Every Ghost Face Killer in the Scream Franchise, Ranked

This article covers the ranking of all the Ghost Face killers in the horror franchise Scream, from Scream (1996) until Scream VI.

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Scream is a seminal franchise in horror, inspiring countless films over the past 30 years. The central antagonist of each installment is defined by their iconic “Ghost Face” mask. “Master of Horror” Wes Craven helmed the first four movies in the series, and his vision shaped the slasher genre as we know it today.

Now that Scream 7 is in theaters, and in celebration of its arrival, I’ve compiled a list of every Ghost Face killer in the franchise’s previous entries, ranked from worst to best.

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13. Jason Carvey – Scream VI

RIP, Jason Carvey. We hardly knew ye. Literally, we, as an audience, didn’t know him that well. He might’ve ranked higher on this list if he weren’t a blatant Ghost Face copycat killer. That said, his killing of Laura Crane, his (albeit tenuous) connection to the previous Ghost Face Richie Kirsch, and his death at the hands of Richie’s father kickstart the narrative in Scream VI, laying the groundwork for our favorite family of murderers.

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12. Ethan Landry – Scream VI

The son of Detective Wayne Bailey and the younger brother of the late Richie, Ethan Landry is one of a handful of Ghost Face killers in Scream VI. And it’s all about revenge, baby. The Bailey/Landry clan seeks “justice” against protagonist Samantha Carpenter for murdering Richie, but, as per usual, villains always lose. Ethan isn’t one of the most memorable Ghost Faces; however, he certainly exudes the stereotypical serial-killer demeanor: quiet, introverted, and dorky. Thank the horror gods that the iconic Kirby Reed dropped a TV on his head.

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11. Quinn Bailey – Scream VI

A family that slays together … well, literally slays together. The Scream series is strangely familial for being a horror franchise. Quinn’s ploy to ingratiate herself with the Carpenter sisters as their roommate seems more effective in the long run than most revenge plans. Get close enough to Sam and Tara, frame Sam for the 2022 Woodsboro Murders, then … bam. Justice served. Never underestimate the power of sisterhood, though. Quinn gets her just deserts in the end.

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10. Charlie Walker – Scream 4

What happens when a horror superfan decides to stop living vicariously through his favorite in-universe film series, Stab? Charlie Walker takes “life imitates art” to a new level in Scream 4. While initially seeming subservient and harmless, Charlie and his secret girlfriend, Jill Roberts, plan to honor the 15th anniversary of the 1996 Woodsboro Murders by recreating them. What an homage. However, Charlie’s not the true puppeteer of it all — Jill really pulls the strings. It’s the ultimate betrayal for Charlie, who dies by her hand.

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9. Detective Wayne Bailey – Scream VI

The patriarch of the Bailey/Landry family, Wayne is the first parent Ghost Face since Nancy Loomis. It helps that Dermot Mulroney plays him. He’s the orchestrator of the 2023 New York Murders and the propelling force behind the revenge plan against Sam. He poses as a detective to facilitate said plan. While it’s head-scratching that Gale Weathers didn’t do her due diligence in researching Richie’s family, I get it. It’s Dermot Mulroney.

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8. Amber Freeman – Scream (2022)

Amber Freeman is Richie’s girlfriend and accomplice, who is responsible for Scream’s most gruesome kills. She even murders poor Dewey Riley, a franchise staple. That’s quite the feat. Amber and Sam harbor a pretty volatile dynamic, even before the reveal that she’s one of the Ghost Face killers. While that might make her the obvious choice for the film’s murderer, it certainly keeps things interesting from a narrative perspective. And let’s face it — her death is straight up awful. Shot in the chest, burned alive, and then shot in the head? Oof. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

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7. Mickey Altieri – Scream 2

The honor of chronological Ghost Face #3 goes to none other than Mickey Altieri in Scream 2, played to perfection by Timothy Olyphant. He collaborates with Nancy Loomis to take out Sidney Prescott as vengeance for her killing Billy Loomis. Mickey is intriguing because he’s not connected to the Woodsboro Murders. Nancy hires him as a contract killer. Mickey is, to put it lightly, unhinged. This makes him significantly dangerous.

Initially, Mickey becomes Sidney’s friend at Windsor College, making the reveal as the secondary Ghost Face in Scream 2 all the more traumatic for her. So much so that she withdraws from society for a while to lick her wounds. Talk about making an impact.

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6. Roman Bridger – Scream 3

Roman Bridger is easily one of the most cunning, crafty Ghost Faces in the franchise. He’s the mastermind behind Billy’s plan to kill Sidney’s mother. On top of that, he’s Sidney’s half-brother. Stepping into the spotlight as the sole antagonist of Scream 3, Roman is a force of murderous nature. Like any good Ghost Face killer worth their salt, he has his own killing spree in the film, aptly dubbed the Hollywood Murders of 2000. Roman is a compelling, deeply unsettling presence.

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5. Richie Kirsch – Scream (2022)

Playing against type, Jack Quaid makes for a great serial killer in 2022’s Scream. Richie Kirsch dates Sam Carpenter, and by all accounts, he seems pretty harmless. Finding his actual girlfriend, Amber, on a subreddit for the in-universe horror franchise Stab, he endeavors to reboot said franchise with Sam as the scapegoat for his and Amber’s kills. Richie’s affable nature and charm, at least at face value, really make his heel turn all the more shocking. That’s thanks in part to Quaid’s incredible on-screen charisma.

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4. Jill Roberts – Scream 4

Long live Jill Roberts. The cousin of Sidney and Roman, Scream 4’s primary antagonist is the real mastermind behind her and Charlie’s plan to remake the Woodsboro Murders. However, like Sidney, she wants to be the sole survivor, killing Charlie in the end. At the time, the film even marketed her as a protagonist, making the plot twist that she’s Ghost Face land successfully among audiences. Emma Roberts’ performance also makes Jill quite memorable. She leaves an indelible impression on the franchise.

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3. Stu Macher – Scream

Matthew Lillard is a ’90s screen icon. He helps kickstart a horror franchise as Stuart “Stu” Macher, Billy’s accomplice and the second Ghost Face. Lillard offers a compelling turn as Stu, and that’s mostly why he’s so high on this list despite not being the leading baddie in the first film. Stu is one of the many highlights of Scream, and he makes for a solid second-in-command to Billy. To top it all off, Stu doesn’t have a true motive for committing murder. He’s in this for the love of the game.

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2. Nancy Loomis – Scream 2

A mother’s love transcends life and death. Most parents of serial killers would probably retreat into the shadows in shame and remorse, wondering where they went wrong in raising their children. However, Nancy subverts expectations by going into revenge mode, teaming up with Mickey to kill Sidney — as if that poor girl hasn’t been through enough. Because of Nancy’s connection to the original Ghost Face, her objective is as solid and sound as they come. It’s an emotional tether.

Ultimately, Nancy kills Mickey to frame him as the sole murderer and even kills Sidney’s friend, Randy Meeks. However, her unadulterated rage is no match for Sidney Prescott, forever our final girl.

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1. Billy Loomis – Scream

Drum roll, please … the top spot on this list goes to, you guessed it, Billy Loomis, the one who started it all. A horror film fanatic, he pressures his bestie, Stu, to spice things up with a good ole-fashioned murder spree in Woodsboro. Really, though, it all stems from Billy’s anger at his mother, Nancy, abandoning him after his father had an affair with Sidney’s mom. He even tortures poor Sidney, his girlfriend, in a bid to frame her dad for his and Stu’s kills. This franchise thrives on frames and betrayals, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

His mighty presence in Scream aside, Billy is a legendary serial killer in the slasher genre. He’s the blueprint for many a murderer in the horror films of the past three decades. However, nobody truly does it like Billy Loomis.

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How would you rank the Ghost Face killers?

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