Here’s a shocking truth: the best Scream movie isn’t the one with the highest Rotten Tomatoes score. But here’s where it gets controversial… While most fans would bet their last dollar that the original Scream is the undisputed champion, the numbers tell a different story. The 1996 classic sits at a respectable 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, but it’s actually Scream 2 that takes the crown with an 83% score. Even more baffling? The fifth and sixth installments, Scream (2022) and Scream VI, trail closely behind with 76% and 77%, respectively. And this is the part most people miss… How can a sequel like Scream VI, often deemed divisive, come so close to matching the original’s score? Let’s dive in.
First, let’s clear up a common misconception about Rotten Tomatoes. A 78% score isn’t the same as a 7.8/10 on IMDb. RT’s system is binary: reviews are either 'fresh' (positive) or 'rotten' (negative). So, if every critic gives a movie a 7/10, it’ll score a perfect 100%—even if no one called it a masterpiece. This means a film with uniformly 'good' reviews can outrank one with more glowing praise but a few negative outliers. Take the original Scream and the 2022 reboot: both have positive reviews, but the original’s praise is effusive, hailing it as a genre-redefining masterpiece, while the reboot’s reviews merely nod to its nostalgic vibes. Same 'fresh' label, vastly different enthusiasm.
Here’s the real kicker… Sequels often have an easier time on Rotten Tomatoes, and it’s not just because they’re better. By the time a franchise reaches its second or third installment, the audience has self-selected. Casual viewers who didn’t vibe with the first film drop off, leaving behind die-hard fans who are more likely to give the sequel a pass. The Scream franchise is a perfect example: the audience for Scream VI was mostly made up of longtime fans, not the general crowd that turned out for the original. This built-in bias skews the numbers in favor of sequels, even if they don’t objectively measure up.
But wait—there’s more to the story. Rotten Tomatoes itself has changed over the years, and not everyone’s happy about it. In 2023, Vulture exposed how PR firms manipulate RT scores by selectively screening films for critics likely to give positive reviews—and in some cases, outright asking critics to flip their negative scores. Beyond these shady tactics, RT has expanded its pool of 'verified critics,' including more writers who approach films as fans rather than impartial reviewers. This shift explains why switching the Tomatometer from 'all critics' to 'top critics' often lowers a sequel’s score. For Scream VI, the score drops a whopping 12 points to 65% when you filter for top critics. Meanwhile, Scream 2 sees a modest 2% increase under the same filter. Coincidence? Probably not.
Here’s a thought to chew on… Could critics be going easier on films today out of sympathy for the struggling movie industry? With box office numbers declining and the future of cinema looking uncertain, does it feel too harsh to tear apart a new release? Viral takedowns of bad movies are rare these days, perhaps because even a flawed film feels like a win in an era where Hollywood’s survival feels miraculous. Are we lowering our standards, or just appreciating what we have? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take on this divisive topic!
