Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic restrospectively expressed the opinion that the song "improved on the slamming beats of his earlier single 'Jam,'" a song that received critical acclaim in its own right, as the recipient of two Grammy nominations: Best R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song. Deepika Reddy of The Daily Collegian wrote, "The lyrics to the album's debut single and video 'Scream' are for the first time in Jackson's convoluted career, painfully direct. He sings Stop pressuring me/Stop pressuring me/It makes me want to scream with a force and resentment that's new and surpassing." "'Scream' and 'Tabloid Junkie' have a raw aspect that Jackson hasn't approached since a near-miss with 'Billie Jean.'"
Music & Media noted "the sound of radio interference and frenzied swingbeat." Tim Jeffery from Music Weeks RM Dance Update gave it four out of five, stating that it is "obviously a chart hit". Another RM editor, James Hamilton deemed it a "typically yelped and for once genuine pain filled jitterer duetted with sister Janet." James Hunter of Rolling Stone said that, "the excellent current single 'Scream' or the first-rate R&B ballad 'You Are Not Alone' – manage to link the incidents of Jackson's infamous recent past to universal concepts like injustice or isolation. When he bases his music in the bluntness of hip-hop, Jackson sketches funky scenarios denouncing greed, blanket unreliability and false accusation." He went on to say of 'Scream' and 'Tabloid Junkie', "[these] two adventurous Jam and Lewis thumpers work completely: Jackson's slippery voice is caught in mammoth funk-rock constructions. They're reminiscent of Janet Jackson's hits, in which Jam and Lewis allow space for lush vocal harmonies taken from the Triumph-era Jacksons; the choruses of 'Tabloid Junkie' in particular sing out with quick-voiced warnings about the failings of media truth." Tony Cross from Smash Hits gave it a top score of five out of five, writing, "This really is dangerous. Just like 'Black & White' went in the face of Michael's "white" look, so 'Scream' goes in the face of everyting you'd expect. Police sirens, anger (Stop questioning me — you know you make me wanna scream), his sister's small but vital contribution (I was disgusted by the injustice). This is Michael fighting back. And he's delivered what could be a knock-out blow. Incredible." Richard Harrington of The Washington Post, however, called it "dull and musically uninvolved." He was also of the opinion that it sounded like 'Jam' from 1991, thus dated. 'Scream' was nominated for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" at the 1996 American Music Awards, and shortly afterward it gained a Grammy nomination for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals". It reached number one in Italy, Spain, and New Zealand, number two in Australia and Norway and number three in the UK. It became a top five hit in every major music market.
Foden commented, "Mark had written the treatment and the general idea was that Michael and Janet were on this large spacecraft. And they were alone... They were getting away from Earth, and the different sets were the different environments on the spacecraft where they could have a little bit of fun and where they could relax." Jackson was happy to work with his sister again, explaining that as they still had a passion for dancing it reminded him of "old times."
In the video, Janet Jackson takes on a darker persona, previously unseen in her own music videos. Jim Farber of the New York Daily News described her as "Sporting a thick thatch of wig hair, and eyes darkened by coal-black makeup... sullen and arty... Janet, however, never looked tougher, or more in control."
Synopsis
The video begins with a sign showing the siblings' names which splits away to reveal a logo of the song's title. The scene then changes to a spacecraft traveling past Earth before the camera zooms in inside. The lights come on and reveal Michael and Janet inside individual capsules. During this sequence, the song's intro, a soundtrack of noise music with heavy sub-bass, uncharacteristic for the song's style, is heard. Suddenly, the spacecraft zooms out through the outer part of the galaxy, causing Michael and Janet to grimace in pain, and the song starts when Michael screams and slams his hands on his capsule's lid, shattering it.
In the first verse, Michael is seen in a room where he is floating in zero gravity. Then, Michael is shown in a room with several guitars where he breaks one while Janet sings the next verse. Then, it shows Michael dancing on the wall while Janet looks at her nails before playing a game of tag. Then, it shows Michael and Janet in a room where they are using a remote control to switch between pictures of Andy Warhol, art paintings, statues, etc. Next, it shows both Michael and Janet in the media room, where they are playing a video game, which Michael wins. Then, Janet sports a skimpy bikini in some scenes while at the core of the craft, grabs at her breasts, gives the camera a middle finger, and simulates male urination. Michael is shown taking controls into some kind of observation room. (In outtakes to the music video, there is a still color photograph of Michael also giving the camera a middle finger.)
Michael is then seen wearing a black robe in a white room where he is meditating before screaming, which breaks the glass above him. The scene then shifts, showing Michael and Janet performing a dance breakdown. Then, it cuts back to the media room where Janet is dancing with Michael being seen on the television screen while Janet does the same thing with Michael. Then, Michael is seen playing a tennis game where he is using a robotic orb to break jars.
Reception
The video premiered in June 1995, on MTV and BET and the next evening on ABC's Primetime Live during Diane Sawyer's interview with Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley. The interview was broadcast to approximately 64 million viewers. James Hunter of Rolling Stone called it a contemporary video, "in which Michael and his sister Janet jump around like '90s fashion kids trapped in a spaceship stolen from a Barbarella film set."
In 1995, Scream gained 11 MTV Video Music Award nominations—more than any other music video—including Best Video of the Year and won Best Dance Video, Best Choreography, and Best Art Direction. This influence was also present on the 2008 release of "Shawty Get Loose" by Lil Mama and Chris Brown. Reacting to the comparisons made between the videos, Mama explained, "I feel honored, because that was one of the initial goals, and I feel that it was executed well." She added that the emulation was intentional and that Brown was the only logical choice to step into Michael Jackson's role. Ciara and Nicki Minaj's music video for their single "I'm Out" was heavily influenced by the video by referencing the all-white scenery and attire. Tyga's 2018 music video "Dip", also featuring Minaj, was also heavily influenced by the "Scream" video.