Right from the opening of the very first Scream movie, it becomes clear that no one is safe. The franchise is known for killing its characters in a bloody and self-referential fashion, often acknowledging other horror movies and the genre's tropes in its many depictions of brutal deaths.
While Sidney, Dewey, and Gale have managed to make it through from the first movie all the way to the fifth installment, countless other characters haven't been so lucky. Sometimes the deaths in Scream take the audience completely by surprise either because of the gruesome nature of the death itself, the likability of the character, or the high profile of the actor portraying the victim.
Jennifer Jolie (Scream 3)
Scream 3 is definitely one of the most divisive entries in the horror franchise but one of the standouts is the character of Jennifer. She is the actress betraying Gale in the Stab franchise and her comedic interactions with Gale are hilariously fun to watch.
While pretty much any character outside the main three is disposable, it's still shocking to see Jennifer die in the way she does. Jennifer finds herself trapped behind a one-way mirror with Ghostface and shouts out to Dewey for help and he sees the mirror shaking. He shoots through the mirror but it's too late as Jennifer is already dead. The real shock in this death is she is nearly saved but ultimately meets her demise anyway.
Officer Richards (Scream 2)
Officer Richards is introduced in Scream 2 and becomes Sidney's bodyguard for a time when she is targeted by the new Ghostface. He may not be one of the most memorable characters in the franchise but his death is fantastically elaborate and drawn out. The first shock of the scene comes when Ghostface appears outside the car and kills Richards' partner.
Richards is then thrown out of the car and eventually ends up taking a deadly ride on the hood. Although it seems likely that he is going to be thrown off and killed, what actually happens is much more surprising. Ghostface crashes the car and Richards is impaled by a pole through the head. His death is one of the most brutally drawn out and unexpectedly gory in the franchise, especially for such a minor character.
Kirby Reed (Scream 4)
While fans often speculate that Kirby may still be alive, her apparent death in Scream 4 is certainly surprising. In a scene full of meta moments, Kirby is forced to answer a series of horror-related questions which solidifies her as one of Ghostface's strongest enemies from the Scream franchise.
As she talks to Ghostface, she fights for Charlie's life and then, believing she has ed the test, goes to free her friend. In a gasp-worthy reveal, Charlie brutally stabs Kirby and leaves her to die. Kirby is one of the most likable new characters in Scream 4 which makes her death even more traumatic for the audience.
Maureen Evans (Scream 2)
Scream has become synonymous with its brutal and surprising openings and the second installment is no different. The scene takes place during the opening night of Stab, the movie based on the events of the original film. The audience is lulled into a false sense of security here as a crowded cinema screening seems like the last place a murder might take place.
Ghostface takes the place of Maureen's boyfriend in the cinema and the audience is left to wait for the inevitable as she remains oblivious. The death in itself isn't surprising but the brutal nature of it is the true shock here as Maureen is stabbed repeatedly while the moviegoers unwittingly shout "Kill her!" at the cinema screen. The look of horror and confusion on the character's face as she falls to the ground in front of the screen is harrowing to watch.
Stu Macher (Scream)
The ending of Scream contains the shocking revelation that the killer is not one but two people: Billy and Stu. After the pair explain their motivations, a dramatic struggle between Sydney and the pair ensues.
Although the killers meeting their demise is hardly a surprise, Stu's death is particularly shocking (quite literally). A brutal fight between Sidney and Stu unfolds and she is eventually able to gain the upper hand. Sidney pushes a plugged-in TV down onto his head and he is electrocuted, providing a violent end to the antagonist. No death before or since has been as innovative as Stu's, who is perhaps the first horror movie character to be killed by a home entertainment device.
Cici Cooper (Scream 2)
Cici is one of the victims in Scream 2 and in this case, the actress portraying the role elevates the shock factor of the character's death. She is played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, who was already well known for her role as Buffy Summers at the time which suggested she'll probably make it through most of the movie.
Cici is targeted by Ghostface in one of the best chase scenes from the Scream franchise. Although she does manage to evade his knife for a time, she is eventually stabbed in the back and then pushed from a balcony, plummeting to her death. Using a high-profile actress as a horror movie victim makes this death all the more unexpected and memorable. It's a trope that is present in every Scream movie so far.
Tatum Riley (Scream)
Tatum is the original best friend of the franchise's protagonist, Sidney, and despite being a victim of the first installment, her legacy lives on. When she is first confronted by Ghostface, she believes she is being pranked which adds to the tragic nature of her death. By the time she realizes the real killer is standing in front of her, it's too late.
Tatum does try to escape but gets stuck in the garage door, which the killer uses to their advantage. The death is unique compared to the more typical slasher kills in the franchise and this is what makes it so jaw-dropping. Her death is cruel and grisly but it has certainly become one of the most memorable in the entire series.
Kate Roberts (Scream 4)
Scream 4 introduces new and previously unseen family of Sidney with her cousin Jill and aunt Kate. Both characters are somewhat resentful towards Sydney for the attention she has gained following the events of the first 3 movies.
Kate appears to be a good mother and certainly doesn't deserve the demise she gets. In one of Sidney's best action sequences from the Scream franchise, she and Kate are attacked by Ghostface and the latter is stabbed through the mailbox. While adding to Sidney's trauma by killing more of her family isn't exactly surprising after the previous 3 installments, what makes this death so shocking is the later revelation that Kate's daughter, Jill, is her killer.
Randy Meeks (Scream 2)
Lots of the meta-references in the original movie come from Randy, who also has a long-time crush on Sydney. He is one of the few characters to make it out of the first movie alive and is brought back in the sequel.
It certainly isn't uncommon for horror movies to kill original characters in their sequels but Randy is a popular character and his death really comes out of left field. During a telephone conversation with Ghostface, Randy insults the previous killers, unaware that one of the new killers is Billy's mother. He is dragged inside a van and then stabbed to death, his murder being a real gut punch for fans of the original, especially because it is so frenzied and rage-filled.
Casey Becker (Scream)
The original Scream features one of the scariest horror movie openings of all time. The now-iconic scene introduces Casey played by famous actress Drew Barrymore and through some misleading marketing, she's d as the protagonist of the movie. It makes sense that the movie would open with its lead character so the audience really isn't expecting what is to come here.
Casey gets a phone call from Ghostface, who famously asks her "What's your favorite scary movie?'" When first watching the movie, this scene feels like a setup for what will become a cat and mouse game between the killer and the main character. However, Ghostface appears in the scene and as Casey is running away, he catches up to her and stabs her several times in the back. The scene sets the precedent for the whole series: expect the unexpected.
