Horror movies are great for two reasons: their titular serial killers and their iconic final girl. When thinking of final girls, names such as Laurie Strode and Nancy Thompson come to mind; for good reason, too; these characters are brave, deadly, and simply fun to watch as they go to work against killers. Nevertheless, one final girl has earned her spot in audiences' hearts due to her character's fortitude and fighting skills, Sidney Prescott.
Sidney Prescott has spent more than two decades fighting countless incarnations of Ghostface; tormented, beaten, and nearly killed only to deliver the final blow even when the odds are completely stacked against her. Neve Campbell may have parted from the franchise after Scream 5, but her iconic character will forever live in fans' hearts. Here are 15 reasons why Sidney Prescott is the best final girl in horror.
15 Resilient
One of Sidney Prescott's best qualities is her resilience; she doesn't give up regardless of what is thrown her way. In the first Scream installment, Sidney deals with the aftermath of her mother's death while trying to maintain a semblance of a normal, teenage life. Everything becomes complicated when a killer goes on the loose, with Sidney becoming its prime target. In Scream 2, Sidney deals with the trauma of surviving her ex-boyfriend's killing spree while trying to forge new relationships, such as with best friend, Hallie, and budding romantic prospect, Derek; Sidney maintains an open heart, despite her experiences.
Scream 4 has Sidney returning to Woodsboro to promote her autobiography on her Ghostface experiences, and then helping a new generation of victims survive their own Ghostface ordeal. Scream (2022) brings Sidney's character full circle: a mom and a seasoned Ghostface survivor, Sidney no longer bothers going along with the Ghostface mind games and instead faces them head-on.
14 Intelligent
Sidney isn't just resilient, she's intelligent, too. No matter what situation she finds herself in, Sidney will always find a way to survive. In Scream, Sidney manages to slip away from Billy and Stu within the few seconds Gale confronts them, hiding her father and turning the tables on them. By Scream 2, Sidney has caller ID, is cautious of those around her, and has acquired some impressive fighting skills.
By Scream3, Sidney knows not to ever show up to a Ghosface battle unarmed, carrying both a gun and bulletproof vest for her last battle against Ghostface. By Scream (2022), Sidney isn't only armed, but resorts to tactics such as trackers to keep her friends safe from probable Ghostface attacks.
13 Relatable
Sidney is undeniably relatable; she is a normal person caught amidst terrible circumstances. Nevertheless, Sidney always pushes forward to lead a happy life, whether it be by channeling her experiences into a creative outlet, such as writing, and ultimately, giving love another chance by marrying Detective Kincaid and starting her own family. Sidney just wants to move past her trauma in the healthiest way possible.
12 Tough
Like any final girl worth cheering for, Sidney is tough as nails. She always gets a good punch in when confronting a Ghostface killer, and has been the one to deliver the final, deadly blow to more than half of them. Sidney's strength isn't only in her ability to fight back in life-and-death circumstances, but her ability to remain sane despite all the loss and tragedy in her life. She doesn't mentally break down; if anything, Sidney always finds a silver lining through her experiences to become a better person for those around her.
11 One Step Ahead of Everyone
Sidney always has some ace card up her sleeve. In Scream, she uses Billy and Stu's own taunting methods against them, dressing up as Ghostface and then calling them over the phone to lure them into her own trap. In Scream 2, Sidney uses something as simple as Derek's gift to fight off Mickey, then she uses the theater set she's confronted in to gain the upper hand against Mrs. Loomis.
In Scream 4, Sidney thinks quickly on her feet to use the defibrillator to stop Jill. In Scream (2022), Sidney makes the connection that Amber lives in the same house as Stu Macher, and concludes that the final Ghostface showdown will take place there. Catching Sidney off-guard is a nearly impossible feat.
10 Sympathetic
It's difficult to not sympathize for Sidney; she's had a turbulent life due to no fault of her own. From dealing with the bad press surrounding her mother's affair and violent death, then dealing with the string of Ghostface attacks imparted as revenge for her mother's affairs, facing a vengeful brother, to lastly, being targeted over her fame as a Ghostface survivor. Sidney is a victim of circumstance who is lucky to even be alive. How can someone not feel bad for her?
9 Caring
Despite every calamity thrown her way, Sidney holds onto her kind spirit. She's a good friend to those close to her, a trusting and loyal partner to her boyfriends, and will put herself in harm's way to protect others, as she's done for Gale, Dewey, and the Carpenter sisters. Sidney even shows care for people she barely knows, such as the callers on the hotline she worked for during her time living in seclusion. Sidney epitomizes having a heart of gold.
8 Kind
To follow up on the previous point, Sidney is kind. She maintains a special bond with Dewey after her best friend Tatum's death, serving as a surrogate sister for Dewey. After years of back-and-forth arguments, mostly caused by Gale's greed and lack of accountability, Sidney forms a close friendship with her. Even when Billy Loomis and his mother tried to murder her, Sidney helps Sam Carpenter survive her own harrowing experience against Ghostface killers, Richie and Amber. Sidney's kindness is one of a kind.
7 Strategic
Sidney always has a plan of attack. In Scream, she manages to think of the perfect way to beat Billy and Stu within minutes. In Scream 2, Sidney uses Cotton Weary's own desire for his 15 minutes of fame through a Diane Sawyer interview to get him to take down Mrs. Loomis. In Scream 3, Sidney fools Roman into believing she's dead when he shoots her, only for her to sneak up behind him and attack.
In Scream 4, Sidney saves Jill and Kirby's life several times, and even when it's revealed Jill is the mastermind behind all the attacks, Sidney proves that she is still two steps ahead of her at every moment, finishing her off with a final gunshot to the head. Sidney's ability to plan comebacks is on par with the manipulative nature of each Ghostface killer.
6 Moralistic
Sidney is an overall decent person, making her that much more likable. Sidney has never succumbed to any of the questionable behavior of other Scream characters, such as Gale Weathers and Sidney's former publicist, Rebecca. Sidney hasn't let her experiences corrupt her moral character; she simply keeps moving forward with her life after each Ghostface attack. She holds good faith towards those around her, and unlike her mother, Sidney is loyal to all those she loves.
5 Unbreakable
Needless to note, Sidney is virtually unbreakable. Nothing keeps her down for the count, whether it be a gunshot, a stab wound, or being on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Sidney is at her lowest in Scream 3, where she goes into hiding to avoid yet another Ghostface attack. Of course, another round of Ghostface killings brings Sidney out of hiding, and forces her to deal with the consequences of her mother's history and poor life choices. Nevertheless, Sidney proves that she's stronger than any Ghostface or trauma and once again survives her Ghostface encounter, finally finding closure with her troubled family history.
Scream 4 has Sidney not only enduring psychological torture from Ghostface, but the deadliest attacks in a Scream sequel yet. Whereas other Ghostface killers merely bruised Sidney with their attacks, Jill actually injures Sidney to the point where she is in critical condition in a hospital bed; audiences were at the edge of their seats wondering if it was the end of the road for Sidney, and if for the first time in Scream history, a Ghostface killer would succeed in their master plan. Even so, Sidney proves that it takes more than a few stab wounds to end her life, fighting Jill off even when gravely wounded, and claiming yet another victory.
4 Maternal
While there's never been an actual scene of Sidney with her children, Scream (2022) establishes Sidney has kids of her own with Detective Mark Kincaid, stepping away from the spotlight of the Stab franchise. Even before the events of Scream (2022), Sidney has always shown her maternal instincts towards other characters. In Scream 4, Sidney grows close to Jill and her circle of friends, not only helping them survive, but providing useful life advice.
Sidney truly shines as a maternal figure in Scream (2022); first by advising Sam on the dangers of trying to run from a Ghostface, then by going on the offensive by coming to Sam and Tara's rescue when they're cornered by Richie and Amber. Lastly, Sidney's send off from the franchise is a touching moment between her and Scream's newest final girl, Sam Carpenter, where Sidney reassures Sam that she will manage to overcome her trauma with time.
3 Voice of Reason
Even though Sidney's always ready to fight for her life, that's not ever her immediate game plan. In Scream 2 and Scream 3, Sidney follows police instructions until she is forced to face Ghostface to protect her friends. In Scream (2022), Sidney refuses to return to Woodsboro until Dewey is killed, making her accept that her survival skills will come in handy to take down the new Ghostface killers.
In Scream 6, Sidney makes the decision to let Gale, Sam, and Tara use their own lived experiences to face Ghostface, prioritizing her and her family's safety for once. Sidney is never one to make a rash decision that will lead to death.
2 Neve Campbell’s Performance
Part of the marketing campaign for the first Scream installment included '90s American sweetheart, Drew Barrymore, as the featured actor on posters and trailers--audiences were shocked when Drew Barrymore's Casey Becker proved to be the film's opening kill and not its final girl. When Sidney Prescott was introduced soon after, audiences recognized Neve Campbell from Party of Five, but didn't expect her to be the film's final girl due to her newcomer status.
Nevertheless, Neve Campbell quickly solidified herself as an acting gem in the franchise, giving audiences a nuanced and truly compelling character as Sidney Prescott; Sidney grows throughout each film in ways that make her unforgettable. While Melissa Barrera now holds the mantle as Scream's titular final girl, Neve Campbell will forever be synonymous with Scream, with audiences still asking for her return in upcoming Scream installments.
1 Best Character Growth
During its 27-year longevity, Scream has introduced countless characters, some of which are forgettable past serving as gory kills, and others that have stayed with the franchise for years. Nevertheless, the original core trio, Sidney, Gale, and Dewey, have left the biggest impact in the franchise, with each character growing respectively. Dewey goes from a naive, well-intentioned cop to a beaten and dejected man by Scream (2022). By Scream 6, Gale transforms from a ruthless and downright immoral reporter to a woman grieving the loss of the only man she ever loved.
Sidney Prescott's character growth, though, holds the greatest depth. Sidney starts the franchise as a traumatized teenager dealing with her mother's infamy in Woodsboro, soon acquires her own fame as the survivor of the original Woodsboro killings, goes into hiding, becomes an author, and lastly, settles down as a mother with her own family to protect. Sidney Prescott isn't a run-of-the-mill final girl, she's a character audiences have seen grow for over two decades. Sidney Prescott is inarguably one of the best-crafted creations in cinema history.
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