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Unmask 'Scream's' Killers Through Their Best Movies and TV Shows

See 'Scream's' killers in new lights by checking out their other top-rated movies and TV shows.
by Danielle Turchiano — 
Ghostface, Scream

Ghostface from 'Scream'

Dimension Films/Paramount

Spoiler Alert: This post contains spoilers for the Scream film franchise. Read at your own risk!


One of the things Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven's Scream franchise became known for when the first movie premiered in 1996 was creating villains who hid behind a generic "five and dime" costume but had very personal connections to their main target, then-high school student Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell).

The nine actors who played these killers over the course of the years — and through five films thus far — had to appear innocuous and sometimes even in danger for the majority of the film in order to throw Sidney and the audience off the track of what they were doing. So, it should be no surprise that these performers have had rich careers outside these slasher flicks, further showing off their range by pivoting between genres and mediums. 

To get to know the people behind the Ghostface mask a bit better, Metacritic has compiled a list of the actors' best projects, based on their Metascores.


Skeet Ulrich

Jason Mendez/Getty Images

Skeet Ulrich

Sidney Prescott's brooding boyfriend Billy Loomis, played by Ulrich, turns out to be one of a team of killers in the 1996 start of the franchise, but he is the one with the most motive, despite the fact that he tries to claim he doesn't have one at all. Billy learned Sidney's mother was sleeping with his father, an act he claims caused his mother to abandon him. Thus, his motive is one of the simplest ones of all: Revenge.

Ulrich has capitalized on his dramatic talents in both film and television through the years, focusing on serious roles, many of which still come with a criminal element.


Ride with the Devil

Metascore: 69
Best for: Fans of Westerns and historical dramatizations
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 138 minutes

Director Ang Lee's take on the Western genre comes with a bit of revisionist history as he explores the why behind the violence of war at a more individualized level. Set during the American Civil War, the film follows Jake Roedel (Tobey Maguire) and Jack Bull Chiles (Ulrich), who join the Bushwhackers' efforts to disrupt the political activities of those allied with Union soldiers. As they get involved with the cause, they make new connections along the way, including romantically with a young woman named Sue Lee Shelley (Jewel, in her first film role), but they are also often in the line of fire as the group is entrenched in guerilla warfare.


Riverdale

Metascore: 68
Best for: Fans of twisty mysteries and coming-of-age drama
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesNetflixVudu
Seasons: 6 (so far)

The characters of Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa's teen drama come from the pages of Archie Comics, but this version of the story veers dramatically from sock hops and jalopy rides. The first season begins with the infamous Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) not torn between Betty (Lili Reinhart) and Veronica (Camila Mendes) but instead having an affair with a teacher. The show also kicks off with a murder mystery, proving the titular town isn't as idyllic as it is in the source material. Over the course of the seasons, the show has dealt with gang violence and serial killers on top of typical high school concerns, from musicals to graduation. It has also moved beyond those formative years to follow its characters in young adulthood. Ulrich stars in the first five seasons as F.P. Jones, Jughead's (Cole Sprouse) father.


As Good as It Gets

Metascore: 67
Best for: Fans of complex character dramas, unexpected relationships, Oscar Award-winning performances
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Runtime: 139 minutes

James L. Brooks' romantic dramedy stars Jack Nicholson as an antisocial novelist named Melvin who lives with OCD; Helen Hunt as Carol, a waitress and single mother, who, against all odds, begins a romantic relationship with Melvin; and Greg Kinnear as Simon, Melvin's gay, artist neighbor who helps bring the other two together. After Simon is attacked and almost killed, Melvin surprisingly agrees to take care of his dog — and even more surprisingly bonds with it. This starts him down a path of healing, and he gradually becomes more involved in Simon's life while also helping Carol. The trio brings out the best in each other, inspiring each other to make positive changes in their lives. Ulrich plays Vincent, one of Simon's models.


Law & Order: SVU

Metascore: 66
Best for: Fans of gritty police procedurals and female-led stories
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesPeacockVudu
Seasons: 23 (so far)

The Law & Order spinoff that centers on investigations of sexual crimes made Mariska Hargitay a household name while also bringing to light some of the darkest parts of humanity. Ulrich's character, Det. Rex Winters, is introduced in the third episode of the first season. While he only appears in that one episode, it proves pivotal for the character, who becomes a staple on subsequent spinoff Law & Order: LA, which ran from 2010-2011 and has a Metascore of 64. 


The Newton Boys

Metascore: 57
Best for: Fans of criminal family dramas and adaptations of real events
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesStarzVudu
Runtime: 113 minutes

Based on a real-life family of bank robbers from Texas, Richard Linklater's film begins with a daring broad-daylight robbery that culminates in a horseback-car chase. But as the film goes on, it mixes action with emotion, peeling back the layers of the criminal Newtons as well as the crooked professionals they target. Willis Newton (Matthew McConaughey) is the mastermind, and he brings his brothers Joe (Ulrich), Jess (Ethan Hawke), and Dock (Vincent D'Onofrio) into the fray, making it a family affair — which complicates matters in the end.


Matthew Lillard

David Livingston/Getty Images

Matthew Lillard

The other half of the original Scream killer duo, Stu Macher (Lillard), seems like he really doesn't have a motive. When asked what he will tell people, he says he will blame peer pressure — but everything he says is tinged with a laugh. He seems like just an average, All-American, small town high school kid with a questionable sense of humor at times, but underneath, he is a special kind of unhinged.

Lillard, though, has expanded into more family-friendly fare through the years, including becoming the official voice of Shaggy Rogers in new Scooby-Doo animated projects.


The Descendants

Metascore: 84
Best for: Fans of complicated family dramas and reflections on marriage
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 114 minutes

Based on Kaui Hart Hemmings' novel of the same name, the film dives into the life of Matt King (George Clooney), whose family trust consists of thousands of acres of land on Kauai. Matt's extended family is pressuring him to sell, while his immediate family is dealing with a tragic boat accident that has left his wife in a coma. With the decision of what to do about the land looming, Matt has to face another important man in his wife's life, Brian (Lillard), and come to terms with their relationship, his shortcomings in his own relationship, and how to function as a single father.


Without Limits

Metascore: 71
Best for: Fans of sports and celebrity biopics
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 117 minutes

Robert Towne's feature film about distance runner and Olympian Steve Prefontaine's (Billy Crudup) relationship with his coach Bill Bowerman (Donald Sutherland) goes beyond the training ground to get insight into the kind of man it takes to achieve greatness in such a short amount of time. (The real-life Prefontaine passed away at age 24.) Monica Potter also stars in the film as Prefontaine's girlfriend, Marcy Marckx, whose personal correspondence with the athlete provided many of the project's personal touches. Lillard plays athlete Roscoe Devine.


Looney Tunes: Back in Action

Metascore: 64
Best for: Fans of classic cartoons and comedic spy movies
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHBO MaxiTunesVudu
Runtime: 91 minutes

Classic Warner Bros. animated characters join forces with some live-action movie stars for a hybrid project that thrusts the Tunes into the world of espionage when a security guard named DJ Drake (Brendan Fraser) learns his father (Timothy Dalton) is a secret agent and has tasked him to find a mysterious diamond. In the wrong hands, the diamond can turn humanity into monkeys that will do the evil Mr. Chairman's (Steve Martin) bidding. With stakes that high, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck (both voiced by Joe Alaskey) and WB executive Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman) team up with DJ in order to help collect that diamond before evildoers do. Lillard makes a cameo appearance as himself in this film.


Serial Mom

Metascore: 64
Best for: Fans of dark humor and the antihero point of view
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 95 minutes

The title may say it all: A seemingly run-of-the-mill suburban housewife and mother (played by Kathleen Turner) is really a killer. Those who criticize Beverly Sutphin's parenting or cause her children (played by Ricki Lake and Lillard) harm meet unfortunate ends, but she doesn't stop there: Those who get in the way of her enjoying quality family time are also at risk. The story moves fast, with a lot of crimes in a short amount of time, making her seem more like a spree killer than a serial one, despite the title. But semantics aside, she showcases how domesticity can make someone unravel.


Match

Metascore: 62
Best for: Fans of thoughtful character dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunes

Tobi (Patrick Stewart), a ballet instructor at Juilliard, has his world rocked when an interview about the 1960s dance scene becomes increasingly personal and he learns that is because one of the interviewers (played by Lillard) suspects Tobi is his biological father. Things take a sharp turn from there when Tobi reveals he isn't a complete stranger and does know who the father is, although he says it is not him. As the title suggests, that answer comes throughout the course of the film, via a DNA test. The film is based on Stephen Belber's play of the same title.


Laurie Metcalf

Bruce Glikas/Getty Images

Laurie Metcalf

Metcalf's Debbie Salt aka Mrs. Loomis picks up where her son left off in Scream 2, targeting Sidney and her new friends at Windsor College because she blames Sidney for the death of her son. She is able to hide in plain sight, buzzing around the college, pretending to be a journalist after the murders begin, because she underwent a dramatic physical transformation that kept Sidney from recognizing her right away.

Metcalf is an acclaimed actor across stage, screen, and all genres, best-known to many audiences from years on sitcoms Roseanne and The Conners, but she has also made her mark on a couple of film franchises, including voicing Andy's mom in Toy Story.


Toy Story

Metascore: 95
Best for: Fans of budding friendship tales and unexpected adventures
Where to watch: 

Disney+Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 81 minutes

When a cool new toy called Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) turns up in Andy's (John Morris) collection, longtime favorite Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks) is sidelined and ends up accidentally knocking Buzz out a window. Things grow increasingly complicated because Buzz doesn't even believe he is a toy and Andy's family is moving soon. After outings to a local pizza place and the troubled kid next door's house, Woody and Buzz must work together to make sure they don't get left behind.


Lady Bird

Metascore: 93
Best for: Fans of coming-of-age dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 94 minutes

Greta Gerwig's solo directorial debut follows the titular teenage girl (played by Saoirse Ronan) as she struggles to find herself amid a strained relationship with her mother. That shape through different boyfriends and friend groups, as well as big college aspirations. She hits a lot of milestones in the movie, from her romance with Kyle (Timothée Chalamet) to attending prom and setting off for college, but more importantly, she learns a lot about herself and what she really wants while doing so.


Toy Story 3

Metascore: 92
Best for: Fans of unwavering heroes and childhood adventures
Where to watch: 

Disney+Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 103 minutes

In the third installment of the Pixar franchise, Andy is leaving for college and packs up what few of his old toys he has left. After a series of misunderstandings about what the intention is for that bag, the toys end up in a daycare center where they are introduced to a new way of life and a new toy hierarchy under the dictator-like rule of a bear named Lotso (Ned Beatty). Woody manages to escape through a child named Bonnie (Emily Hahn), but his attempt to get the rest of his friends out is made more complicated by the fact that some want to stay.


Toy Story 2

Metascore: 88
Best for: Fans of childhood adventures
Where to watch: 

Disney+Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 92 minutes

The sequel to Toy Story sees Woody get taken by a toy collector and learn that he is actually part of a bigger community of Western-themed toys. Now that the collector has the whole set, he plans to sell them to a museum, a fate to which the others have resigned themselves because they know kids outgrow toys. In the true spirit of friendship, the other toys from Andy's room never give up searching for Woody to bring him home or convincing him that the love of a kid is worth it, no matter how long it lasts.


Toy Story 4

Metascore: 84
Best for: Fans of reluctant friendship stories and childhood adventures
Where to watch: 

Disney+Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 100 minutes

Now living in Bonnie's (Madeleine McGraw) room, Woody takes it upon himself to mentor Forky (Tony Hale), who Bonnie made out from an eating utensil and arts and crafts materials and who doesn't feel like he is a toy. When Forky jumps out of a window during a family road trip, Woody follows him to bring him home safely. They end up having adventures at an antique store and a carnival, reuniting with some old friends and making some new ones along the way.


Timothy Olyphant

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

Timothy Olyphant

As far as killers being able to blend into their surroundings, Scream 2's Mickey Altieri (Olyphant) is a master. When not donning the Ghostface robe to stalk his classmates, he is usually found with a camera in his hand, easily slipping into the background. Like Stu before him, he is the sidekick in the relationship, but his involvement feels more sinister and certainly more pointed, as he wants to be caught so he can blame violence in entertainment for his crimes.

On the film side of his career, Olyphant has stuck pretty closely with drama (with a dabbling in voice acting), but he has played a bit more on television, jumping between drama and comedy, as well as animation.


Justified

Metascore: 86
Best for: Fans of Westerns and crime dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 6

Elmore Leonard's Raylan Givens gets the serialized television adaptation treatment in this six-season Western series that stars Olyphant as the infamous character. Raylan is a U.S. Marshal who is used to enforcing his own kind of justice, and after he shoots a mob hitman in Florida, he is reassigned to Kentucky, a place he thought he had left behind. As he is challenged by old memories and past relationships, he also goes head-to-head with the criminal Crowder family, especially Boyd (Walton Goggins).


Deadwood

Metascore: 85
Best for: Fans of Westerns and American historical adaptations
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHBO MaxiTunesVudu
Seasons: 3 and a movie

Set in the 19870s in the titular part of South Dakota, Olyphant, and Ian McShane star as real-life residents Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen, respectively. The show from David Milch begins not too long after Custer's Land Stand, with Seth opening a hardware business and Al owning a saloon and brothel. The show explores life changes for these men and many other inhabitants, including additional real-life historical figures, as the camp becomes a town, sometimes sticking close to truth and sometimes fictionalizing events.


Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood

Metascore: 83
Best for: Fans of stories about the entertainment industry and alternate history
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 161 minutes

Quentin Tarantino's ensemble dramedy centers on a fictional troubled actor, Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), and his best friend and stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), but also features fictionalized versions of the real-life late actor Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), director Roman Polanski (Rafał Zawierucha) and various members of the Manson family. Much of the 1960s-set film is focused on Rick trying to chase fulfillment, in addition to fame, but in true Tarantino form, such character work does not come without its share of violence. Olyphant plays a version of actor James Stacy.


Rango

Metascore: 75
Best for: Fans of Westerns, quest-centric storytelling, and animation about animals
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 107 minutes

A pet chameleon (the titular Rango, voiced by Johnny Depp) ends up stranded in the Mohave Desert and in desperate search of water, ends up encountering a number of other animals along the way, from an armadillo named Roadkill (Alfred Molina) who is seeking the "Spirit of the West" (Olyphant), to an iguana named Beans (Isla Fisher) and a rattlesnake gunslinger aptly named Rattlesnake Jake (Bill Nighy). On his quest, he encounters several dangerous situations, but he is steadfast in his determination to help the town of Dirt regain a water supply.


Go

Metascore: 72
Best for: Fans of stories told from multiple points of view, irreverent humor, and tales of drug-related escapades
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesPluto TVVudu
Runtime: 102 minutes

There are three sets of stories that share connection points in this turn-of-the-century cult classic from John August and Doug Liman. Soap opera actors Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr) want to buy drugs, but their usual dealer, Simon (Desmond Askew), is nowhere to be found, so his co-worker Ronna (Sarah Polley) picks up his mantle. She sets down a complicated path to try to get the drugs before the film switches to Simon's perspective to learn why he is absent from his usual life. The story switches perspectives again, to better get to know Adam and Zack, before things come to a head. Olyphant plays Simon's drug dealer, Todd.


Scott Foley

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Scott Foley

Foley's Scream 3 character, Roman Bridger, is not only the man behind the Ghostface mask in what was originally thought to be the final film of a trilogy, but he is also revealed to be the mastermind behind Billy Loomis and Stu Macher's crimes in the original film. Roman is the long-lost firstborn of Maureen Prescott (Lynn McRee) and therefore half-brother to Sidney. He is also a Hollywood director helming the latest adaptation of the Woodsboro events, but his sights are more firmly set on controlling his life's narrative after being shunned by his birth mother.

Scream 3 is a bit of an outlier not only because it is the only film to only feature one killer, but also when it comes to Foley's notable credits, as he has spent the majority of his almost three-decade-long career on television.


Felicity

Metascore: 87
Best for: Fans of love triangles and journeys of finding one's self
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 4

The titular Felicity (Keri Russell) decides to change her college plans on a whim after her crush, Ben (Scott Speedman), tells her he wished they had gotten to know each other better in high school. This kicks off her four-season journey as a college student in New York trying to sort out who she is and what she wants, especially romantically. Things get even more complicated when she starts dating her RA, Noel (Foley), with the Ben-Felicity-Noel love triangle being a central focus of the series.


Scrubs

Metascore: 74
Best for: Fans of surrealism, medical settings, and relationship comedies
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 9

Created by Bill Lawrence, this hospital-set sitcom is told through the point of view of Dr. John Michael "J.D." Dorian (Zach Braff), who narrates the first eight seasons and often takes the viewers inside his daydreams. J.D. works at the fictional teaching hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, alongside his best friend Christopher Turk (Donald Faison) and recurring romantic partner Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke). The conflict and comedy often comes from J.D. rubbing other members of the staff — such as the janitor (Neil Flynn) and attending physician Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley) — the wrong way. The series begins with J.D. and Turk as interns but over the years they rise in the ranks and by the final season, subtitled Med School, Turk is now one of the teaching doctors, though at a new hospital. Foley plays Elliot's other on-again-off-again boyfriend, Sean, in the first three seasons and then returns for a Season 8 appearance.


The Big Leap

Metascore: 73
Best for: Fans of shows about entertainment and fast-moving character dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 1

Television producer Nick Blackburn (Foley) makes a massive mistake with his last reality show and desperately needs a new hit. Enter The Big Leap, which is both this show's title and the show-within-the-show's title. The show-within-the-show is a dance reality competition about giving people from all walks of life the chance to chase a dance dream and it follows an unlikely combination of people as they train to put on a performance of Swan Lake. The Big Leap follows some of that dance training but is much more focused on the interpersonal drama behind-the-scenes of the fictional show, including a budding romance between single mom Gabby (Simone Recasner) and pro football player Reggie Sadler (Ser'Darius Blain).


Scandal

Metascore: 66
Best for: Fans of political thrillers, forbidden romance, and fast-talking heroines
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 7

From prolific producer Shonda Rhimes comes a complicated dive into Washington, D.C. crisis management. The show started off with Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) running one such firm and taking on cases of the week, as well as having an affair with the president, Fitzgerald Grant III aka Fitz (Tony Goldwyn). Thus, the world of the White House provides many serialized story areas, including his involvement with a spy agency called B613 and his wife Mellie's (Bellamy Young) own ascendency to head of state. As the seven seasons go on, each character is revealed to have many skeletons in their closets, and as allegiances shift, the level of danger only increases. Foley plays Jake Ballard, NSA director and another love interest of Olivia's starting in Season 2.


Grey's Anatomy

Metascore: 64
Best for: Fans of romantic drama and medical settings
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 18 (so far)

This medical drama created by Shonda Rhimes focuses on the lives of those working at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial hospital. While it follows the trials and tribulations they face with their jobs, from surgeries to pandemic outbreaks, it dives even deeper into the soap opera-style personal relationships of those donning scrubs and surgical masks. Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) is at the center of the ensemble, starting as an intern but eventually becoming the chief of surgery, a widow and a mother. Foley appears in Seasons 7 and 8 as Henry Burton, a patient who marries Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver).


Emma Roberts

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Emma Roberts

Sidney's bloodline proves to have evil in it when one of the Scream 4 killers turns out to be her cousin, Jill Roberts (Roberts). Sick of seeing Sidney get the limelight — and not being close with her anyway — Jill takes matters into her own hands in an attempt to be the new final girl and bask in fame.

Roberts started acting as a young child and has racked up a long list of independent film credits in addition to continuing her scream queen legacy on television.


Who We Are Now

Metascore: 83
Best for: Fans of second chances and character-driven drama
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesPluto TVVudu
Runtime: 95 minutes

This independent film offers a glimpse into the life of Beth (Julianne Nicholson), who has been recently released from prison after being incarcerated for a decade and is trying to get custody of her son back. While undergoing that fight, she ends up forming a bond with the idealistic and driven Jess (Roberts), who works for the public defense and takes up Beth's cause.


Palo Alto

Metascore: 69
Best for: Fans of coming-of-age drama
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesPluto TVTubiVudu
Runtime: 100 minutes

Gia Coppola's directorial debut is the feature film adaptation of James Franco's short story collection of the same title. (He stars in the film as Mr. B, a coach who is involved in an inappropriate relationship with teenage April, played by Roberts.) It is a slice-of-life look at high schoolers in the titular California town, with Jack Kilmer playing Teddy, someone more age-appropriate who has a crush on April; Nat Wolff playing Fred; and Zoe Levin playing Emily. It captures a time of mistakes, including driving under the influence and bad relationship choices, but also the truth of teenage uncertainty and anxiety.


The Blackcoat's Daughter

Metascore: 68
Best for: Fans of supernatural horror, psychological horror, surprise reveals, and exorcisms
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 93 minutes

The supernatural and psychological combine in this horror film that follows three women: Joan (Roberts), a young woman who escapes from a mental institution; Rose (Lucy Boynton), a high school senior who thinks she is pregnant; and Katherine (Kiernan Shipka), a high school freshman who has premonitions of death and might be possessed. Rose and Katherine are left behind at their boarding school during a break, which thrusts them together in one timeline that turns violent, while Joan's story takes place at another time but has ties to the same violence.


American Horror Story

Metascore: 65
Best for: Fans of horror
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 10 (so far)

Ryan Murphy's horror anthology tells season-long close-ended stories, from the violent ghosts trapped in a Los Angeles mansion in the premiere season to sick scientific experiments in a mental institution, witchcraft, cults, alien invasion, and more in later seasons. Roberts plays party girl and budding witch Madison Montgomery in "American Horror Story: Coven," a role she resurrected (pun intended) in "American Horror Story: Apocalypse." She also plays con artist Maggie Esmerelda in "American Horror Story: Freak Show," journalist Serena Belinda in "American Horror Story: Cult," and camp counselor Brooke Thompson in "American Horror Story: 1984."


Lymelife

Metascore: 64
Best for: Fans of family dramas and period pieces
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 95 minutes

This late-1970s set dramedy centers on how the Lyme disease outbreak in a Long Island suburb entangles two families and causes them to fall apart individually. Charlie Bragg (Timothy Hutton) gets diagnosed, which puts him out of work and forces his wife (played by Cynthia Nixon) to take a job with their neighbor Mickey Bartlett (Alec Baldwin). They start an affair, which leads to confrontations between a number of family members, and additional secrets spill out, further threatening relationships. Roberts plays Adrianna Bragg, Charlie's daughter on whom Mickey's son (Rory Culkin) has had a crush for years.


Rory Culkin

John Lamparski/Getty Images

Rory Culkin

Culkin's Charlie Walker enters into a relationship with Jill in Scream 4 believing they'll be the Sidney and Randy (Jamie Kennedy) of their version of events. Unfortunately for him, Randy does end up dying when the massacre begins in college, and Jill has no intention of letting Charlie survive that long, so he becomes one of her final victims.

Culkin first began appearing in films as younger versions of characters his older brothers, Macaulay and Kieran, were playing, but quickly broke out in his own right in many independent films.


Columbus

Metascore: 89
Best for: Fans of character-driven dramas, architecture, and new friendships
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunes
Runtime: 100 minutes

Kogonada's feature directorial debut centers on Jin Lee (John Cho), who moves to the titular city in Indiana to look after his estranged father, who fell into a coma while visiting the city himself. While there, Jin strikes a relationship with Casey (Haley Lu Richardson), who is a caretaker herself and also passionate about architecture, Jin's father's field. The two bond over these similarities and open up to each other about their shortcomings and their dreams. In a short amount of time, they are able to influence each other's lives for the better. Culkin plays Gabriel, one of Casey's co-workers.


You Can Count on Me

Metascore: 85
Best for: Fans of messy families
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 111 minutes

Laura Linney stars as single mother Sammy in Kenneth Lonergan's directorial debut, a film that follows her adult life living in her childhood home in the Catskills. Her brother (Mark Ruffalo), who appears to live his life very differently than she does, comes to visit Sammy and her son (Culkin), initially looking for money but ends up rekindling a sibling relationship and also becoming a male role model for the boy. Meanwhile, Sammy tries to push her brother onto a better path even though her own personal life is far from perfect. It's a distinctive portrait of a complicated woman, made even more interesting by the relationships she keeps.


Mean Creek

Metascore: 74
Best for: Fans of coming-of-age dramas, criminal kids, and psychological character studies
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 90 minutes

A group of teenagers want to take matters into their own hands against a school bully, but naturally things go too far — after they realize his lashing out has more to do with his own insecurities and lack of acceptance. The plan for revenge comes after Sam (Culkin) confides in his older brother about the bully's (George, played by Josh Peck) behavior and includes taking George on a boat trip where the kids plan to strand him naked in the water. A verbal fight on the boat turns physical, though, leaving the kids (also including Scott MechlowiczRyan KelleyTrevor Morgan, and Carly Schroeder) with a major moral dilemma.


Igby Goes Down

Metascore: 72
Best for: Fans of dysfunctional family dramas
Where to watch: 

HBO Max, iTunesVudu
Runtime: 98 minutes

The titular Igby (Kieran Culkin in present day; Rory Culkin as the younger version) wants nothing more than to eschew his wealthy family, in part because he fears he may turn out like them, namely his father (Bill Pullman) who has been committed to a mental institution. His rebellion looks pretty typical for a teenager, consisting of flunking out of school, spending time with a beloved family friend (Jeff Goldblum), and entering into a questionable sexual relationship. But it's one that can't be begrudged, especially as the uglier shades of the family are revealed, including an eleventh hour confession from his ill mother (Susan Sarandon).


Gabriel

Metascore: 67
Best for: Fans of psychological character drama
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 85 minutes

The titular Gabriel in Lou Howe's directorial debut, played by Culkin, spent several years living in a mental institution, but he is released at the start of the film with the understanding that he has only one last chance to prove he can be a functioning member of society. He, however, is more focused on reuniting with a childhood friend (Emily Meade) who he wants to marry but hasn't actually seen since they were young. Although his mental stability may be called into question throughout the film, his mission is steadfast and that desire to control one part of his life when so much is off-kilter makes the character extremely relatable.


Mikey Madison

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Mikey Madison

With Madison's Scream 5 (officially known as just Scream) character Amber Freeman, the franchise has officially hit the "three's a trend" for female-driven killer duos. With deep ties to Woodsboro, she wants to reboot the Stab movie franchise within the world of the film through centering a new story on Billy's secret daughter. 

Madison has spent the majority of her career thus far on the small screen, most notably playing Pamela Adlon's eldest daughter on Better Things.


Better Things

Metascore: 87
Best for: Fans of mother-daughter relationship stories and intimate portraits of complex female characters
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Seasons: 4 (so far)

Better Things, which was created by Adlon and Louis C.K., is loosely based on Adlon's own life as a single mother working in the entertainment industry. In the show, her character, Sam, has three daughters (played by Madison, Hannah Alligood, and Olivia Edward), but she is also tasked with parenting her aging mother Phyllis (Celia Imrie). While the show centers on emotional moments between the different generations of women, it also dives into Sam's past problematic romantic relationships and lackluster current dating life and delivers some fun industry insider moments, including actors including Julie Bowen and David Duchovny guest-starring as themselves.


Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood

Metascore: 83
Best for: Fans of stories about the entertainment industry and alternate history
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 161 minutes

Quentin Tarantino's ensemble dramedy centers on a fictional troubled actor, Rick Dalton, and his best friend and stunt double, Cliff Booth, but also features fictionalized versions of the real-life late actor Sharon Tate,  director Roman Polanski and various members of the Manson family. Much of the film is focused on Rick trying to chase fulfillment, in addition to fame, but in true Tarantino form, such character work does not come without its share of violence. Madison plays Manson family member Sadie.


Imposters

Metascore: 70
Best for: Fans of thrillers, complicated relationships, unlikely friendships and criminal cons
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesNetflixVudu
Seasons: 2

Inbar Lavi stars as con woman Maddie Johnson, who sets out to take everything from the people she gets involved with, from money to their hearts, but underestimates a few of her marks. This leaves her latest victim, Ezra Bloom (Rob Heaps), to team up with previous targets Richard Evans and Jules Langmore (Parker Young and Marianne Rendón) to hunt her down and make her answer for herself. As they inch closer to her, Maddie is getting further trapped by her own partners in crime (played by Brian Benton and Katherine LaNasa), who are all under the thumb of a mysterious puppetmaster known as The Doctor (Ray Proscia). Madison appears in the show's flashbacks, playing a younger version of Maddie.


Monster

Metascore: 56
Best for: Fans of legal dramas and stories that make you question what justice is
Where to watch: Netflix
Runtime: 98 minutes

Based on the novel of the same name by Walter Dean Myers, this Netflix film centers on 17-year-old budding filmmaker Steve Harmon (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) who is charged with felony murder for his involvement as a lookout in a robbery gone wrong. He comes from an affluent family (his parents are played by Jennifer Hudson and Jeffrey Wright) that has high hopes for him, but everything comes crashing down with this arrest. The film explores racial bias in the court system, as well as how one mistake can come to define a life. Madison plays Steve's classmate, Alexandra Floyd.


Nostalgia

Metascore: 47
Best for: Fans of thematic drama and character vignettes
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Runtime: 114 minutes

Several stories intersect at the themes of love and loss through the entrance of insurance agent Daniel Kalman (John Ortiz) into characters' lives in this independent film. As he gets to know various people during evaluation visits, the film considers the difference between a relationship with and a dependence on nostalgia, from material items to memories. Madison plays Kathleen, who goes on a weekend trip with her friend Tallie (Annalise Basso), whose parents are selling a family home and struggling to part with keepsakes.


Jack Quaid

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Jack Quaid

As Richie Kirsch in Scream (2022), Quaid follows in the footsteps of Charlie Walker, only his connection with literal partner-in-crime Amber seems a bit more honest and two-way. He is secondary to her in the sense that he isn't as connected to the key players as she is, but like so many before him, he is a horror movie fan and hopes the murders inspire a new set of films.

Quaid has been acting in films and television for a decade but is best known for his role on The Boys, in which he can be seen again in June.


Logan Lucky

Metascore: 78
Best for: Fans of heist movies and complex family dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Runtime: 118 minutes

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this family heist drama centers on Jimmy Logan (Channing Tatum), who gets laid off from his job and decides to rob the speedway where he used to work. The team he recruits includes his brother (Adam Driver), his sister (Riley Keough), an imprisoned safe-cracker (Daniel Craig), and that safe-cracker's brothers (Quaid and Brian Gleeson). The plan is certainly complicated because of the necessary prison break alone, and it doesn't come without several explosive events and Ocean's Eleven homages, but it also features a sweet story about family at its core.


The Boys

Metascore: 77
Best for: Fans of subverting the superhero genre, extreme gore, and irreverent humor
Where to watch: 


Seasons: 2 (so far)

After Hughie Campbell's (Quaid) girlfriend is killed by a superhero, he joins the titular group of vigilantes led by Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) hell-bent on bringing down The Seven, the team of superheroes that are the biggest celebrities their world knows. What the world doesn't know is just how corrupt most of The Seven, and Vought International, the conglomerate behind them, are. From misogyny and sexual assault, to allowing a plane full of people to die on their watch and Naziism, the problems of The Seven run deep. The show doesn't shy away from integrating real-world political commentary into fantastical events and abilities, and it also doesn't skimp on the blood and guts when the two groups come to blows.


The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Metascore: 76
Best for: Fans of dystopian dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunesVudu
Runtime: 146 minutes

The second installment in Suzanne CollinsThe Hunger Games feature film adaptations sees President Snow (Donald Sutherland) unhappy with the results of the last Hunger Games and shifting the rules to create a Quarter Quell, which requires previous victors to serve as tribute once again. While a rebellion is stirring, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) re-enter the arena, forced to get even craftier and make new alliances to ensure survival. Quaid plays Marvel, a career tribute from one of the wealthiest districts.


The Hunger Games

Metascore: 68
Best for: Fans of dystopian dramas
Where to watch: 

Google PlayiTunes
Runtime: 142 minutes

The first film in the Hunger Games franchise centers on Katniss Everdeen sacrificing herself and entering the titular games in lieu of sending in her younger sister. Once she is in the games, it becomes a fight to the death during which she has to rely on her wits, her genuine kindness, her archery skills, and her ability to adapt quickly and figure out what the game's masters are looking for in order to come out victorious. Quaid appears as Marvel, a previous games winner.


Plus One

Metascore: 65
Best for: Fans of romantic comedies
Where to watch: 

Google PlayHuluiTunesVudu
Runtime: 99 minutes

Alice Mori (Maya Erskine) and Ben King (Quaid) have been friends since college, and now in their late-20s, they find themselves with a calendar full of weddings to attend but no significant others to bring as their dates. So, they decide to team up with each other, agreeing to be the titular plus one needed to wingman the other person through wedding season. The weddings get more emotional as family members' events loom, and their agreement gets equally complicated as their feelings for each other shift.