THEN AND NOW: The cast of the 'Scream' movies

Drew Barrymore has a brief but memorable role in the first "Scream" movie.Dimension Films

• The first "Scream" movie was released in 1996, and starred Neve Campbell, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Skeet Ulrich, and Drew Barrymore.
• Subsequent sequels were released in 1997, 2000, and 2011, featuring stars like Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Emma Roberts.
• In the years since the release of the successful slasher films, a majority of the franchise's cast members have continued to act.
• Cox went on to star in several television shows, including "Cougar Town," which earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

The first "Scream" movie was released in 1996 and focused on a group of high schoolers trying to survive vicious attacks from a masked killer called Ghostface.

Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, and Drew Barrymore all appeared in the 1996 film, the success of which led to three other sequels: "Scream 2" in 1997, "Scream 3" in 2000, and 2011's "Scream 4."

Throughout the years, numerous stars have made appearances in the slasher franchise, including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rose McGowan, Jada Pinkett Smith, and, more recently, Alison Brie and Emma Roberts.

Most of the "Scream" actors were well-known before their roles in the franchise, and many of them have continued to act.

Here's what the cast of the "Scream" franchise has been up to in the years since the movies' release.