Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream
Horror Movies Scream 7 director crushes the fan theory that Stu Macher is alive and will return in Scream 8: "That's a big stretch"
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 ending explained: who dies, who is Ghostface and will there be a Scream 8?
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 review: "Never as sharp as the series' best, but still has a few neat tricks up its billowing sleeve"
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream
Horror Movies Matthew Lillard has addressed his rather confusing Scream 2 cameo, all but confirming that it's not Stu Macher
Billie Roy in Lee Cronin's The Mummy
Horror Movies Upcoming horror movies coming in 2026 and beyond
Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers in Scream 7
Horror Movies Despite mixed reviews and a poor Rotten Tomatoes score, Scream 7 opens to franchise best $97.2 million worldwide
Shorty (Marlon Wayans) streaming in Scary Movie 6
Comedy Movies Scary Movie 6 may skewer Gen Z and play the hits, but it's not nostalgia bait
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 takes franchise over $1 billion, joining the likes of The Conjuring, Alien, and Resident Evil
Ghostface in Scream (2022)
Horror Movies All 7 Scream movies ranked, from worst to best
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Horror Movies Scream 7 baits fans into thinking an underrated horror icon was finally getting his due – and I'm not happy about it
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies After the Scary Movie 6 trailer ruthlessly parodied Scream 6, the iconic slasher franchise hits back
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Despite its low Rotten Tomatoes score, Scream 7 breaks franchise box office record with $7.8 million preview-night pull
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 doesn't actually use the real Stu Macher house, but the crew did burn the set down for real
Ghostface waggling a knife while on a subway car in the trailer for Scary Movie 6
Comedy Movies Scary Movie 6 trailer takes a stab at modern horror – and none of your favorites are safe
Ghostface in Scream 7
Horror Movies Scream 7 reviews, cast, plot, and everything you need to know about the latest installment
  1. Entertainment
  2. Movies
  3. Horror Movies
  4. Scream 7

Fans are realizing the Scream 7 timeline makes no sense, as the film introduces Sidney's grown-up daughter

News
By Molly Edwards published 18 February 2026

The Scream 7 timeline is confusing

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
0
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

With Scream 7 around the corner, fans are puzzling over its biggest mystery, and it has nothing to do with the identity of Ghostface.

The film is set to introduce Sidney's grown-up daughter, Tatum, played by Isabel May. The problem is, that would mean Tatum was born before Scream 4, which has fans speculating how that can be possible.

After all, no mention is made of Sidney's daughter at any point in the fourth film or beyond, and when we last saw Sidney in Scream 5, she had children, but they appeared to be much younger than Tatum.

You may like
  • Ghostface sneaking up on Sidney Prescott's daughter Tatum 30 years later, Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott's daughter in new Scream 7 teaser
  • Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7 Neve Campbell says Scream 7 is "full circle" for Sidney, who is protecting her daughter 30 years after her mother died
  • Ghostface in Scream 7 Scream 7 ending explained: who dies, who is Ghostface and will there be a Scream 8?

"It has been said even before production that there is a time jump in Scream 7. Plus, the Scream universe's timeline is truly fucked up one way or another – even without Scream 7," says one fan.

"Maybe Syd just wanted to keep her personal life protected and is ok. she just didnt need to talk about that or maybe she had no time to do that," points out someone else.

"Tbh this doesn't bother me because if you think about it she had zero time to talk about having a kid in 4," says another person.

Not everyone is convinced, however. "Then who tf were the babies she was pushing in Scream 5? Just a dumb excuse to cover their mess up."

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

"Which means she should have been Mark's daughter from a previous marriage… so sick of lazy writing," says someone else.

It's unclear at the moment how Scream 7 will address Tatum's existence, but it would make sense if the film goes with the idea that Tatum had been born by the time of Scream 4, but Sidney kept her existence secret. After all, the new films already introduced Billy Loomis's surprise daughter without any setup from the original.

Scream 7 arrives this February 27. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming movies of the year, or our roundup of the best horror movies.

Molly Edwards
Molly Edwards
Social Links Navigation
Senior Entertainment Writer

I'm a Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film section. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Ghostface sneaking up on Sidney Prescott's daughter Tatum
30 years later, Ghostface targets Sidney Prescott's daughter in new Scream 7 teaser
 
 
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
Neve Campbell says Scream 7 is "full circle" for Sidney, who is protecting her daughter 30 years after her mother died
 
 
Ghostface in Scream 7
Scream 7 ending explained: who dies, who is Ghostface and will there be a Scream 8?
 
 
Ghostface in Scream 7
Scream 7 has hit screens, and franchise fans are already questioning the new Ghostface killers' rather confusing motives
 
 
Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott in Scream 7
Scream 7 director confirms my biggest fear about the horror sequel, says it "doesn't really have that meta goal"
 
 
Matthew Lillard as Stu Macher in Scream 1996
Scream 7 baits fans into thinking an underrated horror icon was finally getting his due – and I'm not happy about it
 
 
Latest in Horror Movies
Jessie Buckley as Ida/Penny in The Bride
The Bride bombs at the box office with $13.6 million opening against a $90 million budget
 
 
Midnight Mass (2021)
Mike Flanagan's Exorcist movie adds 11 familiar faces from the Flana-verse
 
 
Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem Leon actor says he's "cautiously optimistic" about upcoming film adaptation from Weapons director
 
 
Nina Kiri as Evy in Undertone
Undertone releases another creepy teaser, and it looks like there's more to the upcoming horror movie than we thought
 
 
Jessie Buckley as Ida/Penny in The Bride
The Bride earns mixed first reviews, as critics call it everything from "a modern classic" to "unholy mess"
 
 
M3GAN post dog attack in M3GAN 2023
After being pulled from the release schedule, M3GAN spin-off SOULM8TE sparks back to life with an R-rating by the MPAA
 
 
Latest in News
Battlefield 6
Battlefield 6 designers say developers have a "responsibility" to make games intuitive
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gustave winces
"The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 dev confirms it was filling your ears with spoilers
 
 
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 lead Gustave faces a gommage
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force
 
 
A close-up of Grace talking with someone through glass in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil Requiem leads let actors re-do "technically" perfect scenes if it made them happy, says Grace actor
 
 
Kratos approaches Aphrodite's bedchamber in God of War 3
"The God of War sex mini-games were designed by women," which is why Aphrodite's bed looks "like a labia"
 
 
Alan Ritchson in Reacher season 3
Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Battlefield 6
    1
    "The fundamentals of FPS should drive our decision": Battlefield 6 designers say developers have a "responsibility" to make games intuitive
  2. 2
    "The first track spoils the whole game": Clair Obscur Expedition 33 devs confirm they were filling your ears with spoilers the entire time
  3. 3
    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie reveals Donald Glover as the voice of Yoshi and more new casting in a star-spanning trailer that sends the entire Mushroom Kingdom to another planet
  4. 4
    Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
  5. 5
    Clair Obscur Expedition 33 took inspiration from a surprising anime - Soul Eater creator's Fire Force: "Because it was a JRPG, we tried to find a mix"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...