Every Horror Movie You Need To See Before 'Scary Movie 6'
After a 13-year hiatus, the Scary Movie franchise is back and (possibly) better than ever with 2026's Scary Movie 6. Along with the Wayans brothers reuniting to write the script, the movie sees the return of fan-favorite cast members like Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Cheri Oteri, Dave Sheridan, Chris Elliott, and others. For those who fell in love with the franchise back in 2000 with Scary Movie, then get ready for an extra dose of nostalgia. In a fun nod to horror's latest obsession with sequels and requels, Scary Movie 6 brings back the Ghostface-esque killer from the first movie.
However, the Scream franchise is far from the only property Scary Movie 6 has turned its campy, parody sights on. That said, Scary Movie 6 will require a little homework, or, for most of us horror fans, a little rewatching if you want to get the most laughs when the film's June 12, 2026, release date rolls around. Here's every horror movie you need to see before Scary Movie 6. Watch them on Hulu, HBO Max, and more right now.
Scream (1996) & Scream (2022)
If you know anything about the Scary Movie franchise, which I'm assuming you do since you're reading this list, then you already know how integral the Scream franchise is to the series. The first film, 2000's Scary Movie, primarily spoofed Scream (1996) and homaged the Wes Craven film's original title. This time around, it looks like Scary Movie plans to continue the trend, with the Scary Movie 6 trailer referencing the subway scene from Scream VI (2023).
Given the franchises' interconnectivity, Scream and Scream VI will be instrumental in understanding Scary Movie 6's jokes, especially since Scary Movie 6's Ghostface killer will be an important part of the plot. The return of Doofy (Dave Sheridan) and Gail Hailstorm (Cheri Oteri) also implies Scary Movie 6 plans to heavily lean into Scream and its own franchise nostalgia. Truthfully, you should probably watch all the Scream movies if you want to get the most out of Scary Movie 6, but if you only have time for one or two, make it 1996's Scream and Scream VI.
Halloween (1978) & Halloween (2018)
It's unclear at the time of writing how much the Halloween franchise will come into play in Scary Movie 6, but if the trailer is anything to go by, then we can expect a decent amount. Our first introduction to Anna Faris' Cindy occurs in a spoof of Halloween (2018), with Cindy donning similar long and wild gray locks to Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode. Like Laurie, it seems Cindy has also gone full survival mode by kitting out her house with surveillance and bobby traps should Scary Movie's many horrors come back for another round.
Of course, you can't really appreciate 2018's Halloween without watching the OG first. John Carpenter's Halloween is one of the most notable horror movies ever made. It changed the slasher genre as we know it and proved that suspense is just as important as scares when crafting a good horror movie. If you're a fan of the horror genre, then you absolutely need to watch Halloween at least once.
Other Classic & Modern Slashers To Watch Before 'Scary Movie 6'
While these slashers didn't get quite as much attention in the Scary Movie 6 trailer, they're still worth watching to catch all the Easter eggs and jokes. A big bulk of them occur in Scary Movie 6's subway scene, where we get multiple shots of recognizable masked commuters that reference everyone from classic slashers like Jason Voorhees and Leatherface to more modern favorites like M3GAN and the Heart Eyes Killer. Later, we also get a fun moment of Brenda (Regina Hall) dressed an awful lot like Octavia Spencer's Sue Ann from Ma.
Although most of these movies won't play major roles in Scary Movie 6's storyline, it's still wise to check them out. If you already love slashers, you've likely seen a good chunk of the classics here, like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. However, don't sleep on newer titles like Heart Eyes and M3GAN. Both of these are well-loved genre staples that prove horror is back and as relevant as ever.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Friday the 13th Part III (1982)
Ma (2019)
M3GAN (2022)
Heart Eyes (2025)
Other Modern Horror Movies Referenced By 'Scary Movie 6'
Although it's certainly possible that more horror movies will get the parody treatment in Scary Movie 6, these five movies and one show all feature in the trailer. While movies like The Substance and Weapons get big, noticeable spotlights, others, like Smile and Get Out, appear only in flashes.
Longlegs also gets a fun reference, with Chris Elliot's Hanson playing a more comical version of the titular killer made twistedly memorable by Nic Cage. As such, all the movies below are recommended material if you want to catch those sneakier jokes in Scary Movie 6.
Sinners might have just come out, but that doesn't spare it from the Scary Movie treatment. Ryan Coogler's critically acclaimed vampire movie receives a few nods in the Scary Movie 6 trailer. From a trio of well-dressed party-crashers meant to spoof Jack O'Connell's Remmick and his vampiric accomplices to a replica of Sinners' barn scene, expect the full movie to give us even more cheeky nods and homages.
If you haven't seen Sinners yet, here's your excuse. After receiving an unprecedented 16 Oscar nominations, it's truly one of the best (and most decorated) horror movies of the past decade. If you like the vampire drama in films like Near Dark (1987), you'll get all that but with a gorgeous, period-drenched backdrop.
