$169 Million Horror Movie Sequel Is Surging On Streaming Worldwide At The Perfect Time

As one of the most popular horror franchises of all time, the Scream series has managed to remain relevant for 30 years. After the meta slashers went on hiatus for most of the 2010s, 2022 successfully relaunched the property. It brought back original stars and introduced new leads and legacy characters, all while delivering surprises and deaths and becoming a critical and financial hit.

That’s paved the way for the franchise to live on, with the latest installment, Scream 7, debuting in theaters tonight as part of preview showings. And with the sequel’s lofty box office opening projections, interest is clearly high in seeing Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) return to take on a new Ghostface. The excitement has led to a prior installment surging on streaming.

Ghostface mask on the ground in Scream VI

People around the world are gearing up for Scream 7‘s release by revisiting or discovering the previous movies, which are all streaming on Paramount Pictures’ streaming service, Paramount+. That’s now led to Scream VI climbing the streamer’s top 10 chart. According to FlixPatrol, the horror sequel is now the #2 movie on Paramount+, falling only behind Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.

Interest in Scream VI has been steady for the last week, keeping it in the top 10 worldwide chart. But it’s moved up to second in pretty much every available country as of today. America is one of the only places it isn’t, as it sits at #4 after being at #7 yesterday.

This is not the only Scream entry in Paramount+’s top 10 trending movies, though. The 2022 relaunch is currently at #6 worldwide, the same spot it was in the day before.

Since those are the two most recent entries, it makes sense to watch them before Scream 7, especially if you’re doing a full franchise rewatch. They are also both terrific additions to the franchise that modernize the story, handle the history with care, and push the series in new directions.

Watching Scream VI Before Scream 7 Could Be Bittersweet

Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega) in Scream VI

The tricky part of watching Scream VI (and even 2022’s Scream) before Scream 7 is how much they matter for the new installment. These films focus on Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega), with the sisters positioned to have their stories continue by the time Scream VI‘s ending wraps up.

However, neither are in Scream 7. As great as it is to experience their stories again or for the first time, it could create some level of disappointment with the new entry due to their absence. Instead, Sidney is the lead of the seventh installment, a pivot made after Barrera was fired, which then led to Ortega quitting the franchise.

As it stands, Scream VI becomes the end of the Carpenter sisters’ story, at least for the time being. So if you’re checking out amid its streaming resurgence and to prepare for Scream 7, just don’t expect the next film to continue their storylines.