Don’t have sex, don’t drink or do drugs, and don’t, under any circumstances, say you’ll be right back. These are the cardinal rules set forth in Wes Craven’s slasher classic, Scream, and they’ve been embedded in the back of horror movie fans’ minds for the last 20 years. No one could have predicted that the witty, gory thriller about a Ghostface killer and his unsuspecting victims would go on to become a hit when it was released on December 20, 1996. It surpassed expectations, though, and spawned three successful sequels, as well as an MTV series with a new generation of killers and self-aware victims. To date, Scream is one of the most successful horror movie franchises in history. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a casual observer, the series has a fascinating and storied history.