4 Thrilling Movies To Watch Ahead Of The New ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’

It’s been almost three decades since we last saw a theatrical sequel to the nostalgic ‘90s horror series, I Know What You Did Last Summer.

But as the summer season stretches on, it seems that a new generation of viewers will experience the frights of the cult favorite horror franchise with the upcoming spiritual sequel, I Know What You Did Last Summer, this coming month.

As viewers look ahead to the release of the highly anticipated summer blockbuster, we thought we’d highlight a few potential films to watch ahead of I Know What You Did Last Summer, each of which bear a striking similarity to the soon-to-be-released horror film.

Prom Night (1980)

Six years after the accidental death of a young girl, a group of high school seniors are stalked by a vengeful killer seeking justice for their past crime. If that plot sounds eerily identical, it’s likely because I Know What You Did Last Summer borrowed it from the premise of 1980’s Prom Night. Though nowhere near as universally loved as Halloween or A Nightmare on Elm Street, Prom Night continues to live on as an enjoyable enough slasher horror film that features all the essential characteristics audiences know and love: a masked killer, clueless main characters, and a shrieking Jamie Lee Curtis as the leading final girl.

Halloween (2018)

After literal decades of lesser and lesser sequels, the Halloween franchise returned to its underlying horror roots with 2018’s Halloween. Ignoring every Halloween sequel that came before it, 2018’s Halloween instead finds a way to connect more directly with the events of the original film, following an aged Michael Myers as he returns to Haddonfield. Led by a scene-stealing Jamie Lee Curtis in her famed role as Laurie, Halloween is quite possibly the finest slasher sequel we’ve ever had the pleasure of watching.

Scream (2022)

Just as 2018’s Halloween managed to reboot John Carpenter’s slasher series for the modern era, the Scream franchise accomplishes a similar feat with 2022’s slasher reboot. Introducing a new generation of Woodsboro teenagers alongside several familiar faces, Scream proves once again why Wes Craven’s horror series remains the pinnacle of contemporary horror, ensuring yet another unforgettable entry in the iconic series.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

Unsurprisingly, the number one movie to watch ahead of I Know What What You Did Last is – you guessed it – the original film that started it all. Taking liberal inspiration from Prom Night and 1996’s Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer serves up a memorably stylistic slasher thriller as charming as it is frequently frightening. Between its prominent young cast and suspenseful atmosphere, this 1997 cult classic is required viewing for every diehard horror fan in the audience.