what is scream based on

The movie "Scream" was inspired by a series of real-life murders committed by Danny Rolling, also known as the Gainesville Ripper, in Gainesville, Florida. The screenplay for "Scream" was later developed by Kevin Williamson after he watched a newscast about the string of killings that occurred in Gainesville, which left him spooked and inspired to write the opening scene of the movie. While the events in "Scream" are fictional, the inspiration for the movie has roots in the real-life murders committed by the Gainesville Ripper. This real-life inspiration adds a layer of chilling reality to the fictional horror movie.