Warning: Spoilers ahead for Scream 6!
Ghostface is back for Scream 6, and with the masked killer comes another Scream sequel full of franchise Easter eggs and horror references. After reigniting interest with Scream 2022, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett reteamed for the latest installment of the beloved franchise spearheaded by Wes Craven in 1996. The Scream movies have seen many changes over the years, but several aspects have remained the same, including sequels embracing their roots while honoring the horror genre.
In Scream 6's first full trailer, it was clear Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett intended to incorporate notable nods to some of the horror genre's best elements. The Scream 6 trailer, which was highlighted by the return of Scream 4's Kirby Reed, as well as a Ghostface shrine jam-packed with references to past Scream movies.
18 Scream 6's Jason Takes Manhattan Influence
When Scream 6 was confirmed to take place in New York City, there were instant comparisons made to a memorable horror movie set in the Big Apple: Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Not only was there a character named Jason with franchise newcomer Tony Revolori, but his character was actually shown watching Jason Takes Manhattan in his apartment. Scream 6 also honored Friday the 13th with Ghostface taking the subway as a nod to Jason Voorhees taking public transportation.
17 Honoring Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams Role
While Jenna Ortega has been making a name for herself through horror movies, the actress is also known for starring in Netflix's Wednesday. Since Ortega's Scream debut, Wednesday went on to become a cultural phenomenon, and there was no way Scream 6 couldn't include a connection to the Addams Family character. During Sam's therapy session with Dr. Stone, various figurines could be seen in his office, including ones depicting the entire Addams family. At the frat party, a girl also walked by in what looked like a Wednesday Addams Halloween costume.
16 Scream 2's Omega Beta Zeta Connection
With Tara, Mindy, and Chad attending Blackmore University together, Scream 6's setting instantly shared similarities with Scream 2. In that sequel, Sidney attended Windsor College, which prominently featured the sorority Omega Beta Zeta. Toward the beginning of Scream 6, Tara, Chad, Mindy, and their roommates attend a fraternity party when Tara mentioned possibly rushing Omega Beta Zeta at Blackmore University.
15 Casey Becker's Jiffy Pop
When word got out about the new Ghostface killings, Sam, Tara, and the others took refuge in the group's apartment. As they considered whether to leave the city, Mindy was sitting on the couch snacking with Anika. The snack, however, was a nod to Scream's first opening scene featuring Drew Barrymore's Casey Becker. Rather than a bag of popcorn, the pair were eating from a Jiffy Pop aluminum tin, which was what Casey was making shortly before she was killed.
14 Wes Craven's Abe Snake Pseudonym
When Detective Bailey investigated the first set of murders in NYC, he found Sam's ID at the scene of the crime, so she was called in for question. On the way to the police station, Ghostface chased Sam and Tara into a nearby bodega called Abe's Snake. The name was a nod to legendary filmmaker and director of the first four Scream movies, Wes Craven. Abe Snake was actually the pseudonym Craven used to make adult films in the '70s, but the reference was even more significant. The Wes Craven Easter egg idea came from Ice Nine Kills' singer Spencer Charnas, who created a flyer for the band to put in the movie.
13 Gale's Police Station Punch
Though Gale and Sidney have a good relationship in the current Scream timeline, they weren't always friendly. In the first Scream, Sidney put a lot of blame on Gale for the attacks. When Gale tried to get an interview from Sidney walking out of the police station, Sidney ended up punching Gale. A similar sequence played out in Scream 6 when Sam and Tara left an NYC police station. This time, Gale dodged Sam's punch, but she was struck in the face by Tara.
12 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' "Red Right Hand" Song (Twice)
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' song "Red Right Hand" has become synonymous with Scream. In fact, the song appears in all but one sequel. After being heard in Scream 2022 when Vince was killed, "Red Right Hand" returned in Scream 2022. The song played while the group listened to Mindy's new franchise rules on Blackmore University's campus before playing again at the end of Scream 6 after Sam and Tara kill Richie's dad, Detective Bailey.
11 Legacy Character Deaths In Movie Franchises
In Scream 2022, Mindy had her "requel" monologue, which provided key insight into what Woodsboro was dealing with when Ghostface returned. She had another speech in Scream 6, but this time, she highlighted the notion of franchise rules, particularly franchises killing off legacy characters. To prove her point, Mindy mentioned several examples, such as Sally Hardesty's death in 2022's Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the death of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars sequel trilogy.
10 The Ghostface Masks Of Past Killers
Scream 6 made it clear early in the movie that the masterminds behind the new Ghostface killings had a deep connection to the past. Aside from being inspired by previous events, the killers had artifacts from past murderers, including every Ghostface mask in the Scream franchise. As a countdown of sorts, the new Ghostface was leaving behind old masks at the scenes of new murders, starting with Amber and Richie's. Kirby even realized that the new killer was leaving behind real Easter eggs.
9 Dewey's Theme Music
Dewey Riley was tragically killed in Scream 2022, but that didn't mean he was completely left out of Scream 6. Gale reverted to her old ways since Dewey's death, but she never fully let him go. When mending things with Sam, Dewey was brought up, and during the scene, the theme music commonly used during scenes featuring Dewey played in honor of the character.
8 The Deadly Scream Theater Setting
Going back to her journalistic roots, Gale was the one who found out about the abandoned theater being used by those behind the latest killings. The theater turned out to be a key location in Scream 6, considering it was the the site of the climactic fight against the Bailey family and most of the "Core Four." This was similar to Scream 2 when Mrs. Loomis and Mickey revealed themselves as the killers to Sidney in the college's auditorium. To go even deeper, Mrs. Loomis was targeting Sidney for Billy's death the same way Bailey and his kids were going after Sam for Richie's death.
7 The Ghostface Shrine
Scream has always embraced taking the meta approach, and Scream 6 was no different. Detective Bailey and his kids, Ethan and Quinn, set out to honor Richie by putting together a shrine to honor the past Ghostface killers. The theater used for the shrine featured nearly three decades worth of artifacts, such as:
- The Ghostface robes of the past nine killers.
- The outfits past Ghostface killers died in.
- The outfits of various victims (dead and alive).
- Crime scene photos.
- Drawings of past victims.
- The TV that caused Stu's death in Scream.
- The rope swing Casey was tied to.
- The garage door that killed Tatum.
- Kenny's camera.
- Set pieces from the Greek play in Scream 2.
- The fax machine from Scream 3.
- The knife Charlie used to stab Kirby in Scream 4.
6 Kirby & Mindy Bond Over Horror Movies
Kirby's love of horror movies was evident throughout Scream 4, but she finally got a chance to meet her match in the form of Mindy. As shown in Scream 2022, Mindy is a fellow movie lover, particularly films within the horror genre, despite her uncle's connection to the Stab movies. While at the shrine, Kirby and Mindy quizzed each other on their horror movie preferences proving they had a lot in common.
5 Randy's Van Death From Scream 2
Randy's legacy still lives on through Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin. Though Jamie Kennedy hasn't appeared in the Scream franchise since a videotape cameo in Scream 3, Randy's Scream 2 death was not forgotten. In fact, Scream 6 made a direct reference when Kirby used Sam and Tara as bait to track Ghostface. In doing so, she, Mindy, Chad, and Ethan hide out in a nearby van. Mindy then reminded them of Randy's death, when he was pulled into a van and killed in broad daylight.
4 Gale's New York City Address
Since Kirby and Detective Bailey shut out Gale from helping catch Ghostface, she went back to her New York City apartment. Sadly, this led to her being targeted without any allies nearby. When Kirby tracked the caller to Sam's phone, it was coming from Gale's address: West 96th Street. The 96 was likely a node to 1996, the year the first Scream was released.
3 Scream 6's Horror Halloween Costumes
With Scream 6 set around Halloween, it resulted in a good portion of the city wearing Halloween costumes. The frat party featured notable costumes, but the notable references came during the subway sequence. Some of the horror franchises referenced in Scream 6's subway scene included:
- Jason Voorhees
- Michael Myers
- Pinhead
- Freddy Krueger
- Pennywise
- Midsommar
- Grace from Ready or Not
- The Grady Twins from The Shining
- The Babadook
- The Tethered from Us
- The girl from The Ring
- Sam from Trick 'r Treat
- The wolf mask from Creep
- Chucky from Child's Play
2 Sam Borrows Sidney's Ghostface Trick
After fighting off Quinn and Ethan, all eyes were on taking down Detective Bailey. Sam embraced her connection to Billy by taking his Ghostface mask and donning the rest of the outfit to go after Bailey. The Scream 6 sequence in which Sam ripped off the mask and shocked her would-be killer mirrored the trick Sidney used when she attacked Billy while dressed as Ghostface in the first Scream.
1 Stu's TV Death From Scream
In true Scream fashion, Ghostface killers always come back for one last scare. That trend continued in Scream 6 when the seemingly dead Ethan jumped up and went after Sam and Tara. Thankfully, Kirby popped up and pushed the TV on him, crushing his head. It happened to be the same TV that ended up killing Stu Macher in almost the same way.