Matthew Lillard Recalls Doubting 'Scream' Would Find an Audience
At a New York Comic Con panel, Matthew Lillard said he initially dismissed the original 'Scream' as unimpressive and expected few people to watch it. He recalled talking with co-stars Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell about their upcoming TV commitments. Lillard noted that the film went on to become a hit and is still remembered decades later.
At a New York Comic Con panel, Matthew Lillard recalled riding home around dawn after work, still bloodied. In the car, he and co-stars Courtney Cox and Neve Campbell discussed their upcoming television commitments: Cox was set to return to Friends, and Campbell to Party of Five.
Lillard had recently worked on a pilot and thought television was his future. He considered the film unimpressive and expected few viewers. Despite those doubts, Scream became a hit and is still remembered decades later.
Lillard’s recollection may resonate with performers who have dismissed early projects that later became cultural touchstones. It could remind audiences that initial industry expectations can be unreliable, and may encourage fans to revisit films whose legacies outgrew early doubts. For studios and creators, such anecdotes may reinforce how enduring franchises can emerge from uncertain beginnings, though the story’s impact is likely nostalgic rather than transformative.