ghostface killer identity

Screen Rant

Every person who played ghostface in scream.

Scream introduced a horror icon with Ghostface. Which characters in the franchise have worn the Ghostface mask over the 5 movies and TV show?

• The Scream franchise features a variety of Ghostface killers, each with their own motives and unique kill styles.
• The best Ghostface killers in the franchise are considered to be the original duo, Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, who had deeply personal motives and played with the self-awareness of the horror genre.
• While later installments introduced interesting Ghostface killers, such as Mrs. Loomis and Roman Bridger, none were as successful or clever as the original duo.

The Scream killers continue to build following Scream 6 , and the Ghostface mask has been worn by almost 20 different people. Throughout the six movies, an impressive number of characters have worn the Ghostface mask, which is only added with the franchise’s TV series. While many got their hands dirty with the killings, others acted more like masterminds or distractions. Scream VI follows the fun of looking at the movie's ensemble and trying to decide who plays Ghostface before the final unmasking reveals it all.

Wes Craven's Scream introduced the world to a new face in horror. The villain wasn't a maniac who targeted random people and would keep returning - like icons Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees, or Craven's own Freddy Kreuger. Instead, Ghostface was the guise used for murderers on a specific mission, which invariably ended up with Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) as the target. Each Scream movie contained a major mystery surrounding the identity of Ghostface. The Scream 6 Ghostface killer reveal reminds audiences how much fun it is the see which actor or actors are the Scream killers.

Billy Loomis (Skeet Ulrich) in Scream

Billy was the stereotypical bad boy in the first Scream movie, something he took to a new level after he shockingly revealed himself as the Ghostface killer. Well, one of them: working with Stu Macher, Billy planned to kill Sidney and frame Sid's father for the murders, including that of Maureen Prescott. Billy blamed Maureen for driving his own mother away because the woman was having an affair with Billy's father. Sidney managed to escape from Billy's attack a few times and eventually killed him with the help of Gale and Randy.

Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard) in Scream

Stu played the goofy friend of Sidney Prescott, but he never appeared threatening. It was a complete surprise that Stu served as Billy's Ghostface accomplice in their murdering masquerade, acting as the second of the Scream killers in the original film. Stu claimed "peer pressure" as the reason he agreed to help Billy act revenge on Sidney. Sidney used Stu's weak-willed nature to antagonize him and later managed to kill him while Billy was unconscious. However, Scream 6 potentially confirms the Stu theory , which suggests that he is actually still alive.

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in Scream

Sidney wasn't one of the Scream killers, but she did wear the mask for a brief scene as she turned the tables on her attackers. After Billy and Stu revealed their plan, Gale caused a distraction that led to Sidney escaping. Billy was enraged at the fact that she got away, so he went around the house looking for her. When he opened the closet door, Sidney jumped out wearing the Ghostface costume and stabbed Billy multiple times with an umbrella, a move that actually injured Scream 's Skeet Ulrich.

Mrs. Loomis (Laurie Metcalf) in Scream 2

When a copycat Scream killer goes after Sidney at her college, the mystery of Ghostface's identity starts all over again. Mrs. Loomis disguised herself as a journalist when the media descended on campus. By the end of the movie, it was revealed that she orchestrated the second murder spree because Billy was her son. To avenge his death, Mrs. Loomis hired Mickey to carry out the killings. She was later killed by Sidney and Cotton.

Mickey Altieri (Timothy Olyphant) in Scream 2

Mickey was a close friend of Sidney's at college. It turned out that he was actually a psychopath that Mrs. Loomis met online. She paid his tuition in exchange for him carrying out the copycat killings as Ghostface. Scream 2 killer Mickey held up his end of the bargain and shared that he wanted to be caught so he could become famous. Mrs. Loomis then turned on him after the revelation of their motive. He eventually died from multiple gunshot wounds at the hands of Mrs. Loomis, Gale, and Sidney.

Roman Bridger (Scott Foley) in Scream 3

Not only was Roman revealed to be the Scream 3 killer, but he was also the mastermind behind the previous two movies. Roman was the son of Maureen Prescott, but she wanted nothing to do with him. Roman's jealousy of the Prescott family drove him insane, so he filmed Maureen's affairs and showed them to Billy. He then gave Billy the idea of carrying out the first Ghostface killings, which in turn led to his mother's involvement in Scream 2 . Sidney ultimately came out on top of her half-brother's murderous plan.

Jill Roberts (Emma Roberts) In Scream 4

Jealousy must run in the Prescott family because it became the main motivation for Jill's role as the Scream 4 killer. She was the estranged cousin of Sidney and a target of the new killings. It turned out that Jill craved the attention that Sidney always got, so she set up the killing spree of her mother and friends. Jill thought she killed Sidney, but she was wrong, so they had one final showdown at the hospital. Though the original plan had Jill survive Scream 4 , Sidney ultimately kills her younger cousin.

Charlie Walker (Rory Culkin) In Scream 4

Charlie played Jill's secret boyfriend, who helped with Jill's Scream 4 murder plan. He portrayed the second Ghostface to make it look like Jill was also being targeted at the time. After they revealed themselves to Sidney, Charlie and Jill were planning to injure each other (Stu and Billy style) to act as though they were victims instead of the Scream killers. Instead, Jill realized she would rather be the sole survivor, so she killed Charlie. For someone obsessed with horror movies, he certainly didn't see that obvious twist coming.

Amber Freeman (Mikey Madison) In Scream V

Like the previous movie, Scream V features two Scream killers. The first was Amber, Tara’s friend who lived in Stu Macher’s old house. The location led to her obsession with the original Woodsboro Massacre, and in turn, the Stab movie franchise . In recent years, Amber felt the franchise fell off track, and she wanted to give the series new material that would honor the original. In doing so, she set a chain of events that involved bringing back the legacy Scream characters, killing some of her own friends, and setting up Tara’s sister, Sam, for the murders due to her being Billy Loomis’ daughter. Granted, Amber couldn’t handle the power of original victims, Sidney and Gale.

Richard "Richie" Kirsch (Jack Quaid) in Scream V

Amber couldn’t do everything herself, so she enlisted the help of Richie, the second of two Scream killers. Though he was thought to be Sam’s loyal boyfriend, he was actually a sadistic Stab fan who Amber met on a subreddit. Also upset by the recent direction of the Stab movies, Richie agreed to help Amber enact Scream 2022's Ghostface killings to fix the franchise. In reality, he personified the toxic fanbase he claimed to hate. Sam later killed him after a one-on-one showdown.

Piper Shaw (Amelia Rose Blaire) In Scream: The TV Series Season 1

Initially posing as a podcaster looking into the new murders occurring in Lakewood, Piper Shaw was ultimately revealed to be the daughter of Brandon James, the original Lakewood serial Scream killer. Piper's primary motivation for murder was jealousy of her half-sister Emma Duvall, who grew up with their mother while Piper was given up for adoption.

Kieran Wilcox (Amadeus Serafini) In Scream: The TV Series Season 2

Unbeknownst to the survivors of Piper's massacre during season 1, Keiran Wilcox was her secret lover and accomplice. Kieran assisted Piper in coordinating her kills and sometimes posed as the killer when Piper was unable to. After Piper ended up dead, an enraged Kieran embarked on a new killing spree in the Scream season's story but was eventually caught and arrested. He later died in prison after being killed by a different, unidentified Ghostface killer. Sadly, this plot thread was abandoned for season 3.

Beth (Giorgia Whigham) In Scream: The TV Series Season 3

Notably, this third and most recent Scream season rebooted the series' story, moving away from Lakewood. The Scream killers also wore the classic Ghostface mask from the films and were voiced in costume by Roger L. Jackson. A horror-obsessed goth with outwardly anti-social tendencies, Beth basically did what she did for fun and had no real underlying motive of revenge like some of the franchise's other kills. She didn't survive season 3.

Jamal Elliot (Tyga) In Scream: The TV Series Season 3

Jamal's Ghostface motive in Scream season 3 was more common for Scream killers' standards, stemming back to issues with his family, mainly one of his brothers assuming the identity of another deceased sibling. Jamal was a ticking time bomb set to explode by a calculating Beth. However, Jamal wasn't evil to the core like Beth, leading him to reveal her identity to his brother and her to brutally kill him via stabbing.

Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney) In Scream VI

Though Scream 6 features more Ghostface Scream killers than any movie in the franchise, Detective Bailey can be considered the main killer. Bailey is introduced as a cop and father of Sam's roommate Quinn who helps the group when Ghostface returns. However, it is ultimately revealed he is the father of Richie from Scream 2022, looking to get revenge on Sam for killing his son. Bailey makes it a family affair, bringing along his surviving children only to see them killed before Sam dons the Ghostface mask to finish Bailey off with a knife through the eye in one of Scream 6 's most gruesome kills .

Ethan Landry (Jack Champion) In Scream VI

Ethan is introduced as one of Sam and Tara's college friends and a bit of an outcast. Amusingly, after being suspiciously absent for one of the major Ghostface attacks, the group immediately suspects he is the culprit. Those instincts turn out to be correct as Ethan reveals he is Ritchie's younger brother. After being stabbed through the mouth by Tara, Ethan gets the distinction of getting the final scare as he attempts to attack Sam and Tara only for Kirby to finish off with the same TV that got Stu.

Quinn Bailey (Liana Liberato) In Scream VI

Quinn is introduced as Sam's roommate in New York City and the daughter of Detective Bailey. However, the movie attempts to take her off the suspect list early when she is seemingly killed by Ghostface (although the fact that it is an off-screen death doesn't help). After revealing herself to be alive, being one of the Scream killers, and helping with her father's plan for revenge, Quinn dies for real when Sam shoots her in the head.

Jason Carver (Tony Revolori) In Scream VI

Scream 6 's opening scene plays on audience expectations for the formula these movies have established. After a young woman is killed by Ghostface, instead of cutting to the title card, Ghostface removes his mask to reveal Jason Carver. The scene goes on to show Jason one of the aspiring Ghostface Scream killers along with his roommate Greg (who never gets the chance to don the mask). His plan is to kill Sam and Tara in an attempt to finish Richie's movie. Instead, a rival Ghostface targets him and stabs Jason to death after discovering Greg's dismembered body in the fridge.

Sam Carpenter (Melissa Barrera) In Scream VI

Following in Sidney Prescott's footsteps, Scream 6 's final girl Sam puts on the Ghostface costume in the final act to take down Bailey. However, seeing Sam in the Ghostface mask has different connotations as she is the daughter of Billy Loomis and has struggled with whether or not she has his killer instinct. In fact, Bailey refers to the mask as her birthright. Though she hesitates to become the monster everyone thinks she is, she gets Tara's approval to kill Bailey anyway.

RELATED: 7 Past Ghostface Killers Who Can Return In Scream 7

Which Characters Could Be Ghostface In Scream 7?

Though there hasn't been much news on Scream 7 , it is safe to assume Ghostface will return and fans can speculate on who will don the mask this time. Legacy characters like Kirby Reed and Gale Weathers survived again, and while Sidney Prescott isn't in Scream 6 , she is alive and could return for a sequel. However, it seems highly unlikely any of them would suddenly be made the new Ghostface. Similarly, the new "Core Four" of Sam, Tara, Mindy, and Chad were still (more or less) standing at the end. Though the movies continue to play with Sam's inner demons, making her one of the Scream killers would undermine the sequels.

As with many Scream movies, there weren't many of the new characters in Scream 6 left standing at the end. Danny Brackett, Sam's neighbor and secret lover, is really the only new cast member who could possibly return in Scream 7 . It is rare to have the boyfriend character turn out to not be Ghostface and still survive, but that doesn't necessarily mean Danny couldn't be Ghostface in the future. Scream fans will have to wait and see what the future holds for the franchise.

Which Ghostface Killer Was The Best?

The Scream franchise's later installments, while not overshadowing the original dynamic duo of Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, introduced several Ghostface killers who continued to elevate the series with their unique motives and distinct kill styles. In Scream 2 , Mrs. Loomis emerged from the shadows of her son's actions, bringing with her a cold and calculated vengeance. Her backstory provided depth, illuminating the consequences of the first film's events on the families left behind. Her twisted partner Mickey was behind one of the most iconic scenes in the franchise too. The sound-proof room sequence was the Ghostface killer at his most sadistic, vindictive, and cleverest.

The uniqueness of Ghostface's identity proved to be a cornerstone in the subsequent movies. Roman Bridger in Scream 3 stood out not only because of his direct familial ties to Sidney but also because of his dual role as the director of the Stab series in the movie. That provided a fascinating meta-commentary on the blending of reality and fiction. On top of that, Roman deserves credit for being so successful whilst being the only Scream killer and not having a partner. The villain was also the mastermind behind the previous movies too, which makes Romand a frontrunner for the best Ghostface killer.

The prequel Scream movies that started with Scream V also feature interesting approaches to the Ghostface killers, but none of the villains are all that smart and are pretty clumsy Scream killers, even when they aren't wearing the vision-obscuring mask. Scream V's Richie and Amber were fans of the Stab series and met online, and their plan was all over the place. Scream VI saw the most Ghostface killers yet, but even with three people donning the mask, they still couldn't complete their mission of avenging Richie's death by killing Sam and Tara Carpenter.

However, the original Scream killers, Billy Loomis and Stu Macher, are undoubtedly the best Ghostface killers in the franchise. Their motives were deeply personal and unnerving. Billy's fury stemmed from his mother abandoning him after his father's affair with Sydney's mother. Their killing styles were distinct: Stu was more unhinged and frenetic, while Billy transformed from Sidney's loving boyfriend to her most terrifying adversary. The two had chemistry and played with the self-awareness of the horror genre, which is the franchise's biggest trademark. Ultimately, the first Scream killers established the Ghostface killer's distinct troublemaking and prankster style, along with the element of surprise.

Ghostface/Identities

• View history

The following are the 14 antagonists who have used the guise of Ghostface (film and TV ) throughout the Scream franchise , in all of the six films and the third season of the TV series, Scream: Resurrection .

For the Lakewood Slasher, click here .

Throughout the franchise, there has been a disproportionate and uneven ratio between male and female Ghostface killers. To date, there have been 9 male killers (8 in film, 1 in TV) and 5 female killers (4 in film, 1 in TV), with a total of 14 Ghostface killers. Note that this list excludes the following:

• Jason Carvey and Greg Bruckner from the sixth film .
• Angelina Tyler as the originally scripted Ghostface killer and Roman's accomplice from the third film .
• Samantha Carpenter : who despite being Billy's daughter and carrying his inherited mental health troubles/bloodlust, as well as killing her perpetrators in the finales of both the fifth and sixth films, and briefly donning his original costume in the latter, is a protagonist instead.

Among each Ghostface killer (regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender), there's also a major age gap of each individual, with the majority being teenagers and young adults, among some being middle age and older adults. The following killers are each divided into their respective age groups at the time of their death.

• Middle Aged
• Young Adults

Oldest, Male and Female

Youngest (19-23) to Oldest (24-28)

Youngest (17) to Oldest (18/19?)

Generation [ ]

Through the diversity of each individual Ghostface killer, many either are part of or aren't of the same generation, with the following 4 being the main generations: Baby Boomers (1946 to 1964), Generation X (1965 to 1980), Millennial (1981 to 1996), and Generation Z (1997 to 2012).

• Baby Boomers
• Generation X
• Generation Z

• 1 Billy Loomis
• 2 Ghostface
• 3 Samantha Carpenter

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Who Is Ghostface in 'Scream' ? A Guide to All the Killers in the Franchise

Here's a look back at every identity that has been revealed behind the infamous black-and-white, rubber mask since the first Scream premiered in 1996

Everyone's familiar with the infamous Ghostface mask, but who's behind it is the constant question at the heart of the Scream franchise.

Since the widely-successful slasher film debuted in 1996, the five installments that followed kept its classic whodunnit format. In Scream 's case — that is — a plot that chronicles a murder mystery surrounding a disguised killer who causes havoc in the California town of Woodsboro.

While the murderer identities behind the mask are different in each film, there are a few factors that always remain the same. Notably, Ghostface's black-hooded-cloak ensemble paired with its synonymous rubber white mask with blacked-out facial features.

In addition to Ghostface's ghoulish garb, the creepy voice also remains a constant. Voice actor Roger L. Jackson has been the man behind the murdering monster in every film within the Scream franchise, despite the revolving actors physically playing the character on screen.

The horror franchise released its fifth installment in 2022, marking the first movie in the Scream series to be directed by someone other than Wes Craven , who died in 2015. Filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett were tasked with reinventing the franchise.

Most recently, the duo have teamed up once again to bring Ghostface to Manhattan for Scream VI — who "isn't like any other Ghostface," according to a new trailer released on Jan. 19. Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera are reprising their roles in the upcoming film, while Scream staple Courteney Cox also makes her return.

Here's a look back at every Ghostface killer revealed to date.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for the entire 'Scream' franchise, including the sixth installment .

Scream 1 (1996)

1996's Scream , notoriously known as one of the bloodiest films of all time, features two killers: Billy Loomis played by Skeet Ulrich and Stu Macher played by Matthew Lillard . Billy is regarded as the original Ghostface, followed by Stu who is revealed as the second.

Billy is the main antagonist of the first Scream film. A horror film fanatic, he recruits his teenage best friend Stu to assist him on his killing spree in the small fictional town of Woodsboro, California. Despite Billy's admittance that it's "scarier when there is no motive" to kill, his intent ultimately becomes clear.

The reason? Billy reveals that he wants to get revenge on Maureen Prescott for causing his parents to separate. Maureen is the mother of Sidney Prescott (played by Lynn McRee) and had an affair with Billy's father, Henry "Hank," resulting in his mother Nancy Loomis to leave their family.

Maureen is the first Ghostface kill of the Scream franchise and the only murder to take place off screen. While both Billy and Stu were involved in this death, it remains a mystery as to who's responsible for the six other murders in the first film of the franchise.

Scream 2 (1997)

Two killers are revealed as Ghostface in Scream 2 : Mickey Altieri played by Timothy Olyphant and Nancy Loomis played by Laurie Metcalf . The franchise's second installment is the first time Mrs. Loomis makes an appearance, despite being mentioned in the original Scream .

Mickey, a film student and Sidney's best friend at Windsor College, is the first killer revealed in Scream 2 . Unlike the rest of the murderers in the Scream franchise, Mickey is the only killer who turns himself in with the intent of getting caught and gaining infamy.

He was recruited by Nancy (also known as "Debbie Salt") who is coping with grief after leaving her family and learning of her son Billy's involvement in the Woodsboro Murders in 1996, which ultimately resulted in his death.

In a copycat Ghostface killing spree, Nancy and Mickey target two of the Woodsboro survivors (Billy's former girlfriend Sidney and author Gale Weathers) and torment them in Ohio. Her intent was to seek revenge for the death of her son, in addition to frame Mickey as the sole murderer.

Scream 3 (2000)

Scream 3 is the only film in the franchise where only one identity is revealed as Ghostface: Roman Bridger played by Scott Foley . Roman is the main antagonist of the third installment and the fifth Ghostface murderer unmasked overall.

Roman is a music video director, tasked with the gig of helming Stab 3: Return to Woodsboro . The fictional film is the concluding film in the trilogy and is based on the true events of the 1996 Woodsboro and 1998 Windsor College Murders that went down in the Scream franchise's first two installments.

It is revealed that Roman is Sidney's older half-brother, first born of Maureen Prescott. Not only is he her secret maternal sibling, but he is her arch-nemesis. Jealous of her successes, he seeks revenge against her.

Additionally, it is revealed that Roman was the architect behind the aforementioned killing sprees. He wanted to avenge those who wronged him, like his mother who rejected him and her secret affair with Hank.

Thus, he is indirectly responsible for the previous Ghostface murders, despite only appearing in Scream 3 . Also, Roman holds the record for the most kills in the franchise to date.

Scream 4 (2011)

Scream 4 saw the return of two identities under the infamous Ghostface mask: Charlie Walker played by Rory Culkin and Jill Roberts played by Emma Roberts . With respective underlying intents, Charlie and Jill teamed up to cause havoc on the town of Woodsboro.

A film student and horror movie buff, Charlie was unknowngly a pawn in Jill's concocted plan. He was also her secret girlfriend, a relationship that started after she was cheated on by her ex-boyfriend Trevor Sheldon.

As for Jill, her jealousy of Sidney's fame as the survivor of the 1996 Woodsboro Murders and her successes that followed were among her leading causes to kill. In honor of the 15th anniversary of the Woodsboro Murders, she teamed up with Charlie to recreate the harrowing happenings in a real-life film.

Jill and Charlie would play the millennial counterparts to Sidney and Randy Meeks in the killing spree that Billy and Stu started. Their plan was to kill and frame her ex-boyfriend, Trevor, for the murders. But Jill secretly intended on framing Charlie as an accomplice, and she would come out on top as the sole survivor.

Meanwhile, Jill's goal of gaining fame ultimately turned into infamy in the end with seven kills to her name. As for Charlie, his kill game was weak from the start, ultimately leading to his demise far sooner than Jill's.

Scream 5 (2022)

In typical Scream fashion, the film's fifth installment also saw two killers behind the Ghostface mask: Amber Freeman played by Mikey Madison and Richie Kirsch played by Jack Quaid .

Amber was a super fan of the Stab films, though she didn't care for its sequels, particularly the eighth installment. She took her opinions to subreddit where she met Richie. They decided to recreate Stab 8 themselves, calling it a "requel" (a reboot sequel).

Their intent is to kill sisters Sam and Tara Carpenter, using them as basis of the film. Sam is the long-lost daughter of Billy, who Richie attempts to cozy up as part of his plan before ultimately turning on her in the end. Meanwhile, Amber gets Tara to become her best friend.

Amber's most notable claim to fame is slashing the long-lasting Dewey Riley, who she murders in self defense. As for Richie, he falls victim to Sam, nearly 25 years after the original massacre.

Scream 6 (2023)

There's no denying that the horror franchise follows a trend of having more than one killer behind the Ghostface mask (with the exception of Scream 3 ) — and Scream 6 is no different. In fact, the latest installment is even more ruthless than its predecessors.

Why? Because not two, but three murderers are revealed! The unmasked identities include Wayne Bailey, Quinn Bailey and Ethan Landry.

Wayne is a detective who is investigating the Ghostface murders in New York City, an essential part of the sixth installment's plot which picks up where Scream 5 left off. It follows Tara, Mindy and Chad as they head to N.Y.C. to attend the fictional Blackmore University with Sam tagging along to protect her younger sister. In New York, the gang adds three new members to their crew: Tara's roommate Quinn, Mindy's girlfriend Anika and Chad's roommate Ethan.

The group spends most of the film trying to track down the new Ghostface killer, who seems to be even more ruthless than some of their predecessors. Several characters are killed off before the final showdown, which sees Sam, Tara, Chad, Mindy, Ethan, Kirby and Wayne head to Ghostface's lair (an empty movie theater, to be exact) where they plan to corner and kill him. Before they even get there, not everyone makes it: Mindy is attacked on the train ride over after she and Ethan got separated from the group.

Once they arrive at the lair, Sam receives a call from Wayne, who claims that Kirby is the killer — but before they get the chance to escape, Sam, Tara and Chad are jumped by two Ghostfaces. Sam and Tara try to make a run for it, but Kirby and Wayne appear with guns in hand. Wayne shoots Kirby, revealing himself to be the first of three Ghostfaces, with Quinn and Ethan exposing themselves to be the other two.

Oh, and to further blow viewers' minds, Quinn and Ethan reveal themselves to be Wayne's children. It turns out Quinn, who was seemingly killed by Ghostface during an earlier scene, had faked her death with the help of her father, while Ethan had schemed his way into being Chad's roommate to get close to the Carpenter sisters. The trio's motivation? To get revenge on Sam for killing their son and brother, Richie Kirsch, in the previous film after he orchestrated his own series of Ghostface slayings.

The family of killers marked the first time the Scream franchise unveiled a trifecta of Ghostface identities — but like the murderers who came before them, none of the three made it out of the film alive.

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‘Scream’: All of the Ghostface Killers, Ranked

"Never Say 'Who's There?' Don't You Watch Scary Movies?"

Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for every Scream film, including the latest Scream 6. Scream VI is finally in theaters, taking Ghostface and the new generation of victims to New York City , leaving behind Woodsboro (and Sidney Prescott) . It's clear that the Scream franchise, starting with Wes Craven 's 1996 Scream films lives on, even if none of the killers seem to... The forever final girl Sidney Prescott ( Neve Campbell ) has dealt with her fair share of psycho boyfriends, evil half-brothers, and attention-seeking friends and family to know that surviving a horror movie isn't nearly as fun as watching one, but with Dewey Riley ( David Arquette ) and Gale Weathers ( Courteney Cox ) always by her side, nothing is impossible. Last year's Scream "requel" (yes, we spelled that right) was an exciting addition to the iconic horror franchise that challenges everything we know about horror, "elevated" or not and introduced two new slashers to the Ghostface legacy. Scream VI added not two, not three, but four new Ghostface killers. Well, three and a half more so. Despite the new film being the first without our "forever" final girl , the film still offers up a ton of blood, gore, and crazed killers.

While Woodsboro's most famous psycho killers all shared the same mask (and the same voice by Roger L. Jackson ) , they were all in fact very different people with, sometimes, the exact same motives as the last. Nonetheless, they were foes to be reckoned with, so let's rank every one of them.

RELATED: Which Ghostface Did Which Kills in the 'Scream' Movies?

13. Ethan Bailey (Scream 6)

By the end of Scream VI , we learn that the Bailey family has been working together as Ghostface to avenge the death of Richie Kirsch ( Jack Quaid ). Richie's father and patriarch, Detective Bailey ( Dermot Mulroney ) , coordinates all the new Ghostface attacks. His daughter, Quinn ( Liana Liberato ), is a bloodthirsty lunatic capable of faking her own death to give her more freedom to slash away her victims. Ethan ( Jack Champion ), Detective Bailey’s third child, is just there.

With three people donning the Ghostface mask and jumping from place to place with a blade in their hands, it gets hard to know who killed who. But Ethan doesn’t have a single confirmed death under his belt. The most likely attack performed by Ethan happens at Tara ( Jenna Ortega ) and Sam Carpenter’s ( Melissa Barrera ) apartment, in which Quinn fakes her murder, the girl’s new sex-positive bestie is slashed in the bathroom, and Anika ( Devyn Nekoda ) falls to her death. Still, while Ethan could have been behind the five unclaimed deaths in Scream 6 , his bland personality makes him the most forgettable member of the Bailey family.

Kill Count : 0 (possibly 5 others)

12. Charlie Walker (Scream 4)

It's those film guys you've got to watch out for... While not the main antagonist of the legendary Scream 4 , Charlie Walker ( Rory Culkin ) tried his best to play Ghostface, but his ultimate goal was in becoming the "next" Randy Meeks ( J amie Kennedy ) and be one of the last survivors of the most recent Woodsboro murders. "The unexpected is the new cliché", he says to his Cinema Club, and it's true. Charlie may have been the least likely suspect, and that's exactly how he (almost) got away with it. However, Charlie was also one of the weakest of all the Ghostfaces. Not only was he killed almost immediately by his accomplice (more on her later), but each of his kills was sloppier than the last. Sure, we wouldn't want to meet Charlie in a dark alley, but it's possible we could take him.

Kill Count : 3

11. Debbie Loomis (Scream 2)

The mother of the original Ghostface killer, Debbie Loomis ( Laurie Metcalf ), also known as Debbie Salt, gave off some real Pamela Voorhees vibes when she showed up at the end of Scream 2 . After Sidney killed Billy Loomis ( Skeet Ulrich ), Debbie quickly began devising a plan to avenge her son's murder, which involved paying for a student's tuition (see below) and for him to get close to Sidney through school. As it turned out, she was the one who killed Sidney's high school friend Randy Meeks, who we were all sad to see go. Debbie's psychotic revenge plot didn't end well for her. Not only was she shot by Cotton Weary ( Liev Schreiber ), but Sidney then made sure to finish the job. Although Debbie killed one of the best characters in the franchise, she's still one of the least memorable, and a clear rip-off of the original Friday the 13th to boot.

Kill Count : 1 (possibly 2 others)

10. Jason Carvey (Scream 6)

Scream VI revolutionized the franchise by having not one, not two, but four killers donning the Ghostface mask. As usual, the movie opens with the killer stalking and slaying one of his victims, Samara Weaving ’s cinema professor Laura Crane, whose knowledge of slasher culture doesn’t prevent her from going alone into a dark alleyway. Surprisingly, Scream VI doesn’t waste time before unmasking Laura’s killer, college student Jason ( Tony Revolori ).

Jason targeted Laura because she gave him a bad grade, but with his flatmate Greg, he planned to start a new massacre and finish the work Richie Kirsch started in Scream (2022). Unfortunately for Jason and Greg, they had some competition, with the true villain of Scream VI slashing away the two boys to save Tara and Sam for themselves. Despite Jason having a short franchise appearance, Laura’s death is nothing less than brutal. And with Revolori’s natural charisma added to the mix, Jason becomes more memorable than a few main killers of previous movies.

Kill Count : 1

9. Detective Bailey (Scream 6)

While Detective Bailey doesn’t perform well compared to other Ghostfaces, we must give him the prize of the worst father ever. Any parent who lets their child become so fascinated with serial killers they want to build a temple to Ghostface should be frowned upon. He raised Richie to become a serial killer and trained Ethan and Quinn to follow the same path. All the while stealing police evidence to make the Ghostface shrine look good.

Detective Bailey’s motivation doesn’t differ much from Debbie Loomis’, but he gets some credit for being willing to get his hands dirty. Detective Bailey is also responsible for the bodega massacre, where he takes down three bystanders. While there are five unclaimed Ghostface deaths in Scream VI , the patriarch of the killer family was probably the one to off Jason and Greg, as the killer on the phone underlined how he despised the Ghostface wannabes. That sounds like Bailey, who was the mastermind behind the whole operation. It’s also likely Bailey murdered Dr. Christopher Stone ( Henry Czerny ), Sam’s psychologist, as he had more freedom than his children to go out without raising suspicions.

Kill Count : 3 (possibly 5 others)

8. Mickey Altieri (Scream 2)

The main killer of Scream 2 , Mickey Altieri ( Timothy Olyphant ) was one of Sidney's best friends in college and a film student who especially loved horror flicks. Of course, like all the Ghostface killers, his dream of becoming the "star" eventually came to pass as he began killing across campus. Mickey directly killed five people and potentially two others, all the while reassuring Sidney that he was just as disturbed to see history repeat itself as she was. In the worst way possible, Mickey got into Sidney's head, making her think that his best friend and her boyfriend Derek Feldman ( Jerry O'Connell ) was his accomplice, right before killing him. This stunted Sidney's relationships going forward, and she continued to wear the necklace Derek gave her in remembrance of him (which came in handy when she used it to slice Mickey's face), realizing Mickey was lying the whole time.

Kill Count : 5 (possibly 2 others)

7. Quinn Bailey (Scream VI)

While the entire Bailey family has some serious psychiatric issues, Quinn wins the prize of the most deranged killer. During the final fight, Quinn reveals she faked her own death to keep slashing her victims without raising suspicions. That’s a sick thing to do, which underlines Quinn’s commitment to the role of Ghostface. Besides that, Quinn was the Ghostface who attacked Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) in her apartment, offing the reporter’s new boyfriend, Brooks ( Thomas Cadrot ).

The Gale vs. Ghostface duel of Scream VI is one of the best scenes in the entire franchise, which is already reason enough for Quinn to be more celebrated than her other family members. Still, she does much more damage in Scream VI , stabbing Mindy ( Jasmin Savoy Brown ) on the subway and leading the charge against Chad ( Mason Gooding ) during the third act. She could have also been responsible for some of the five unclaimed deaths in the sixth movie.

Kill Count : 1 (possibly 5 others)

6. Amber Freeman (Scream 5)

Amber Freeman ( Mikey Madison ) might only be eighteen, but she's one of the toughest Ghostfaces to ever slash through the competition. One of the two antagonists in the recent Scream "requel", Amber managed to get close to Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) and infiltrate her group of friends, just as the original Woodsboro killers did. Amber managed to not only get close to Tara but so close that Tara would prefer her company to that of her sister, Sam (Melissa Barrera): She's a phenomenal actor.

But Amber's true claim to fame is that she was able to do what no other Ghostface has ever been able to do, finally kill Dewey Riley . Sure, Dewey was a lot older than he was in the original films, but he's survived a heck of a lot throughout the years. Still, Amber manages to take him out for good, and we've got to give it to her. She's one of the scariest slashers on this list. Did we even mention that she also got burned alive and then still tried to kill Sidney, Gale, and Sam?

Kill Count : 4

5. Richie Kirsch (Scream 5)

Along with Amber, Richie Kirsch (Jack Quaid) decided to create his own version of "Stab 8" that would better serve the "fans" (i.e. their) wants and needs. His master plan involved cozying up to Sam Carpenter, the long-lost daughter of Billy Loomis, only to turn on her in the final hour. The first boyfriend since Billy Loomis to actually be the killer, Richie makes an immediate impression as a genuinely "nice guy." Still, Dewey managed to peg it right off the bat because of course he does.

So why is Richie higher on the list than Amber? Honestly, because of his consistent charisma, brilliant plan, and superior acting skills. While Amber seems like a suspect, Richie gives off no immediate warning signs other than being Sam's boyfriend. Until the final moments when he reveals himself, we're genuinely hoping against hope that he isn't the killer, and when it's revealed we feel beyond betrayed. Plus, he killed the acting Sheriff Judy Hicks ( Marley Shelton ) and her son Wes ( Dylan Minnette ) in broad daylight, which is pretty impressive. And now we know that he's the character to spawn the events of Scream VI . Talk about a legacy!

Kill Count : 2

4. Stu Macher (Scream)

Possibly the most disturbing of all the Ghostfaces, Stu Macher ( Matthew Lillard ) does some of the weirdest stuff with his tongue since Gene Simmons put on that KISS makeup. That said, this Ghostface is the secondary (and surprise) antagonist of the original Scream who helped kill Sidney's mother before beginning the famous 1996 Woodsboro Murders a year later, starting with his ex-girlfriend Casey Becker ( Drew Barrymore ) and her then-boyfriend.

Stu is actually insane (you can see it in his eyes), and his legacy would live on through the rest of the franchise as he and Billy are mentioned in every film (with Lillard cameoing in each). There are also huge speculations based on early treatments by co-creator Kevin Williamson that Stu is still alive and serving jail time, awaiting his return with a cult of Ghostfaces. Ultimately, this idea was used for Williamson's show The Following , but it would definitely make a compelling seventh installment..

3. Roman Bridger (Scream 3)

Scream 3 might be the least memorable film of the bunch, but this killer is unforgettable. For young Hollywood music video director Roman Bridger ( Scott Foley ), landing the job directing Stab 3 wasn't nearly enough. The illegitimate son of Maureen Prescott ( Lynn McRee ) aka actress Rina Reynolds, Roman was flat-out rejected by his birth mother, only to stalk her and learn of her secret affair with Hank Loomis ( C.W. Morgan ). It's Roman's influence that actually drove Billy Loomis and Stu Macher to kill Billy's father in the first place, resulting in the events of the 1996 Woodsboro Murders.

The original Woodsboro Murderers weren't enough for Roman though, who decided that it was his time to shine and try to kill his half-sister Sidney. Roman might be the most prolific Ghostface there ever was, and the only one to act completely alone (the hidden twist that marked the third film). Thankfully Dewey was there to shoot him in the head and save Sidney from being his tenth and final victim.

Kill Count : 9

2. Jill Roberts (Scream 4)

Sidney's cousin Jill Roberts ( Emma Roberts ) is another straight psycho. Obviously, all the Ghostfaces must be crazy on some level, but Jill brings entirely new energy to it, willing to injure herself in order for her "attack" to look real. In fact, the revelation that she was the mastermind behind the events of Scream 4 , followed by her killing her own accomplice to make her the "new" Sidney Prescott, was probably the most shocking moment in the entire Scream canon. And it works.

To this day, Jill is one of the scariest, and most ruthless slashers in the Scream franchise with seven victims to her name, showing the dangers of this social media age of attention-seeking. After failing to kill her cousin once, she tries to kill Sidney again in the hospital, only for Sidney to electrocute her in the head with two defibrillators before shooting her point-blank. It's intense, but it gets the job done.

Kill Count : 7

1. Billy Loomis (Scream)

The O.G. Ghostface killer, Billy Loomis was the first man to directly torment Sidney Prescott, not to mention the rest of Woodsboro. Alongside Stu Macher, Billy slashed through all of their high school pals, but not before murdering Sidney's own mother a year prior in a revenge-fueled rage. Billy might be the scariest of all the Ghostface killers because even when he was out of costume he was something of a freak, and was very clearly the killer from the beginning.

Billy's legacy would haunt the rest of Woodsboro (and the franchise) for years to come, directly inspiring future Ghostfaces and adding even more bloodshed to his name. Even Sam Carpenter, the latest final girl and Billy's long-lost daughter, channeled her inner-Loomis (after having visions of him in her head, yikes) to brutally kill Richie before he could murder her. This isn't even to mention the years of therapy Sidney had to go through after Billy revealed himself as Ghostface.

The Identity of Scream VI's Ghostface, Explained

Scream VI once again features a Ghostface killer on the loose. But just who is behind the mask of the murderous slasher this time?

The following contains spoilers for Scream VI , now playing in theaters.

With the release of Scream VI , audiences have once again gotten another round of slasher carnage featuring the mysterious killer Ghostface. But this killer has always had their identity shrouded in mystery with each film, only to be unmasked by the end of their killing sprees. The franchise's newest installment provides some new people to don the mask, but it also provides a rather shocking twist on the franchise's usual conventions.

With Scream VI , multiple people are once again donning the Ghostface identity . The real shocker, however, is that there are not simply two Ghostfaces running around to kill people this time. Instead, the film delivers a breathtaking four Ghostface killers to plague the Carpenter sisters and their friends in the Big Apple. The identity of the killers even provides a callback to a prior film's Ghostface killer.

RELATED: Scream 6's Subway Scene Features Dozens of Easter Eggs, From Halloween to Midsommar

The New Ghostfaces Are Family to a Prior Killer

As the Ghostface murders drag on, Sam and Tara Carpenter discover the newest Ghostface owns an abandoned theater filled with memorabilia dedicated to the past killers as a sort of shrine . The worship extends to the point masks of prior Ghostfaces are left behind at the scenes of murders as a taunting warning. When the sisters hatch a plot with former survivor Kirby Reed to draw out the suspect, they discover there are not one but three people involved with the new killings. These killers are police ally Detective Wayne Bailey and his two children, Ethan and Quinn.

As the killers unmask themselves, it becomes apparent Wayne Bailey masterminded the scheme with his children as his willing accomplices. The trio had been plotting to avenge the death of Richie Hirsch, one of the killers in the previous film and Wayne's eldest child. Not content with merely killing the sisters, Quinn spreads false rumors online about Sam to ensure her life will get ruined before the trio kills her. She and Ethan then become roommates with Tara and the sisters' close friend Chad, integrating themselves into their social circle to draw off suspicion. Bailey eventually uses his police connections to fake Quinn's death and draw suspicion off the trio before confronting the sisters in a final showdown.

RELATED: Scream VI Remixes the Franchise's Most Comedic Death

Scream 6 Features the First Fake-Out Ghostface

In a franchise first, the Baileys are not the only Ghostfaces to feature in the film. Scream VI opens with Samara Weaving's Professor Crane being killed by a student, Jason Carvey, as revenge for giving him a poor grade. A horror aficionado and classmate of Tara, Jason and his roommate Greg were fans of Richie's murders and plotted to continue his work as their own "movie." The duo prepared to kill the Carpenter sisters in their own murder spree, but Jason finds Greg murdered before they can make their move. Jason is then killed by Ghostface, who chides him for his obsession with movies as his motive.

Scream VI provides a hefty amount of Ghostface killers throughout its runtime. Rather than be content with a duo or even a single killer as Scream 3 did, the film provides the franchise's first instance of a mastermind killer using twin accomplices to carry out a murder spree. Furthermore, the mastermind is the first police officer to become a killer, providing a legal workaround no other Ghostface killer had to their power. Finally, the film's fake-out killers show the franchise is now aware of how intensely speculative audiences are about the identities of the killers, proving it's not afraid to use even Ghostface as a potential victim. All these elements show that audiences will have to guess not just the identities of Ghostface going forward but their numbers as well.

To see the new Ghostfaces, Scream VI is now in theaters.