When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
All you need to know About Fear Street: Prom Queen – A Bloody Return to Shadyside’s Darkest Nightmares
The Fear Street franchise is back, and this time, it's bringing a fresh batch of terror to Shadyside with Fear Street: Prom Queen. After a long wait and much anticipation, the film’s first trailer has dropped, sending chills down the spine of every horror fan. Prom season is about to get deadly, and the countdown has begun as Shadyside's bloody legacy continues.
With a whole new story to tell, Prom Queen promises to be the perfect mix of ’80s nostalgia and gruesome horror. Recently, the chilling trailer gave fans a sneak peek into the upcoming slasher, revealing a prom night that quickly turns into a nightmare. What starts as a glamorous high school tradition, spirals into chaos as a mysterious killer begins targeting the prom queen candidates.
Fear Street: Prom Queen looks set to maintain the franchise’s signature combination of dark suspense and heart-pounding terror, drawing from R.L. Stine’s iconic novel for a blood-soaked story that’s bound to leave you on the edge of your seat.
Get ready for more thrills, more screams, and, of course, more mystery in this stand-alone addition to the Fear Street saga. Packed with intriguing twists, shocking moments, and unforgettable characters, Prom Queen promises to up the ante in ways you won’t see coming. Keep reading to uncover all the latest buzz and updates about the film—and trust us, we’ll keep the information flowing as it drops!
Release date & Where to Watch
Fear Street: Prom Queen premieres on Netflix on Friday, May 23, 2025. The film is rated R for intense bloody violence, gore, teen drug use, strong language, and some sexual content.
What is the plot of Fear Street: Prom Queen?
Fear Street: Prom Queen transports us back to Shadyside in 1988, where evil crashes the biggest night of the school year. As prom approaches, the school’s reigning It Girls are locked in their usual ruthless race for the crown. But things take a deadly turn when a gutsy outsider is unexpectedly nominated. One by one, the prom queen candidates start to vanish — and the senior prom becomes a nightmare soaked in blood.
“We’re back in Shadyside and the year is 1988,” director and co-writer Matt Palmer shared with Tudum. He added, “With senior prom just two days away, the race for prom queen is already heating up, but when somebody starts slaughtering the prom queen candidates, all hell is set to break loose. Think classic ’80s slasher and all the fun that entails, but with compelling characters, needle drops, dancing, and a whole lot more!”
Inspired by R.L. Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen — the 15th installment in the Fear Street series — the movie marks a fresh chapter in the franchise. In the book, high schooler Lizzie McVay is among five girls up for prom queen at Shadyside High when the nominees begin to turn up dead. While it’s unclear how closely the film will follow the original plot, Stine confirmed the adaptation was in the works in early 2024, saying it would bring his iconic prom-set horror story to life.
Director Matt Palmer emphasizes that this installment dives deeper into character and emotion while keeping the scares intact. “I love that Shadyside feels so relevant to our world now; it could really be any present-day blue-collar town in America,” he said.
He further added, “We dig much deeper down into high school and family life in this installment and find that, again, so many of the challenges that ’80s kids faced still seem to totally resonate today.” Whether the film ties back to the 2021 Fear Street trilogy or stands alone, one thing’s for sure: the class of ’88 is about to have a prom night they’ll never forget — if they survive it.
Is Deena in Fear Street: Prom Queen?
No, Kiana Madeira's Deena and Olivia Scott Welch's Sam won't be a part of Fear Street: Prom Queen. However, it's expected that there will be some queer representation in the film.
Who’s in the cast of Fear Street: Prom Queen?
- India Fowler (Insomnia) as Lori: A shy high schooler with a mysterious family legacy, Lori is the heart of Fear Street: Prom Queen. Determined to break free from the whispers about her past, she steps into the prom queen race with more courage than she thought she had.
- Suzanna Son (The Idol) as Megan: Megan is Lori’s fiercely loyal best friend with a goth edge and a sharp wit. She’s the oddball of Shadyside High — and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
- Fina Strazza (Paper Girls) as Tiffany: Popular, ruthless, and polished to perfection, Tiffany is the reigning queen of the school’s social scene and will stop at nothing to add a literal crown to her title.
- David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty) as Tyler: Tyler may be Tiffany’s picture-perfect boyfriend, but his attention seems to drift toward Lori — stirring up more than just jealousy.
- Ella Rubin (The Idea of You) as Melissa: Melissa plays the loyal follower in Tiffany’s inner circle, but guilt and doubt are starting to crack her flawless mean-girl exterior.
- Chris Klein (Sweet Magnolias, American Pie) as Dan Falconer: As a Shadyside teacher and Tiffany’s father, Dan is trying to keep the prom night under control — but not even a chaperone can stop what’s coming.
- Lili Taylor (Outer Range) as VP Dolores Brekenridge: A strict disciplinarian, VP Brekenridge keeps Shadyside’s students in line — until the chaos of prom night challenges her grip on order.
- Katherine Waterston (The End We Start From) as Nancy Falconer: Tiffany’s stylish and ambitious mother, Nancy treats the prom queen race like a political campaign — and she’s managing every detail.
- Ariana Greenblatt (Barbie, Avengers: Infinity War) as Christy: With her rebellious spirit, iconic eyeliner, and boots made for stomping, Christy is the surprise contender in the prom queen race — and she’s not here to play nice.
- Rebecca Ablack (Ginny & Georgia) as Debbie: A relentless gossip and loyal member of Tiffany’s crew, Debbie is the one spreading whispers before they hit the yearbook.
- Ilan O’Driscoll (Titans) as Linda: Smart, studious, and calculating, Linda is Tiffany’s secret academic weapon — and an essential part of her prom queen strategy.
- Darrin Baker as Principal Wayland
- Damian Romeo as Judd
- Eden Summer Gilmore as Claire
- Brennan Clost as Gerald
- Cecilia Lee as Harmony LaFay
- Ryan Rosery as Chad
- Sienna Star as Barbara
- Dale Whibley as Jimmy
- Jai Jai Jones as Frank
- Anna Mirodin as Jen
- Joseph Chiu as Spider
- Luke Kimball as Devlin
- Colin Platt as Officer Starky
- Tom Keat as Freddie
- Dakota Taylor
Director Matt Palmer credited the cast for fully immersing audiences in the 1980s setting of Fear Street: Prom Queen. “They’re all smart and clever,” he shared with Tudum. He emphasized how crucial it was for the performances to feel authentic to the era, “The acting is very specific if you’re going to try and convince people you’re in an earlier time. There are just things people didn’t do. This cast absolutely never brought any iPhone faces.”
Is There a Trailer for Fear Street: Prom Queen?
The official trailer for Fear Street: Prom Queen has arrived, plunging fans back into the eerie world of Shadyside High. Set in 1988, the trailer opens with a montage of prom preparations, capturing the excitement and tension among the students. Belinda Carlisle's "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" plays in the background, juxtaposing the upbeat tune with ominous visuals of a killer stalking the halls.
India Fowler stars as Lori Granger, an outsider who enters the prom queen race, disrupting the school's social hierarchy. Tensions rise as fellow candidates begin to disappear under mysterious circumstances. A chilling line from Lori's friend Megan Rogers encapsulates the dread, "It's Shadyside—when's it all going to go wrong?"
Tension mounts when a masked figure in a red hood begins stalking the school’s hallways. In one chilling moment, a girl is seen running for her life through the corridors, pursued by the killer. The killer is shown obsessively flipping through a yearbook filled with prom queen portraits from years past, hinting at a sinister connection.
Lori Granger, an outsider and prom queen hopeful, begins to sense that something is terribly wrong. "Where are all the prom queens?" she asks, as classmates start disappearing one by one. The trailer teases a night of glamour turning into a blood-soaked nightmare, with glimpses of the killer's gloved hands and a prom photo book ominously marked.
As the countdown to prom night begins, viewers are left anticipating who will survive this deadly dance. Check out the trailer below:
Watch the previously released date announcement video below.
Is Fear Street: Prom Queen Based on a book?
Yes, Fear Street: Prom Queen is directly based on one of R.L. Stine’s original books — 1992’s The Prom Queen. While all the previous Fear Street films were inspired by the broader universe of Stine’s best-selling series, this marks the first time a movie has been adapted from a specific title. The film’s key art even draws visual inspiration from the spooky cover of the original novel.
“The movie elevates the scares. The movie elevates the horror and brings it,” Stine shared with Tudum. Unlike some of his books that lean into “fake scares,” this adaptation dives headfirst into the real thing. “I would call the movie fever pitch horror. It’s so rapid-fire and so fast. There’s not much room for fake scares here because the real scares keep coming so often,” he added.
Explaining why The Prom Queen was chosen, producer Kori Adelson added, “Because it’s iconic. Prom Queen — it’s evocative of ’80s horror around prom and all these great movies that we loved. What was fun about making the movie was the opportunity to twist those tropes in a more modern fashion.”
She described the film as, “Imagine if you could have Carrie, but with the character development of John Hughes in the tradition of The Breakfast Club. We loved the possibility of merging those two tones and those two aesthetics.”
What does Director Matt Palmer have to say about Fear Street: Prom Queen?
Director Matt Palmer was immediately drawn to Prom Queen among R.L. Stine’s vast Fear Street library: “Prom Queen just really, really jumped out at me.” (via Tudum) His vision for the film leaned heavily into the thrill of creating something new within the Fear Street universe — while still honoring the spirit of the franchise.
“Fear Street: Prom Queen is a stand-alone film,” Palmer explained. “The trilogy was the place to set up the big lore, and now a stand-alone movie like Fear Street: Prom Queen can intersect in a slightly different way with it,” he added.
He emphasizes that horror thrives on mystery, and by introducing fresh characters and stories, the film preserves the genre’s tension and unpredictability. “If we already know the why of the story, it takes a huge part of the exhilaration of watching a horror movie away,” he further added.
With a deep appreciation for period horror, Palmer set out to channel the spirit of 1980s slasher classics. “It’s that fun ’80s vibe,” he said, recalling his experience hosting overnight horror marathons in the UK. “You find out very quickly at 4 a.m. if the audience finds a film boring.” His goal was to harness the era’s mix of scares and humor in a way that kept audiences hooked — even in the dead of night.
While the film flirts with camp, Palmer was careful to root it in genuine emotion. “The problem with camp is that if your characters aren’t grounded at all, there’s nothing to root for,” he explained. Central to Prom Queen is the friendship between India Fowler and Suzanna Son’s characters, which he describes as key to maintaining a balance between realism and heightened horror.
As for standout scenes, Palmer is especially proud of the film’s kill sequences and character confrontations. “When I first saw some of the kill scenes edited together, that was incredibly exciting,” he said. “I also really like some of the confrontation scenes between the characters and how far some of the characters will go and how mean they’ll be.”
His inspirations include Sleepaway Camp, Happy Birthday to Me, Pieces, and of course, Scream. “They’re slightly more off the beaten track, which is what led to some of the humor and more intense elements of Fear Street: Prom Queen,” he said. “Everybody likes slasher movies… It’s a whodunit at heart.”
When & Where did Fear Street: Prom Queen film?
Principal photography on Fear Street: Prom Queen began in Toronto on March 25, 2024, and continued into Hamilton before wrapping on May 23—slightly later than the originally scheduled May 15 end date. (via Whats-on-Netflix)
Check out the filming wrap video below.
Behind the Scenes
Fear Street: Prom Queen is an upcoming American slasher directed by Matt Palmer, who also co-wrote the script with Donald McLeary. Based on R.L. Stine’s 1992 novel The Prom Queen, it marks the fourth installment in the Fear Street film series.
Produced by Peter Chernin, Jenno Topping, and Kori Adelson for Chernin Entertainment, the film is executive produced by Yvonne Bernard, Jane Stine, and Joan Waricha. Caroline Pitofsky oversees production for Chernin.
In a recent Tudum interview, producer Kori Adelson spoke about teaming up with Matt Palmer, “Because Matt was a huge fan of this genre and he has such a singular vision. We really bonded over the fact that we both appreciate practical effects. We wanted to keep the movie as practical as possible to evoke the ’80s aesthetic and remain true to the movies of that era. As we’ve been building out this franchise, the goal has been to give each movie to a filmmaker with a singular voice, and we found that in Matt.”
On the final product, Adelson shared, “The most thrilling part of production is that we have these strong female characters who feel like a real twist on the ‘final girl’ archetype.”
When asked what longtime fans can expect, she added, “I want them to be excited about returning to the world of Shadyside and about these great characters. Fear Street: Prom Queen is a slightly different structure than the trilogy and that makes it interesting — we can keep playing with these horror subgenres. Each time you return to the world of Fear Street, you get a different offering and with this one, we promise a fun ride.”
Related
Most Popular
Most Popular