Scream (1996)

Wes Craven’s meta-slasher revitalized the genre by mixing satire with scares. Starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Scream skewered horror clichés while delivering genuine tension and one of cinema’s most memorable killers, Ghostface. It sparked a new era of teen horror and remains a Halloween staple for fans who like their fear laced with wit.