These Fan Theories About Scream 7 Opening Kills Are Clever

Highlights

Fans eagerly anticipate a shocking opening kill in Scream 7 to set the tone for the new movie.
Theories suggest characters like Danny or Kirby could be the victims in Scream 7's opening sequence.
Some fans even propose a twist where Danny becomes the first Ghostface in Scream 7, breaking the franchise's rules.

While the original Scream has what is no doubt one of the best opening scenes in a horror movie, there is always a possibility that the next one could be even more memorable. Fans of the slasher franchise think that the opening kill in Scream 7 should be shocking and unique, which will hopefully be the case considering that the first movie was released in 1996. Every opening sequence in the Scream franchise has killed a major or minor character and set up the dangerous and clever game that Ghostface has played, and there's no reason why Scream 7 can't up the stakes even more.

Since the opening kill of Scream 6 included a terrifying death on the streets of New York City along with a fake-out about who the real Ghostface was, there's no reason not to have high expectations for the beginning of Scream 7. Fans have some smart ideas about what could happen.

Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) and Tatum Riley (Rose McGowan) in Scream (1996)

Is Scream 7 Making A Huge Mistake Already?

Of all the latest updates about Scream 7, the upcoming sequel in the popular slasher franchise, one could be a big mistake.

Fan Theories About The Scream 7 Opening Kills

Sam and Tara on the floor of a bodega in Scream 6

One of the questions fans have about Scream 7 is what the opening sequence will look like. Redditor @Art_TheClown123 thinks that it would be compelling if Sam Carpenter's (Melissa Barrera) boyfriend Danny was killed first. The fan wrote:

"The opening kill will probably be Danny, considering his role is similar to Cotton from Scream 2 , who dies in Scream 3, the opening, and since Scream 5 is similar to Scream 1 , Scream 6 is similar to Scream 2, Scream 7 will probably be similar to Scream 3 ."

Since both Danny Brackett (Josh Segarra) and Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber) are suspects who appear to be untrustworthy, Danny is a possible contender for the opening kill of Scream 7. While the fact that Jenna Ortega and Melissa Barrera have exited the franchise makes Danny's inclusion in the sequel unlikely, he could be a way to tie the new movie to the last one.

Another Scream fan posted on Reddit that Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere) could be the opening kill of Scream 7. They wrote:

"The shock factor and the fact they would kill a loved character would really set the tone for the movie. Could mirror how Cotton was killed in 3."

While several Scream fans were sad imagining Ghostface murdering the tough, independent, and scrappy Kirby, some said that it does make sense because both Kirby and Cotton appeared briefly in previous movies before playing a larger role in Scream 6 and Scream 3. Killing Kirby would be surprising but would also be a clever way to ensure that other legacy characters like Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) survive the opening sequence.

Besides wondering if Danny or Kirby could be the opening kill in Scream 7, another fan came up with a theory that could break the Scream franchise's rules while still staying true to the tone. This idea would be surprising and memorable. Redditor @JmartelliNYC suggested that Danny could be the first Ghostface in Scream 7. They wrote:

"Similar to most openings, a victim we've not yet met (but friend group, as we'll find out) is called/stalked by Ghostface. The usual chase and struggle ensue, only this time -- the 'victim' manages to best Ghostface, and kills them . They unmask them and it's ... Danny Brackett."

Every Opening Kill In The Scream Franchise

Casey Becker talking on the phone in Scream

While most Scream fans would say that Casey Becker's (Drew Barrymore) opening kill in the original Scream is the best in the entire franchise, each one is important and sets up the rest of the story. It's important to note that while Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) is the star of the Scream (2022) opening sequence, Tara survives Ghostface's attack, which was a first for the franchise. Although including Billy Loomis's (Skeet Ulrich) ghost in Scream (2022) was a terrible and corny idea, everyone remembers Tara lecturing Ghostface on elevated horror movies and proving that she was a new, strong final girl. It's definitely one of the best phone calls in the Scream franchise.

What Are The Opening Kills In Each Scream Movie?

Scream (1996): Casey Becker (Drew Barrymore) and Steve Orth (Kevin Patrick Walls)
Scream 2 (1997): Maureen Evans (Jada Pinkett Smith) and Phil Stevens (Omar Epps)
Scream 3 (1999): Christine Hamilton (Kelly Rutherford) and Cotton Weary (Liev Schreiber)
Scream 4 (2011): Jenny Randall (Aimee Teegarden) and Marnie Cooper (Britt Robertson)
Scream 6 (2023): Laura Crane (Samera Weaving)

Every Scream opening kill is memorable, eerie, and surprising. Watching Ghostface murder Maureen Evans while an entire movie theater watches Stab and assumes that it's just part of the show plays into the clever meta horror movie tone of Scream. Jenny Randall and Marnie Cooper's Scream 4 deaths prove that there is a new Ghostface in Woodsboro, California and that Sidney Prescott's homecoming will be a scary one.

However, no matter how great every opening sequence is in Scream, Cotton Weary's Scream 3 death just might be the most shocking. While many characters get killed in Scream 6 and every previous installment in the slasher franchise, no one thought that Ghostface would kill Cotton, who was once a suspect in the murder of Sidney's mother Maureen Prescott. The Scream 3 opening made it clear that all bets are off and anyone can die in a Scream movie, which turned out to be true when Dewey Riley (David Arquette) tragically died in Scream (2022).