The opening scene of Scream is a homage to When a Stranger Calls (1979).
Casey hanging from the tree is similar to the opening of Suspiria (1977).
Casey claims that all of the sequels to A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) sucked. It was because director Wes Craven had nothing to do with the other films until the revisionist, Wes Craven's New Nightmare (1994).
In the killer's trivia game, he asks two questions regarding who the killers were in Halloween (1979) and Friday the 13th (1980).
Casey tries to scream for her parents, but they don't hear her. This problem also occurs for Laurie Strode in Halloween II (1981).
When Casey's parents come home and see that something is wrong, Mr. Becker says to his wife, "Go down the street to the Mackenzie's house." It was a quote from Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween (1978).
Skeet Ulrich, who remarkabley resembles Johnny Depp, sneaks into Sidney's bedroom, in a manner similar to a scene with Depp's character in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).
Billy tells Sidney he was watching the TV-edited version of The Exorcist (1973).
During lunch at Woodsboro High School, Tatum mentions Basic Instinct (1992).
Tatum says, "I'm going to the video store. I was thinking All The Right Moves (1983). You know if you pause it just right, you can see his penis." Kevin Williamson notes that he gets harrased every time about that line.
Billy's last name is Loomis, which is in homage to Dr. Loomis of Halloween (1978), which was itself in reference to the Loomis in Psycho (1960).
A snotty cheerleader mentions the TV-talk show Ricki Lake (1993).
Henry Winkler's character in Scream, Principal Himbry, stops to slick his hair back which was a trademark of Winkler's character Fonzie on the TV-show Happy Days (1974).
The references to the "Richard Gere gerbil stories," Craven notes. "I got calls from agents saying, 'You'll never work again if you leave that in.'"
Tatum mentions director "Wes Carpenter" which is a mixed reference to directors Wes Craven and John Carpenter.
A poster for the forgettable Jamie Lee Curtis film, Mother's Boys (1993), is shown prominently at the video store. Another film of hers, Trading Places (1983), is mentioned.
Frankenstein (1931) is featured at the beginning of the video store scene.
At the video store, you can see the cover boxes for the film Smoke (1995), a Miramax film, which is the parent company of Scream's distributor, Dimension Films. Clerks (1994), another Miramax distributed film, is also visable on top of Stuart's VCR at the party.
Randy mentions Prom Night (1980) and The Howling (1981).
A customer at the video store mentions E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).
Sidney refers Woodsboro as The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976).
The horror films Hellraiser (1987), The Fog (1980), Terror Train (1980), Prom Night (1980), and The Evil Dead (1982) were rented for Stuart's party.
In the garage, Tatum says to Father Death, "What is this? I Spit On Your Garage?" It is a reference to I Spit On Your Grave (1978).
When Billy appears at Stuart's party, Randy quotes, "What's Leatherface doing here?" Leatherface is the name of the killer in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974).
"As if," Stuart replies to Randy. It was a famous quote from the hit-comedy Clueless (1995).
Halloween (1978) is the movie being watched by everyone at Stuart's party.
Billy thinks Sidney's problems are similar to Jodie Foster's role in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
When Sidney reveals to Billy about her insecurity, she refers to it as turning into The Bad Seed (1956).
"We all go a little mad sometimes," Billy quotes from Anthony Perkins in Psycho (1960).
Billy states corn syrup was the same stuff they used for pig's blood in Carrie (1976).
An Apollo 13 (1995) reference occurred near the end of the film. Matthew Lillard, who plays Stuart, ad-libbed, "Houston, we have a problem!"
There were multiple Sharon Stone references in Scream. Stone was in a early Wes Craven film, Deadly Blessing (1981) and is also a very good friend of Craven's ex-wife, Mimi.
The song "Don't Fear The Reaper", which was used in Scream, is an updated version of the same song which was played in Halloween (1978).