Some horror fans say 'Scream 7' feels like 'nostalgia-bait'
Some horror fans say 'Scream 7' feels like 'nostalgia-bait'
Saleen Martin, USA TODAYTue, March 3, 2026 at 9:30 PM UTC
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Spoiler alert! This story contains details from “Scream 7,” which was released on Feb. 27.
Just days after “Scream 7” was released, some fans are not letting up on the film's producers, accusing them of "nostalgia-bait” and deeming the installment the worst in the franchise's nearly 30-year history.
Produced by Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, the film stars franchise veteran Neve Campbell as the original final girl, Sidney Prescott (now Evans), as well as Isabel May as Sidney's daughter, Tatum, the killer’s latest target.
But since its release on Friday, Feb. 27, some social media users have criticized the film for short appearances of highly-anticipated original cast members Matthew Lillard, David Arquette and Scott Foley.
After seeing the film, one TikTok user said the film was “by far the worst film in the entire franchise.” The user added that the film has "the worst" Ghostface reveal and motives, and accused the movie of "nostalgia-bait."
Before the “Scream 7” release, unnamed sources told Deadline that Lillard (Stu), Arquette (Deputy Dewey), and Foley (Roman), would return for "Scream 7." While the actors' roles weren't marketed for the film, Arquette and Lillard were listed as taking part in the film, per the movie's press site.
Ghostface in "Scream 7." The film was released on Feb. 27, 2026.
A movie trailer Paramount Pictures posted in October also alludes to the killer being someone from Sidney's past.
Paramount Pictures declined to comment on the feedback on Monday, March 2, but sent stats on the film's debut. Over the weekend, the film garnered $64.1 million in sales domestically. The film also grossed $33.1 million internationally, making it the biggest opening weekend of the franchise.
Courteney Cox and Neve Campbell as Gale Weathers and Sidney (Prescott) Evans in "Scream 7."Spoiler alert! Here's what happens in 'Scream 7'
The film follows Tatum Evans, Sidney’s daughter, as she struggles to connect with her mother, who refuses to talk to her about her traumatic past. Tatum soon becomes the killer’s latest target.
Isabel May as Tatum in "Scream 7," which was released on Feb. 27, 2026.
Once the killings begin, reporter Gale Weathers shows up to cover the story and help track down the killer. Sidney also gets repeated video calls from the killer, who claims to be the original culprit, Stu Macher, believed to have died in the first film.
Throughout the film, viewers are left wondering if it's really Stu who is after Sidney and her family, or if it’s someone else using Stu's likeness to scare them. Turns out, the three killers are new to the franchise with no ties to Sidney or her family – an escaped psychiatric patient, a worker from the psychiatric facility, and Sidney’s superfan-turned-neighbor.
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Matthew Lillard attends a premiere for 'Scream 7' in Los Angeles on Feb. 25, 2026.When do the original cast members appear in 'Scream 7'?
What about the characters that “Scream” fans were excited to see return? Stu appears multiple times throughout the film via AI to taunt Sidney, while Sidney's brother Roman and Deputy Dewey appear during the third act, also via AI.
“That had to be the worst third act in the entire franchise,” one TikTok user said. “If you were excited about Stu Macher coming back, Roman Bridger coming back, Dewey coming back, all the old people from the other movies coming back, you’re going to be (expletive) mad at that third act.”
Ghostface in "Scream 7." The film was released on Feb. 27, 2026.Fan reactions to 'Scream 7'
Some users have said that while they weren't happy with the film's Ghostface reveal, the film was good overall.
One TikTok user said that those behind the franchise “basically click-baited many people into believing (Stu) would come back as a regular player because of what happened in Scream 1.”
“Scream 7's ending should've included one killer with a connection to Stu, such as a sibling or relative, but the plot didn't bring it," the user continued.
1 / 0See Courteney Cox, Neve Campbell, David Arquette at 'Scream 7' premiere
The "Scream 7" cast showed out for the global premiere at Paramount Pictures Studios on Feb. 25, 2026, in Los Angeles. See the stars on the black carpet, beginning here, from left, with Joel McHale, Skeet Ulrich, Celeste O'Connor, Ethan Embry, Jimmy Tatro, Mckenna Grace, Scott Foley, Anna Camp, Matthew Lillard, Sam Rechner, Timothy Simons, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Isabel May, Victor Turpin, Neve Campbell, Jasmin Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding.
Another TikToker user took to the app to say that the franchise took a hit partially due to the departure of Melissa Barrera, who played protagonist Sam Carpenter, daughter of Billy Loomis, in the franchise’s fifth and sixth installments.
Barrera was fired in 2023 after Spyglass Media Group deemed her posts about the Israel-Hamas war antisemitic. Actress Jenna Ortega, who played Sam’s sister on her mother’s side, later left the franchise due to a directorial change and Barrera's firing.
When Barrera and Ortega left, the franchise lost part of the core four in the most recent “Scream” films," TikTok user @sammyjreacts said in his video.
He later criticized the film's script and the use of AI and deepfakes in the film’s plot, and called the movie “lazy and cheap nostalgia-bait."
On a positive note, @sammyjreacts said it was great that Campbell returned as Sidney. He also praised Director Kevin Williamson for his creativity, adding that “Scream 7” has “some of the best kills in the entire franchise.”
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, Wajih AlBaroudi, USA TODAY
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Some horror fans aren't feeling 'Scream 7,' call it 'nostalgia-bait'
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