Scream 2 poster

Scream 2

"Someone has taken their love of sequels one step too far."

Movie R 1997 2h 6.5 /10
Directed by Wes Craven

Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott is trying to settle into college life and shake off the shadow of the past. The campus offers a new world, but fear travels fast and the memory of that horror still lingers. When a fresh wave of killings erupts under the Ghostface mask,... Read more

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Where to Watch "Scream 2"

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Streaming availability last verified: January 27, 2026

About Scream 2

Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott is trying to settle into college life and shake off the shadow of the past. The campus offers a new world, but fear travels fast and the memory of that horror still lingers. When a fresh wave of killings erupts under the Ghostface mask, friends and professors become suspects and the pressure to survive grows ever sharper. Old allies Gale Weathers and Dewey Riley reappear, trading barbs and bravado as the danger closes in. The threat holds steady, weaving paranoia, suspicion, and nerve wracking suspense as Sidney confronts a new chapter of the same deadly game. Rumors swirl and the stakes feel personal for everyone involved, as the campus becomes a pressure cooker where every grin could hide a motive and every corner holds a new clue, pushing Sidney toward another fraught confrontation.

Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, Scream 2 arrived in 1997 as the follow up to the original, continuing the franchise's wry blend of horror and self awareness. It keeps the meta humor intact and appeals to longtime fans.

Box office: The film performed solidly, generating a strong worldwide gross and helping to cement the Scream series as a reliable horror franchise. It drew large audiences with quick paced scares and recognizable spooky humor.

Ghostface remains one of horror's most recognizable symbols and the movie helped sharpen the franchise's meta approach to slasher tropes. Its campus setting and speed paced scares reinforced the idea that horror could wink at viewers while staying dangerous.

Reception highlighted its brisk pacing and clever split between genuine dread and satire, with critics praising its commentary on media sensationalism and survivor psychology. The film solidifies themes of identity, fear, and the pull of sequels in a genre that never stands still.

What Viewers Are Saying

6.5/10
from 4,546 ratings

Viewers appreciate Scream 2 for building on the original film, with many praising its clever self-awareness and heightened gore in the first act. Audiences enjoy the continuation of Sidney Prescott's story and the film's playful tone. However, some find the sequel derivative and less imaginative, noting the pacing slows and the finale is underwhelming compared to the strong start. Overall, opinions are mixed, with appreciation for its daring approach tempered by criticism of its lackluster ending.

Details

Release Date
December 12, 1997
Runtime
2h
Rating
R
User Ratings
4,546 votes
Type
Movie
Genres
Horror, Mystery
Country
United States
Collection
Scream Collection
Studio
Dimension Films +2 more
Budget
$24,000,000
Box Office
$172,363,301
External Links
View on IMDB

Official Trailer

Cast

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell

Sidney Prescott

Courteney Cox

Courteney Cox

Gale Weathers

David Arquette

David Arquette

Dewey Riley

Jerry O'Connell

Jerry O'Connell

Derek Feldman

Timothy Olyphant

Timothy Olyphant

Mickey Altieri

Jamie Kennedy

Jamie Kennedy

Randy Meeks

Laurie Metcalf

Laurie Metcalf

Debbie Salt

Elise Neal

Elise Neal

Hallie McDaniel

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Cici Cooper

Liev Schreiber

Liev Schreiber

Cotton Weary

Director: Wes Craven

Written by: Kevin Williamson

Frequently Asked Questions

Scream 2 is not currently available on streaming subscription services, but you can rent or buy it on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

Yes, you can rent on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video or buy on Apple iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, and Amazon Video.

With a rating of 6.5/10 from 4,546 viewers, Scream 2 is considered decent by viewers and may be worth checking out.

Two years after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott is trying to settle into college life and shake off the shadow of the past. The campus offers a new world, but fear travels fast and the memory of that horror still lingers. When a fresh wave of killings erupts under the Ghostface mask, frien...

Scream 2 stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jerry O'Connell, and Timothy Olyphant.

Scream 2 was directed by Wes Craven.

Scream 2 was released on December 12, 1997.

Scream 2 is a Horror and Mystery film.

No, Scream 2 is a fictional sequel in the Scream franchise. It follows Sidney Prescott in college as a new Ghostface killer begins a fresh round of killings.

Neve Campbell plays Sidney Prescott, a college student targeted by Ghostface. Courteney Cox plays Gale Weathers, the determined journalist who covers the case.

Scream 2 is a horror mystery with suspenseful slasher moments. If you enjoy tense campus-set thrillers, it delivers plenty of scares.

Directed by Wes Craven with a screenplay by Kevin Williamson. This pairing keeps the franchise's signature meta-horror vibe.