Before Scream, audiences weren't really aware of who Neve Campbell was. The same year Wes Craven's slasher masterpiece was released, Campbell had also been in another teen horror film that was pretty successful at the box office.
The Craft is a cult film today, but back in 1996, not many people were able to see Campbell's worth. Her roles in TV were excellent, but the small screen was pretty secondary in the '90s. Needless to say, after Sidney Prescott, nothing was the same for the actress who wasn't afraid to capitalize on the role that put her in the spotlight.
However, she was always avoiding being typecast. Proof of that is her role in Wild Things, John McNaughton's raunchy thriller that allowed her to explore a more adult side to her range. In the 2000s, Campbell had already built a solid career, and more recently she's had good performances on TV. House of Cards and The Lincoln Lawyer are the most notable ones and easily stand among her career's best.
In 2023, we were sort of heartbroken when the latest Scream installment didn't include Sidney Prescott. At first, when it was announced Campbell wouldn't participate, theories varied and everyone speculated. But she finally confirmed that the offer wasn't enough for her, and she decided to pass. She noted that her value as a character was very high and Scream 6's producers weren't in tune with this. Even if the film was pretty decent, her absence was felt throughout. It's hard to see the franchise continue without Sidney making a comeback at some point.
While someone makes the call and pays Campbell what she deserves, let's take a look at her career, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
10 The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998) - 62%
Do you know those Disney straight-to-video sequels that they don't often recognize as being part of their low-tier catalog? Well, The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is one of them, and it's actually not a bad movie. The direct sequel to the smash hit tells the story of Kiara (voiced by Campbell), Simba and Nala's daughter who falls in love with a lion that's not accepted by her parents.
9 Wild Things (1998) - 64%
Wild Things featured Neve Campbell at the peak of her career. The first two Scream films had already been released, and the actress was now in the spotlight. However, she didn't want to be typecast as a teenager, so she pushed for participating in the adult-themed neo-noir thriller Wild Things.
It's easy to say the threesome scene proved her right, as audiences were shocked innocent Sidney was now a key player in a plot about a high school teacher who gets accused of sexual assault and the police investigation that ultimately reveals the truth.
8 Castle in the Ground (2019) - 67%
Castle in the Ground features Campbell as Rebecca, a terminally ill woman whose son falls prey to opioids after her death, and finds himself in an emotional void that drives him into addiction. Castle in the Ground is one of Campbell's recent films that fell under the radar, and it features what could be the actress' best performance, as short as her screen time is.
7 The Company (2003) - 71%
The Company is Robert Altman's film about a ballet company in which Loretta (Campbell) trains to become a principal performer in the show. Campbell's dramatic range hadn't been used prominently at the time, but in Altman's film, she proves it by standing opposite Malcolm McDowell and performing one of her best roles. Sadly, not many people saw this underrated film.
6 Reefer Madness (2005) - 75%
Reefer Madness. Yes, the same story you've heard about turned into a musical comedy that features the same story about "kids dangerously playing with marihuana." Campbell plays Miss Poppy, a character central to the teenagers' mishaps and adventures. In the film, Campbell showcases her dancing skills in ways we had only seen previously in The Company.
5 Scream (2022) - 76%
2022 saw the return of Scream to the big screen in the form of a whole new film that put Sidney's storyline in the back and focused on a new one about Billy Loomis' daughter being the prey of Ghostface. Campbell returns as Sidney, but she has grown into a more pensive adult that sees things differently but doesn't hold back when fighting the killer. It's hard not to clap when Sidney beats the hell out of... them.
4 Clouds (2020) - 76%
In 2020, Campbell starred in Clouds alongside a very good cast ensemble. The Disney+ film told the story of a young man who discovers he has cancer, and he doesn't have much time to live. Instead of giving up, he decides to become a musician, record an album, and become a sensation.
This one is based on a true story and Campbell plays Zach Sobiech's mother Laura. It's a good-natured film that's much better than any Hallmark film available out there.
3 Scream (1996) - 81%
Scream was released in 1996 and changed the horror landscape which was pretty inconsistent at the time. Wes Craven directed a film that homages the classics while making fun of itself, and also introducing a storyline that remains relevant to this day.
In the film, Sidney Prescott (Campbell) is still suffering from the loss of her mother when she and the students start to get haunted and hunted by a mysterious figure who seems to have a love for horror movies too far.
2 Scream 2 (1997) - 82%
In Scream 2, Wes Craven took the high school students, put them in college, and brought Ghostface to campus. Released only one year after Scream, Scream 2 is a solid sequel that raises the stakes and complies with horror sequel rules that make it even more fun, violent and entertaining. Once again, Campbell proved her worth in being one of the best final girls in horror cinema.
1 Panic (2000) - 91%
In 2000, Campbell starred in a small film called Panic. Straight out of Sundance, the film told the story of a hitman (William H. Macy) who decides to go to psychotherapy after hesitating to do his job. He also decides to quit his shady career, but then he also meets the young Sarah (Campbell), a beautiful girl who he starts an affair with. Not many people saw Panic, but sitting at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, it should give you an idea of how worth it is.
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