What’s your favorite scary movie?
Mine has always been Scream—hands down, no competition. The first four films are my comfort movies, and I genuinely couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve rewatched them. So when I found out Your Favorite Scary Movie was coming out, I knew I had to read it. And imagine my surprise when I got the chance to experience it four months early—thank you, Dutton Books!!

When I tell you I loved every second of this book—I mean it. It dives deep into the making of every film in the franchise, from the original classic all the way to the upcoming Scream 7 (out in 2026!), and gives the kind of behind-the-scenes insight that fans like me dream about. It reminded me a bit of The Offer (the show about how The Godfather was made)—just so fascinating to see the full story from a completely different angle.

One of the most powerful parts for me was learning more about Wes Craven—not just as a director, but as a human being. Ashley went deep into his legacy, and let me just say... I did not expect to cry reading this, but I definitely did.

If you love Scream, or even just love hearing the behind-the-scenes chaos, heart, and hustle that goes into making iconic films, you need this book on your radar. From the actors to the producers to the fans who helped keep the franchise alive—it’s all in here.

One thing that really surprised me? Everyone behind the scenes seems to view Scream 4 as a bit of a flop?! I personally loved it. Great plot, great cast, so underrated. For fun, here’s how I’d rank the films:
1, 3, 4, 2, 6, 5

Bottom line: be on the lookout for Your Favorite Scary Movie. It’s a must-read for horror lovers and die-hard Scream fans alike. You don’t want to miss this one!

This book gave me such anxiety given the current state of the world, and thus I didn't enjoy it as much as I wish. I mean, I suppose I could have tried to suspend belief, but when so much of this book's premise and plot centers around companies mining data from all our devices, social media and, in this case, dreams, and allow the government to profile us it felt 'too soon. Basically, it all boils down to combating crime before it's even occurred, and legally detaining those considered 'high risk' by the algorithm- which we are dealing with in the here and now. Sara was a good protagonist, but the book seemed to go on a bit too long and some of the other characters could have been better developed.

OMG THIS BOOK!! I love the Scream franchise, so I figured I would love this book…but I loved it even more than I thought I would! You can tell how much research and interviews the author did to really set the tone from the making of the first movie all the way to the meaning of the seventh that’s still in progress and WOW! I learned so much about the franchise and actors and I just couldn’t put this book down! Now I’m even more excited to rewatch all the movies (and check out the next one when it comes out!) with all of this previously insider knowledge to increase my love of Scream even more. This book is FANTASTIC and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

ARC releasing 8/19. A novel exploring the making of and the legacy left by the Scream films. If you’re a die hard fan, nothing in this book will be anything new, but if you’re a casual fan, this will be an interesting read for you. I will say that the author has information incorrect regarding Jenna Ortega in light of her recent statement about Scream 7 and I hope that’s corrected prior to release.

"Your Favorite Scary Movie" by Mallory Arnold is a thought-provoking exploration of horror cinema, delving into its history, cultural impact, and the diverse ways it elicits fear. The book offers sharp commentary on representation in the genre, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the films that have shaped our collective nightmares. Arnold's extensive knowledge is evident, though at times the depth of analysis leans towards an academic tone, reminiscent of a thesis. Despite this, the author's wit and humor shine through, making complex discussions both engaging and accessible. For horror enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive and insightful read, this book is a valuable addition to your collection.

Thank you, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, Plume, for providing the copy of Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins. I loved this book! I’m not a huge fan of the Scream Franchise but love reading insider tips about movies and TV. I can’t wait to watch all of the movies now. If you love them already, this book will give you insight you can’t find anywhere else. If you haven’t watched them you will want to after reading this book! 4 stars.

Although I'm not a big fan of non-fiction, I did love Scream so powered through this one as it was both informative and entertaining! Who knew so much goes into making a horror movie? This book is a series of interviews and it's nostalgic in all the right places. I might have to keep a more open mind when looking for scary movies in the future!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Your Favorite Scary Movie, is a must read for horror fans, cinephiles, and anyone who’s ever gotten scared by (or laughed at) a slasher flick. The book dives deep into the legacy of the Scream franchise, unpacking how a masked killer and a script full of self aware jabs completely transformed the horror landscape.

Cullins, a journalist, has combined a treasure trove of insight from over 80 interviews with the franchise’s key players, including Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and screenwriter Kevin Williamson. This isn’t just a behind-the-scenes peek; it’s a cultural autopsy of a genre. Through these conversations, Cullins reveals how Scream redefined what horror could be, smart, scary, funny, and unashamedly meta.

What sets this book apart is its layered storytelling. It doesn’t just retell the making of the movies, it explores why they mattered. Cullins traces the evolution of horror pre- and post-Scream, showing how Wes Craven’s sharp direction and Williamson’s whip smart writing opened the door for a new kind of horror film: one that understood its audience, winked at the clichés, and still delivered the thrills.

Whether you're a die hard fan or just curious, this book promises a compelling read. It’s not just a love letter to a franchise, it’s a thoughtful, well researched chronicle of how Scream carved out a new set of rules in a genre once thought to be out of ideas.

(3.5 rounded up) Listen. This book is not going to be for everybody (non-Scream fans), but if you at all are a fan of the Scream franchise, you’ll enjoy this. Scream is in my top five favorite movies and horror movies are my favorite genre, so this is exactly in my wheelhouse. The book does exactly what it sets out to do and tells of the making of Scream from the writing of the script to to the lasting cultural impact it has had. I do have a reservation, though. There are a ton of interviews the author gets (Kevin Williamson, John Carpenter, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, to name a few), which is really dope, but it feels overwhelming in structure and all of the quotes leave very little room for the author’s own thoughts and interpretations. I actually think I would have enjoyed this more as an oral history, since the book is collecting the thoughts of those involved in the making of the movie, as opposed to the author’s own cultural & critical writing. But, being the Scream lover I am, I still very much enjoyed being immersed in the making of such a classic.

ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘤, 𝘪’𝘮 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵—𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪’𝘥 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦. ੈ✩‧₊˚

This isn’t just a collection of facts—it’s a love letter. A personal tribute to a franchise that redefined a genre, to the legacy of Wes Craven, and to the iconic voice of Kevin Williamson. Together, they weren’t just collaborators; they were storytellers who poured heart, wit, and fearless creativity into every frame. Their work didn’t just thrill us—it stayed with us. It shaped a generation of horror fans and left a legacy that still echoes, sharp and unforgettable.

If you're a fan of the Scream franchise, this one's definitely worth checking out. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel or offer anything groundbreaking, but there's something incredibly satisfying about the way it's written. It feels like slipping back into something familiar—like reuniting with old friends.

Yes, it treads familiar ground, but that’s part of its charm. It’s a fun, nostalgic read that taps into the heart of what makes the franchise so beloved. Almost comforting, in a weird, stabby kind of way.

It’s not trying to be the next big thing—it just wants to celebrate what already exists. And for fans like me, that’s more than enough.

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘋𝘶𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘯 | 𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.💐

This was so !nteresting! I learned so much about such a creepy genre. It was an informed guide to a deep history of thrills This book took me back in time on a journey of discovery fir my love of horror literature. Very cool

This was such a fun read! I love Scream and try to marathon the movies every October. The first one will always be my favourite. I never got over how well done it was and how the characters stayed with me.
It’s now one of my comfort films.
Getting a more in depth look at it’s conception and overwhelming growth since, is such a treat.
So many fun set tidbits and connections to other horror films that I know and love.

Gave Craven his stars too, really enjoyed reading about him as a person and director.

Excited for Scream 7, glad to see Kevin Williamson stepping in

I would highly recommend to any horror or Scream fan.

(Thanks to NetGalley for the arc)

OH MY GODDDDDD I ate this book UP!!! The Scream franchise is my Roman empire, my entire personality. I practically screamed myself when I saw this on Instagram and again when I was approved on Netgalley. I flew through this book. It was so well-researched. So many interesting facts and behind-the-scenes tidbits that I loved. Now I need a Scream Trivia night so I can dominate!!

Ashley, please come to Massachusetts on your book tour!!! May I suggest Book Lvoe in Plymouth or An Unlikely Story in Plainville ;)

As a huge fan of the Scream franchise it was really interesting to take a deeper dive behind the scenes! Learning about how the story came to light and each stage that took place after was such a fun and exciting read. There were so many things in this book I didn’t know and was so intrigued to learn more and how steps were taken to achieve the franchise as it currently stands! I’m excited for the next Scream! Bring on 2026!

Scream is one of my top 5 movies, it genuinely impacted so much of my taste in media and this book gave me everything I wanted out of it. Hearing everyone talk about what it felt like to be part of this franchise, to the community Wes and Kevin built on set during the very first movie actually had me crying.

Scream impacted so many of my favorite horror authors and it's so clear to see why everyone loves these movies so much when you hear the actors and crew talk about how much they love the movie and what it means to them. Ghostface you will always be famous to me!!!!

Your Favorite Scary Movie is a very well researched and written history of the Scream film franchise featuring tons of interviews with the films' cast, crew, writers and more. You can tell Cullins really was interested in the subject that she was writing about.
The book introduces the reader to the films and then has a chapter on each film in the franchise followed by a chapter on how that film was received by critics and fans. I liked the format and feel like it worked well.
As a fan of the films, I loved learning new facts about them, behind the scenes details, more about screenwriter Kevin Williamson (who apparently wrote most of the late 90's slasher films) and,of course, more about the legendary Wes Craven. I was so excited while reading this that I was telling my friends all the new things that I learned and I immediately wanted to watch the Scream.
I recommend this to anyone who's a fan of the Scream, horror movies, Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson or who considers themselves a film buff.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"No, please don’t kill me, Mr. Ghostface! I wanna be in the sequel!"

So, picture this… My parents are out for the night—my older cousins are watching me, and they put on Scream. I’m eight years old. Was I terrified? Probably. But who knows? All I do know is that my love for horror movies started right then and there.

Scream has always been my favorite movie. I can say, without a doubt, that I’ve seen the original trilogy over a thousand times—and the entire franchise? A LOT. They’re my comfort movies, I can quote them, tell you what is happening next, they're my background noise. Weird? Maybe. But I love them.

So, when I saw that an author was writing a book about how the Scream movies rewrote the rules of horror, I KNEW I had to get my hands on it ASAP. Huge thanks to Ashley Cullins for giving me the chance to read this!

This book was a love letter to Scream fans. Each chapter was packed with interviews, behind-the-scenes knowledge, and fascinating details from the actors, crew, producers, and directors alike. I learned so many new things about the franchise and got a deeper understanding of how it all came together.

I always thought Wes Craven was an incredible human based on interviews I’ve seen, but this book solidified it. Learning more about him—his kindness, his vision, and his passion—was one of my favorite parts. And Kevin Williamson? The journey to getting Scream made wasn’t easy, but damn, was it worth it. You can feel how much love he put into these films, how deeply he cares about the franchise, and how much he wants to be a part of it every step of the way. That’s why it’s so exciting that he’s stepping in to direct Scream 7—bringing everything full circle. If anyone understands the heart of Scream, it’s him.

I loved how many people the author interviewed, giving fans firsthand perspectives from those who lived it. It felt like I was sitting in on the conversation, soaking up every detail. And with Scream 7 coming in February, reading even the tiniest bits about how the movie is coming together made me even more excited! I cannot wait to see Neve Campbell bring Sidney back to life.

This book reminded me why I love this franchise so much—the cast, the stories, the impact, and, of course, the rules…

"There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to successfully survive a horror movie.

1. You can never have sex.
2. You can never drink or do drugs.
3. Never, ever, ever say ‘I'll be right back.’"

Thank you so so much to the author, Dutton/Plume books for a copy of this for an honest review! This book will be available on August 19, 2025!

Ashley Cullins dives into the history of the "Scream" franchise in "Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror." The book chronicles the films from Kevin Williams's idea for the first film through the development of the yet-to-be-released seventh installment, using first-person interviews with cast, crew, and movie industry veterans to tell the story.

I was in junior high school when the first movie was released, and I remember the buzz from friends who'd been allowed to see it as their first real scary movie experience in a theater. "Scream" spoiled my generation in that way; none of us knew what a truly trailblazing movie it was and how it would influence horror movie making for years to come. I re-watched the movies as I read the book, and it was fun to follow along with the insider stories and watching the results play out on screen. The movies are special in that they each capture a particular moment in pop culture and provide a welcome sense of nostalgia, but they also remain legitimately funny or scary by blending classic filmmaking techniques and writing with elements of surprise that twist the movies from the expected.

The book also dives deeply into the life and career of Wes Craven, with cast and crew sharing fond memories of the filmmaker. Cullins blends Craven's and Williams's backstories and career highlights into the book, and it provides a fascinating glimpse into the "old guard" and "new guard" of modern horror movie production, with Craven's influence on Williams the focus of much of the first half of the book, which becomes more interesting and full-circle, considering that Williams would eventually go on to become the director of the newest installment thirty years later.

Cullins also devotes a sizable piece of the book in defining what makes each movie in the franchise different but still connected to the overall world of "Scream," which is interesting and helps to really place what makes the franchise feel perhaps more consistent than other long-running horror franchises. They grow and evolve with the culture but also still maintain a throughline of characters that reminds audiences that these stories all clearly take place in the same "world." While Ghostface's identity may change, in the end, the story is essentially the same; someone is hiding behind a mask with a motivation for death and destruction. What makes the "Scream" movies so fun is that they aren't a series of one-upping gory and creative character deaths aimed at one-time shock value; instead they are ultimately thrillers with a focus on the mystery and the suspense around the big reveal. And after the reveal, we want to go back and watch the movies again to look for the clues and references we may have missed. The makers of "Scream" clearly respect the fans' passion, as Cullins discusses the focus put on each film's story development and the attention to detail that has been undertaken to prevent plot holes and blatant insults to the audience's loyalty.

It is absolutely essential that readers have seen all six films in the franchise before reading this book if they do not want to be spoiled because the plots are all discussed in detail with each movie's killer(s) unmasked in the respective chapters. This is probably a no-brainer for many, but it's worth calling out in case fans of the Craven films haven't explored the more recent installments.

I would have liked to see more of a discussion of the movies' influence on other films that followed their release. While the author does talk to a few horror filmmakers about the influence of Wes Craven and the franchise, it never goes as deeply into this area as one might assume based on the book's subtitle.

"Your Favorite Scary Movie" is a great companion read to the films, and fans of the franchise and the modern horror and slasher genres are sure to love this book for its insights. It's a solid addition to the movie lover's bookshelf.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced read.

I absolutely loved this book it was so cool hearing all the behind the scenes of production. I’m a super fan of scream so this was just so much fun to read and now I want to rewatch all the movies like I’ve done so many times.

It was just really fun and well written. 5 stars from me.

Early ARC review.

5 Stars!

Wow. As a fan of the Scream franchise this book is a love letter for all the die hard fans of the Scream Franchise! This book dives deep into what happens behind the scenes and how each Scream movie is made and what filmmakers have to fight for to have in these films! The nostalgia for revisiting Scream 1-3 was incredibly emotional! I grew up in the era when this movie first came out and had the best watching experience with the original trilogy. These movies shaped the way I viewed horror movies and paved the way for other horror movies to break out in the horror genre scene. You can tell Wes Craven had a deep love for not only film making but for everyone he worked with! It’s sad to know that Scream 4 was his last movie and knowing it didn’t get the reception it should have. Wes was just grateful to get to be around what he calls his family and make another movie within the Scream universe that’s close to his heart!

This book shows the crazy obstacles he has to go through with a school board denying him to film on their property. Which he lets them know in the end credits for Scream 1 just how he feels, and also deal with the MPAA board asking him to cut several bloody sequences or else they’d give would give him a hard NC-17 rating. Wes Craven is noted to have taken the first learning experience with Scream 1 and use these notes to his advantage for the future Scream films.

Kevin Williamson. Is such a brilliant writer and storyteller. I’m at awe that he wrote the original Scream story in just three days! Williamson thrived on the early years of films such as Jaws and John Carpenters Halloween, he said watching and hearing people’s reactions to horror movies is what made him want to become a screenwriter and director! He even goes into detail about writing his first one act play about a babysitter who gets a creepy call and they end up discussing all of the tropes in horror films.

That was his first start to writing a horror genre script and not his last. Williamson worked tooth and nail to get his script to become something more than your average horror movie. Scream had the right antidote for a new age of horror for people looking to get something more than the average slasher films during his early years


This book covers the pain staking trials and tribulations that all the Scream 1-6 movies had to go through to get made. It’s so interesting and fun to read what they had to cut to make the movies we know and love today! I am so excited that Neve Campbell is back to playing Sydney for Scream 7 and I can’t wait to see what Williamson and Neve will be able to create now that we the audience are back to our roots with Sydney back home.