Summary
2025 and 2026 are exciting years forhorrorfans, especially if someone loves scary movies from the 1990s as much as I do.Final Destination: Bloodlineswill scare everyone whenit’s released on May 16th, 2025.The I Know What You Did Last Summerlegacy sequelwill be released on July 18th, 2025. Fans can finally check out the new Ghostface whenScream 7is in theaters in February 2026. And then, according toDeadline, theScary Moviereboot will be in theaters on June 12th, 2026. I can’t decide which one I’m more excited for.
But, having seen numerous legacy sequels that have some flaws, like theHalloweentrilogy, I have some concerns. As long asthese three legacy sequels avoid one specific issue, I’ll be happy.
I Want Scream 7, Scary Movie, Final Destination, And I Know What You Did Last Summer To Avoid This Problem
There’s always going to be a fine line between introducing younger characters and paying fan service to the audience members who have been there from the beginning. However, my main issue iswhen horror legacy sequels rely too heavily on nostalgia and feature brief legacy character cameos with no character development.
Halloweenis a good example of this. Iconic final girl Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is a brave and clever character in the original 1978 movie. Then, she’s watered down in the 2018 reboot, andLaurie is then stuck in a hospital room inHalloween Kills.Kyle Richards, who played Lindsey Wallace in the original, also appears in the second movie in David Gordon Green’s trilogy. While it’s fun to see her as an adult, audiences don’t learn anything about her, and she might as well not be in it at all. I also wondered why this new Laurie was so different from the person audiences were first introduced to. I know she’s been through a lot, but there was a disconnect there.
I want to see Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) in all her intelligent glory inScream 7. I hope thatRegina Hall and Anna Faris come back forScary Movie.I alsowantIKnow What You Did Last Summerto dive deep into Freddie Prinze Jr.’s characterRay Bronsonand do a great job with Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt) as well. AlthoughFinal Destination: Bloodlineswon’t include Devon Sawa, I’m hoping that a legacy cast member will make a secret cameo or at least be mentioned. The trick here is ensuring that audiences getupdates on these beloved characters that are thoughtful and fleshed out. Who are these people now? How has the trauma of what they’ve endured affected them? What are their hopes and goals?
Scream 6did a good job withfan favorite Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere). Instead of simply featuring her in a quick cameo that doesn’t bring much meaning to the overall story,Kirby is a strong FBI agent who serves a purpose. She helps the others since she has experience with Ghostface and knows a lot thanks to her career. This felt like the perfect way to bridge the gap between new and older characters. I would love to see this pattern repeated in these four sequels.
I understand that new, younger characters have to be featured in horror sequels. Without them, what’s the point of making a reboot or a new movie? But I can’t be the only horror fan who has been disappointed with some legacy sequels.I hope that these four highly anticipated movies have well-drawn characters, whether they are new or they appeared in the original movies.
What Other Big Horror Sequels Are Being Released In 2025 And 2026?
Two of the biggest upcoming horror sequels areThe Black Phone 2andM3GAN 2.0.The Grabber will have an epic return inThe Black Phone 2, whichwill be released on October 17th, 2025. Story details may not be available, but since the cast is returning, I can assume that The Grabber will be targeting new kids and the original characters will be looking for him, too.
M3GAN 2.0will bereleased on June 27th, 2025and is another upcoming horror sequel that fans are talking about.The first images of the evil dollprove she’s as unsettling as ever, and I’m looking forward to seeing what chaos she creates this time around.
2026 will also be a huge year for fans ofThe Exorcist.Mike Flanagan is making a newThe Exorcistsequeland said it’s going to be particularly fear-inducing, which is fun to hear.
