Ghostface is in NYC: How to watch 'Scream VI' online for free (2024)

In the latest installment of the '90s slasher series, Ghostface heads to New York City to stalk the remaining survivors of the last murderous Woodsboro spree. And from the looks of the trailers, it's pretty gruesome.

Scream VI picks up a year after Scream (2022) and follows survivors Sam (Melissa Barrera), Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Chad (Mason Gooding), and Tara (Wednesday's Jenna Ortega) to NYC for a fresh start. Their new beginning is disrupted by a new Ghostface killer — this time in a grittier, more weathered mask. The film also sees the return of Hayden Panettiere as Kirby Reed (Scream 4) and Courteney Cox in her iconic role as the Gale Weathers.

The film hit theaters March 10 and is still showing in select theaters across the country. But for those who'd rather stream the slasher flick from their couch, it officially became available as of April 25. Here's everything you need to know to watch Scream VI at home (and maybe even for free).

Will Scream VI be the last Scream?

As Mashable's Film Editor Kristy Puchko reasonably ponders, "At what point can we keep calling these Scream movies?" There's little new terrain to tread as the franchise has seen "a slew of rabid fans as killers in Screams 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5." And yet, Scream VI leaves the door open for more movies to come.

As of now, there's no official confirmation of a Scream VII, but it seems likely with how well Scream VI performed at the box office. Plus, Scream 5 and 6 co-director Matt Bettinelli-Olpin (who directed alongside Tyler Gillett) said he "hoped" there would be a Scream VII whether they directed it or not. In other words, it's reasonable to say that Scream VI will not be the end of Ghostface.

Is Scream VI on HBO Max?

Since HBO Max is a Warner Bros. hub, Scream VI will not be streaming on the platform. Instead, the Paramount Pictures slasher flick finds its home on Paramount+, along with the previous films in the franchise.

Can you watch Scream VI for free?

Horror fans will be happy to learn that they can stream Scream VI for free in a number of ways. Paramount+ offers free trials to new subscribers, as well as completely free subscriptions to Walmart+ members. Plus, we've uncovered a coupon code that can extend your typical seven-day trial to 30 days. That gives you plenty of time to study up on films 1 - 5 before streaming Scream VI for free.

How to get Paramount+ for free

As of April 25, Scream VI is streaming exclusively on Paramount+. If you already subscribe to the streaming service, you're good to go. Just log in and Ghostface will be waiting for you. If not, there are a few ways to score a subscription for free. Here are your options.

A Paramount+ Premium subscription typically costs $9.99/month, which is fairly reasonable compared to the ad-free subscription fees at other streaming services. But there's no need to dish out the cash right off the bat. Instead, you can enter the code DRAGRACE on the signup page (and select Premium monthly) to secure your first month completely free. I took advantage of the deal myself and can vouch that it works at the time of writing. Once you sign up, you can head over to your account settings to see that your next billing date is 30 days from the day you sign up. Then you can choose whether or not to keep your subscription going, downgrade to the ad-supported plan for $4.99/month, or cancel altogether. Without the code, you'll only get a seven-day free trial.

If you're a Walmart+ member, you can get Paramount+ (Essential plan only) for free through your Walmart+ account hub. Even better, if you're not already a Walmart+ member, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial and still gain free access to Paramount+. That's two free subscriptions for an entire month. That gives you plenty of time to not only stream Scream VI, but every other film in the franchise. Walmart+ members also get free delivery from your store, member prices on fuel at select stations, use of mobile scan and go for in-store shopping, early access to Black Friday deals, and more. If you find that the subscription doesn't suit your needs after 30 days, you can easily cancel it (along with Paramount+) with no strings attached.

How to watch Scream VI if you're outside of the U.S.

If you're traveling or are located outside of the U.S., but are dying to watch Ghostface's latest killing spree, you can still stream Scream VI with the help of a VPN. The newest slasher in the series is streaming on Paramount+ in both the U.S. and Canada. If you sign up for a VPN and choose a server based in the U.S. or Canada, you can sign up for Paramount+ the same ways as above for seamless streaming.

We've done our fair share of VPN testing and our top pick is ExpressVPN, which is currently running a deal for a 15-month subscription for 49% off. ExpressVPN is our favorite full-featured VPN. It offers a "huge server network, a user-friendly app, and a strong commitment to data protection," Mashable shopping reporter Haley Henschel noted. Plus, it's covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee and offers a massive amount of servers in the U.S. and Canada.

For VPN newbies, we recommend the super affordable and user-friendly CyberGhost VPN. It offers dedicated servers for streaming, cheap fixed rates, and a solid in-house support team. If you're overseas and want to stream Scream VI without spending an arm and a leg or learning a new skill, CyberGhost VPN keeps costs low and makes it fairly simple to get started.

Other ways to watch Scream VI

Those who can't fathom subscribing to yet another streaming service can purchase the film on digital platforms as well. Here are your options.

• Amazon Prime Video —buy in UHD for $19.99

• Vudu — buy in UHD for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy in 4K for $19.99

• Google Play — buy in 4K for $19.99

• YouTube — buy in UHD for $19.99