Every ‘Scary Movie’ Film, Ranked From Worst to Best

The Scary Movie franchise was originally developed by Keenan Ivory Wayans alongside Shawn and Marlon Wayans, with Keenan directing the first two films. The out-of-the-box franchise isn’t exactly what anyone would refer to as “peak comedy,” but it has still managed to withstand time for several decades and reliably keep general audiences entertained for 90 minutes. The movies, most of which star the irreplaceable Anna Faris, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, and Regina Hall, are silly and absurd, with notable jokes so dumb, lewd, crass, and occasionally corny that many might often feel a tad embarrassed when they find themselves giggling along. These spoof movies mock contemporary horror films such as The Ring, Signs, and What Lies Beneath, as well as other popular films from over the years, like 8 Mile, Thelma & Louise, and Boogie Nights.

They inspired multiple copycats, each worse than the previous one, with none of them coming close to being capable of recreating the original’s unexpected but deserving success. Like so many franchises, the Scary Movie series is inconsistent, chaotic, and irresistible; it ranges from cult comedy classics to noteworthy films that have become a staple in pop culture. However, there is something to be said about its sheer commitment to absurdity and stupidity. When looking at all five films together, it’s not exactly difficult to declare which of the Scary Movies is the best and which is the worst. The series’ early entries are not only the best-received but the most beloved among modern audiences, but is Scary Movie 3 better than Scary Movie or Scary Movie 2? The answer might be more shocking than you think (and timely to discover now that Scary Movie 6 is just around the corner).

5

‘Scary Movie 5’ (2013)

It’s not an overstatement to say that Scary Movie 5 is among the worst movies ever made and the worst in the franchise; it makes its predecessors look like masterpieces, and that’s saying quite a lot. This movie has so much contempt for the intelligence level of its viewers, it’s shocking and quite baffling. There’s no sugar-coating it; it’s bad in every possible way. Even dreadful films are usually somewhat aware of the fundamentals of movie-making, like spatial awareness and basic film editing — not Scary Movie 5, which is a movie that fails miserably at even those simplest tasks. Some would think they just didn’t even bother trying in this film and were just doing it based on some contract agreement.

The film attempts to spoof the Paranormal Activity film franchise and other popular films like Guillermo Del Toro‘s psychological thriller Mama and the Oscar-nominated Black Swan starring Natalie Portman, but there isn’t a single laugh to be found or heard among audiences (not even a little giggle). It’s hard to reconcile that people were actually paid pretty good money to make this half-attempt travesty, especially with so many talented artists working their butts off on it to get by. While watching this cinematic train wreck, the average viewer will most likely feel incredibly embarrassed for everybody involved, especially Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex, two actors who are way too good to be involved in this unacceptable trash. In other words, some movies really shouldn’t exist, and Scary Movie 5 is by far one of them.

4

‘Scary Movie 2’ (2001)

While no great feat, Scary Movie 2 alleviates some of the issues that plagued the original Scary Movie, resulting in a fairly decent sequel with some new and familiar talent on board. The film takes place in a spooky mansion where a social experiment is being conducted with Cindy and her friends selected as the lucky few participants due to their previous involvement with the mass murders and paranormal events from the first film. For one, Scary Movie 2 parodies some of the all-time best horror movies, including The Exorcist, The Haunting, Poltergeist, and The Amityville Horror (and randomly a spoof on a Nike commercial, which is pretty entertaining). There is also a very foul-mouthed parrot that adds a bit of derogatory shock value to the film’s overall comedy. It also has the added strength of great comedic actors like the legendary Tim Curry, Chris Elliot, and David Cross, elevating average material. The film also adds in some non-horror films, like the Oscar-winning film, Titanic, and Charlie’s Angels, which mix things up a bit plot-wise compared to the first film.

While not a complete comedy revelation, Scary Movie 2 has a fair number of jokes that are surprisingly decent and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny (“that’s my strong hand!”) The cinematography, sound design, overall acting by a colorful cast, and solid visual effects are a big improvement from its predecessor, mainly because of the large increase in the film’s budget. However, its music and gross-out gags are more overdone in this sequel, often threatening to take the film in uncomfortable and unfunny directions. Like other uneven and overly vulgar comedies, Scary Movie 2‘s quality depends on the mood of whoever is watching it. With that said, viewers should watch it only if they’re already in a good mood or willing to let some over-the-top moments pass.

3

‘Scary Movie’ (2000)

Let’s be honest, Scary Movie is a weird but one-of-a-kind movie that spawned a different kind of comedy franchise by spoofing some of the most popular horror films, such as Wes Craven‘s Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Sixth Sense. There are plenty of jokes that haven’t aged well and are politically incorrect — maybe even cruel by today’s standards — but it still has some moments that have become iconic among original fans. Whatever you may think, it rises, if not necessarily soars, on the strength of a perfectly chosen cast that vastly improves what’s on paper. Faris and Hall are comedic geniuses, and the heart and soul of the film, and their abilities are on full display in this first installment. However, the supporting cast is equally impressive, with Marlon and Shawn Wayans, Shannon Elizabeth, and Jon Abrahams embracing the film’s unhinged humor.

Still, not everything is great in this first installment. While the film takes from several films, it is primarily a parody of the Scream films. Scary Movie’s biggest failure is that Scream is already a meta-satire of the traditional slasher horror film and a far more clever, funny, and highly memorable one, for that matter. It might seem easy to just discard Scary Movie as the film equivalent of a basic photocopy of a photocopy, but it does have a variety of other films it parodies that help the movie’s overall plot (no matter how ridiculous it may get) stand out a bit. However, there is a level of genuine genius in what it did: launching a profitable franchise, initiating a cinematic movement that marked the nineties’ era, and propelling the careers of many of its stars to new heights. Scary Movie is stupidly brilliant, surprisingly quotable, and annoyingly entertaining. It offers nothing more than what it advertises, and honestly, how many films can truly say that?

2

‘Scary Movie 4’ (2006)

Scary Movie 4 is the second film in the humorous franchise directed by legendary spoof filmmaker and director David Zucker, who co-directed some of the best American comedies of all time, including Ruthless People, Airplane!, and The Naked Gun. Scary Movie 4 is so lightweight and breezy that when it ends, it feels like no time has passed at all. It’s a welcome mockery of the J-horror craze of the early nineties, insanely intense and graphic torture porn like the Saw series, and several alien invasion blockbusters, primarily Steven Spielberg’s War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise. The movie also features several cameos by celebrities, most notably NBA star, Shaquille O’Neal and famed talk show host Dr. Phil, who both find themselves in one of Jigsaw’s vile games.

Iconic comedy actor Leslie Nielsen returns with his legendary spoof credentials to the floor, portraying the incompetent and bizarre President of the United States of America. His scene parodying President George W. Bush’s infamous “My Pet Goat” fiasco is a wild stand-out moment, but it does cross a slight line, which is excusable considering the tone of the film. Faris reliably delivers a stellar performance and remains the funniest attribute of the entire film series. Her wistful inclinations and earnest naivety provide even the silliest jokes with an unusual layer of truthfulness and honesty. Hall’s character, Brenda, also makes a miraculous return after her apparent death in the previous entry, mainly because this series is nothing without her and Cindy, and anything is possible in this franchise. Scary Movie 4 is a relentlessly humorous and entertaining, turn-your-brain-off experience and a more than satisfying end to the Scary Movie saga as fans knew and loved it.

1

‘Scary Movie 3’ (2003)

The first film of the series to be directed by David Zucker, Scary Movie 3 is the most consistently funny entry of the entire film franchise. It features ridiculous spoofs of massive pop-cultural hits like The Ring, the Matrix films, 8 Mile, and M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs, and features many welcome additions to the series. Faris’ character, Cindy Campbell, is now a TV journalist investigating a series of cryptic alien crop circles and a mysterious tape that supposedly kills its victims seven days after they view it (sounds awfully familiar).

With the exit of the Wayans Brothers, the entire success of the movie is thrust onto Anna Faris and Regina Hall’s capable shoulders; suffice it to say, they more than delivered, but were helped by some newcomers such as Leslie Nelson, Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, and Queen Latifah. Faris has amazing comedic and even romantic chemistry with Simon Rex and spoof veteran Charlie Sheen, who nail their roles as brothers who own a farm, parodying the Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix characters from Signs. The most well-written, tightly paced, and clever of the five Scary Movie films, Scary Movie 3 excels not only as a spoof movie but also as a genuine comedy, thanks to its memorable gags, overall top-notch performances, and its willingness to be something more than just a cheap mockery of horror movies.