Your Favorite Scary Movie 🎥

Thank you NetGalley for ARC. As a huge fan of Scream, I really enjoyed this book! Be warned, this book will make you want to have a Scream marathon.

Scream fans rejoice, this book is a fantastic behind the scenes look at one of the most iconic horror franchises. Scream was one of the first horror movies to blend horror and comedy in a way that let your guard down. Learn why that was such a risk and how it made Scream one of the most successful horror franchises to date.

This book includes interviews from some of the key players such as Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich, and more. You’ll discover how some of your favorite lines were improvised by the talented collection of actors that make up Scream.

This book is an absolute treat for fans of the franchise and cinephiles alike.

Now I’ve got just one question for you… what’s your favorite scary movie? 🍿 📞 🔪

I’ll start with a confession: I’m not into horror and I’ve never seen any of the Scream movies. But I am a hard-core theater and film nerd and I love behind-the-scenes stories. So I’m reviewing on that basis, and I was as surprised as anyone when I slurped up this book in two sittings and then spent the next hour or so looking up more information online.

While Your Favorite Scary Movie is without doubt a love letter to the Scream franchise, but it is not an insiders-only tale. I lost the book a few times when the author alluded to facts that she assumed anyone even marginally familiar with the movies would know, but I was able to catch up fairly easily. And it seemed as though the author wanted to bring the same atmosphere to the book as the movies did to the audience: character-centric, true to the tropes, creative in the use of suspense, horror and blood - but always with a little tongue in cheek as well.

The book ends by describing some of the backstory of the making of Scream 7, which isn’t due in theaters until 2026. I encourage all fans to read this book so they can be prepared.

Many thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

If you are a fan of the Scream franchise, this is an absolute must read! It would be great for fans new and old and really touches on the nostalgia so many of us feel for these movies.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOVIE?!🎥 🍿🔪

Honestly, in the realm of horror, there is no more iconic line for me. The #Scream movies are my favorite in the horror genre, and this book allowed me to enjoy the movies all over again from a completely new lens. YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOVIE, by @ashley_cullins is a 5⭐️ read! If you are a fan of the Scream movies, you have got to grab a copy.

This book is filled with incredible behind the scenes stories, interviews with many of our favorite characters (loved the Laurie Metcalf is talked to in this book!!), and interesting little known facts about the production of the movies.

We get to see the origin of how Kevin Williamson wrote the screenplays, how Wes Craven directed and used his specific style to allow the actors to really thrive, and get some perspective on the interactions between the creatives of the cinema world, and the business people behind the scenes.

My favorite parts were the portions where we get to learn about the alternate story lines that were meant to occur, and the alternate movies that were meant to be made. Learning about how 4, 5, and 6 were supposed to have a completely different direction with one overarching storyline was absolutely fascinating.

We get to learn about what the actors think of their roles, whether the movies changed their lives, and about what they did to bring their characters to life.

I really can’t overstate how incredibly fun this book was to read. Grab a copy on August 19th!! You will not regret it!!!

As someone who absolutely loves horror and grew up watching scary movies, this book hit every nostalgic and fan-loving nerve. I watched the Scream movies as they were coming out, and reading Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins felt like being transported right back into that excitement, only this time with a behind-the-scenes pass.

Cullins gives a fascinating, well-researched deep dive into how Scream changed the horror landscape forever. From the original film’s groundbreaking meta approach to the evolution of the franchise, this book covers it all—interviews with Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Kevin Williamson, and even the late Wes Craven give it serious credibility and heart.

It reminded me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place. Honestly, I’m ready to cue up a full Scream marathon now! If you’re a horror fan, especially a Scream fan, this book is a no brainer. Smart, nostalgic, and full of love for the genre. Highly recommend!

Thank you Ashley Cullins, NetGalley and Dutton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is truly the book for film lovers and Scream lovers. From the very beginnings of the franchise and hardships of the first four movies, to the handover of rights after Wes Craven’s passing, and to the supposed Ghostface fan fiction, this covers ALL the bts details. This was an incredible deep dive into all the intricacies that went into the franchise and how it was built into the well beloved horror empire that it is today. It’s such an intimate look at a horror icon, how the story evolved over time, and how it impacted an immense amount of movie goers. It was like being on set myself as I read through the interviews and personal accounts from the actors and crew members alike. This gave me much more of an appreciation for the franchise and all the work that was put into creating this universe. It will be so fun to revisit the movies after reading this book and to see the new Scream 7 once it’s released. For all the Ghostface fans, buckle up because this is for you!

Thank you Dutton Books and NetGalley for the arc of this book. This will be a treasure on my shelves!

One of my most favorite quotable films wrapped up into this masterpiece of a love story to the franchise and fans that keep Ghostface alive and well after all these years.

From deep dives to behind the scenes Ashley Cullins did a tremendous job collecting information not just about the film, but from the actors who portray some of our favorite bad boys and iconic scream queens.

Finding out that Ghost Face himself voice actor Roger Jackson will narrate for the audiobook is even more iconic! I will need this book in ALL formats ASAP

I have seen Scream dozens of times. I can’t say a precise number, but I will say that during a particularly perilous time in my life two years ago, I did watch it every single day for 3 weeks. It was a background comfort to the chaos of being a full time student, working 40 hours a night at a graveyard job, and also somehow still being a stay at home mom during the days.

All this to say, I LOVE this movie. It is engrained in my DNA at this point.

This book was a delight because I learned so much about my favorite movie franchise. I absolutely loved the deep dives and insights from people who worked on the films and learned so much trivia I can’t wait to break out next time I watch the movies with a group of friends. I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy for my collection upon release!!

Whether you're an average fan of the franchise ( Hi that's me ) or a hardcore fan you will enjoy this one. Starting at the beginning it gives us insight on how the franchise began and all the high and lows from each movie installment. I learned so many interesting facts I had never known about the creators and the actors involved. I loved the direct quotes from big names that I shouldn't have been surprised were influenced by experiencing Scream in theaters that first time, Ashley Cullins did a fantastic job delivering facts to the reader but layering it with emotion and humor along the way.

A 200+ page love letter to the greatest movie franchise: Scream.

I’m a huge fan of Scream and there was so much in here that I didn’t know, or only knew in part, but honestly it was the pure adoration for everyone involved, particularly Wes Craven, that made this so good. It was an incredibly emotional read, with so much input from those who were most involved and just a profound respect for each other. I can’t wait for Scream 7 and the future.

This is a great read for not just fans of the franchise or horror, but movies in general.

I burned through YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOVIE by Ashley Cullins in a couple of days and since it was such an informative and interesting read, I had to stop along the way to binge the movies.

I love a pop culture history of something I liked but I’m not an expert on this for the bill. While I’ve seen all of the movies and may even have an old DVD box set of the original trilogy, I haven’t given them a lot of thought recently so it was fun to revisit them and learn more about how they came together.

I originally assumed only the first movie would be covered but it goes into all of the films even setting the scene for the upcoming installment. I’m a bit of a scaredy cat, but I’ve always appreciate the humor and meta-ness of this series. And those first movies really hold up even nearly 30 years later.

The author is clearly a fan and has done excellent research getting lots of reflections and quotes from key members of the cast and crew.

A must read for anyone who likes movies, scary or not!

I LOVED "Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror" by Ashley Cullins. I am a huge fan of the Scream franchise, and this book was filled with new information and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the films. Cullins interviewed the cast, crew, writers, directors, and producers from 1996 to present. (It was fascinating to see how the studio originally pushed back on elements that would become iconic.)

The book was well-written and structured in a way that was both informative and fun to read. I loved reading how the actors, particularly Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jack Quaid, Neve Campbell, and David Arquette, approached their roles and how they chose to play their characters. These are GREAT interviews. So many books about pop culture end up losing the original spark and fun of the source material, and this book was full of life (IRONY) and true passion for the films.

This book is also a love letter to the original creators of the franchise: Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson.

If you are a fan of any and all horror films, pop culture, psychology, or any of the stars/directors in the Scream universe, this is the book for you. You won't regret it. (Obviously there are spoilers for all 6 Scream movies in this book, FYI.) I hope Ashley Cullins writes more books about entertainment & pop culture, because she is awesome! Scream 7 is scheduled to be released February 2026, so now I'm off to rewatch all 6 movies, bye.

5 stars.

Cullins delivers an exhaustive oral history of the Scream franchise that's part love letter to Wes Craven, part behind-the-scenes deep dive, and entirely entertaining even for casual fans. Through interviews with over eighty cast and crew members, she chronicles how a clever meta-slasher revived a dying genre and became a cultural phenomenon. The book is packed with fun anecdotes, surprising tidbits, and genuine affection for everyone involved - you can feel the passion radiating from every page as people gush about Craven and Kevin Williamson's brilliant partnership. It's comfort reading for horror fans, like slipping back into something familiar but with all the insider details you've always wanted to know.

A blast from the past. Scream was such a popular franchise (back in the day) and it was so much fun diving into the behind-the-scenes details of the franchise. From fun facts to actors’ perspectives, this book offers a fascinating look into what made these movies iconic. A must-read for fans - just in time for their newest installment!

ARC REVIEW

Your favorite scary movie
By Ashley Cullins

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5/5 (3.5 rounded to 4 out of 5)

Publishing date: 8/19/25

As soon as I saw this was about the SCREAM franchise, I knew it would be an interesting read, and it delivered!

The book gave so much behind the scenes information. Casting, writing, producing, the breakdown of each film, Wes craven history, cast interviews, SOOOOOO much info! It was intriguing. 

The book even gave info on the next SCREAM, #7. I had no idea it was going to be a movie all about Sydney Prescott!!!!!!! (can't freaking wait) But the book also explains why certain cast from #5 and #6 won't be returning for #7 and how characters we believe to be dead, will be on our screens again. It got me so pumped 🫠

I am definitely a scream fan. Even if you are just a movie buff in general I think you should read this. It was such an informative book and I feel privileged to have learned a lot of the insights revealed! 

Thank you to @netgalley and @duttonbooks for the early read opportunity!

This was full of well researched and interesting information about the Scream franchise. I was also surprised to find out so much of Wes Craven's backstory.

Ashley Cullins delivers a passionate and thorough exploration of the Scream franchise in Your Favorite Scary Movie. This book is more than just a rundown of facts; it is a heartfelt tribute to the creators, cast, and lasting influence of the films that revitalized the slasher genre. Cullins uses exclusive interviews with key figures like Neve Campbell and Kevin Williamson to offer fresh insight into the making and legacy of these iconic movies.

One standout example is the detailed look at the creative collaboration between Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, showing how their unique blend of horror and humor redefined what audiences expected from the genre. Another highlight is the behind-the-scenes stories from the filming of Scream 4, which reveal both the challenges and triumphs that shaped the series’ evolution.

While the book doesn't radically reinvent the genre’s history, it captures the essence of why Scream continues to resonate with fans decades later. Whether you are a die-hard fan or a newcomer curious about the franchise, this well-researched and affectionate account is an engaging read that honors the spirit of Ghostface and the fearless creativity behind the mask.

Plume eARC
I loved this book so much. Scream was one of my favorite scary movies, and I watched it way too young, but it's stuck with me all this time because of how perfect of a horror movie it is. This book was so much fun to read, and it's perfect for all the Scream aficionados out there. I loved how it added such depth to my knowledge about all seven of these movies. And Cullins didn't shy away from showing the hard parts of making these movies, from getting the funding, to casting, to the actual filming. There was so much depth and detail here about all of the movies. The book also talked a lot about Wes Craven and his impact. I mean this series wouldn't be here without him, and I appreciated the focus he got in the book. I will be rewatching these immediately - and watch six for the first time. And while I quit watching these movies after five because of pivotal death, IYKYK, this book has made me especially excited for Scream 7.

A masterclass in nonfiction and clearly a labor of love. I haven’t had this much fun reading a nonfiction in a long time (if ever!). Ashley Cullins clearly has done her research and this book taught me so much about a fandom I’ve been a part of since the 90s. I cannot recommend this enough, especially to people who, like me, had a Ghostface costume in their closet growing up.

This book was so fun! I loved reading about all the things I didn’t know about the cast, crew, writers & directions. I really loved hearing about how the whole franchise started and how everything came together. I loved hearing about how much everyone loved Wes and how he was really just a good guy all around. There were so many fun facts that I was reading for the first time! I’ve loved Scream since I was a kid and I am truly grateful I was able to read this book!