The film begins with Cotton Weary (played by Liev Schreiber) being attacked and murdered by Ghostface while he’s on the phone with reporter Gale Weathers (played by Courteney Cox). Sidney Prescott (played by Neve Campbell), who has been living in seclusion under a new identity, learns of the murder and returns to Los Angeles, where the killings are taking place.
Sidney discovers that the murders are connected to “Stab 3,” the latest installment in the film series based on the events of the previous “Scream” films. As the cast and crew of “Stab 3” are systematically targeted and killed off, Sidney teams up with Gale and Detective Mark Kincaid (played by Patrick Dempsey) to uncover the identity of the killer.
The investigation leads them to the original Woodsboro survivor Randy Meeks’ (played by Jamie Kennedy) videotape, in which he outlines the rules of surviving a trilogy, including the revelation of the killer’s motive. The motive is revealed to be linked to Sidney’s mother, Maureen Prescott, and her past involvement in the film industry.
As the body count rises, Sidney and her friends are forced to confront the killer and their own past traumas. Along the way, they encounter suspects including the director of “Stab 3,” Roman Bridger (played by Scott Foley), and actress Jennifer Jolie (played by Parker Posey).
In a climactic showdown at a Hollywood mansion, the identity of the killer is revealed to be Roman Bridger, who is revealed to be Sidney’s half-brother, seeking revenge for being abandoned by their mother. After a struggle, Roman is ultimately killed by Sidney, Gale, and Dewey Riley (played by David Arquette).
With the killer defeated and the truth about Maureen Prescott’s past finally exposed, Sidney and her friends find closure and a sense of peace. Sidney decides to leave the past behind her and move on with her life, while Gale and Dewey contemplate their future together.
The film ends with a hopeful note as Sidney looks toward the future, symbolizing her triumph over her past and her resilience in the face of adversity.
“Scream 3” concludes the original “Scream” trilogy with a mix of suspense, humor, and meta-references that have become synonymous with the franchise. It provides closure to the ongoing storylines while delivering the trademark scares and twists that fans of the series have come to expect.