortunately, the terror of Ghostface isn't finished with them yet, and they start to experience deadly new attacks. Mindy tries to establish the rules this time, while police detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney) and Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) -- who's now with the FBI -- discover that the new killer is referencing all of the previous killers. So Tara and her friends must prepare for what they hope will be one final showdown.
Is It Any Good?
While this slasher sequel is bogged down by complicated lore and is far more brutal than it is actually scary, the strong characters and an effective mystery come together to make it a cut above. Fans of the franchise will likely want to rewatch the previous five movies before tackling Scream VI, as it has many, many references to them. In the last movie, 2022's Scream, Mindy cleverly proclaimed that they were in a "re-quel," but here her efforts to establish the rules are headache-inducing. Additionally, perhaps as the result of the number of kills getting ramped up, each one lacks the suspense it might have had (with the exception of a terrific, extended sequence on the subway). Still, filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (of the Radio Silence collective) do manage to use their 123-minute running time to more deeply explore the characters and their relationships. We can feel their trauma and their wounds and easily empathize with them. Plus, not only is the mystery in Scream VI satisfying and clever, but it's also a logical extension of the previous movie. There actually was a good reason for another sequel; it's more than just a stab in the dark.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Scream VI's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
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 underage drinking and drug use? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
What is a "meta movie"? Do the Scream movies benefit from being self-aware? What might be missing?
How do the characters handle trauma? How are communication and family involved in this process?
Movie Details
- In theaters : March 10, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : July 11, 2023
- Cast : Jenna Ortega , Melissa Barrera , Courteney Cox
- Directors : Tyler Gillett , Matt Bettinelli-Olpin
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 123 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence and language throughout, and brief drug use
- Last updated : January 11, 2026
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