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David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jamie Kennedy ... see more see more... , Laurie Metcalf , Elise Neal , Jerry O'Connell , Timothy Olyphant , Jada Pinkett Smith , Liev Schreiber , Lewis Arquette , Duane Martin , Omar Epps , David Warner , Tori Spelling , Portia de Rossi , Rebecca Gayheart , Marisol Nichols

A year after the monstrous success of 1996's neo-slasher flick Scream, director Wes Craven and screenwriter Kevin Williamson reunited for this follow-up. Since viewers last saw the characters, nosy ne... read more read more...wswoman Gale Weathers has written a sleazy best-selling book based on the events of the first film, a book that has been adapted into a Hollywood film called Stab, starring Tori Spelling as Sydney Prescott. The real Sydney (Neve Campbell) has since gone away to college in Cincinnati in hopes of leaving the horrific events of her past behind her. Unfortunately, at a showing of Stab, two college students are murdered in a fashion that is reminiscent of the slayings that took place back in Woodsboro. Suddenly, Sydney, her pal Randy (Jamie Kennedy), and dopy deputy Dewey (David Arquette) find themselves once again pursued by a ruthless masked killer. Among the other potential killers and victims are Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laurie Metcalf, and Liev Schreiber. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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54% liked it

384,145 ratings

Critics

81% liked it

73 critics

R, 2 hr.

Directed by: Wes Craven

Release Date: December 12, 1997

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DVD Release Date: July 17, 2001

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Stats: 11,103 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (11,103)

  • fb619846742
    August 19, 2012
    fb619846742
    A smash of a sequel concerning the same group of young people mysteriously stalked by a vicious killer. Full of scenes of self-referential-ism and possessing an acute self-awareness that makes it instantly charming, director Wes Craven knows how to spoof the same genre that made ... read morehim famous to begin with. Neve Campbell is perfect as the lead, with nice, funny supporting turns from a well-rounded young cast. It trips up a little bit here and there on some things, but one could argue that his movie is a tad better than the first, a claim the movie itself humorously labels as near-impossible in most cases. I have to say I think I liked it just a bit more than the first, though.
  • FilmFanatik
    February 17, 2012
    FilmFanatik
    As I'll probably end up stating elsewhere in the future, when a film is so meta, it becomes difficult to discern that against the actual content of the film. That is, whether it's intentional or not. Scream 2 picks up a couple of years after the original Scream, and it opens agai... read moren with two random people who are murdered in the opening moments and have very little to do with the main plot. The problem I have with this sequel is that the killer(s), when you find out who they are, seem to be a bit hackneyed. I understand what they were going for, but is it meta or isn't it? I'm not quite sure. The one positive thing that I have to say about the movie is that Jamie Kennedy is finally killed off. I hate Jamie Kennedy so much and the series is much better without him. He always stands out like a sore thumb whenever he's in something and I can't wait until he's not on screen anymore. There's also quite a number of huge stars in this movie. Unsurprising really, as a lot of these people went on to make more horror movies and have careers on TV, as well. It's not quite as compelling or as good as the first one, but it's fun, and that's about all you can ask for in a sequel, I guess.
  • blkbomb
    January 6, 2012
    blkbomb
    Randy: There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to create a successful sequel. Number one: the body count is always bigger. Number two: the death scenes are always much more elaborate - more blood, more gore - carnage candy.And number three: never, ever, under any ... read morecircumstances, assume the killer is dead. 

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

    Scream 2 follows the same idea as the first. Let's make fun of horror films, while still paying homage to them. This one takes it shot at the horror sequel. Randy is there for awhile, like in the first, to help us along in understanding how everything is going to work. He makes sure we know the rules for sequel, as they are a little different.

    The first scene of this movie is absolutely brilliant. We go to the premiere night of Stab, a movie based on the events of the Scream. We see the start of the movie, which very much resembles the start of Scream. Then a killer shows up that no one sees because everybody is dressed like the killer. He is camouflaged, and that obviously makes his business a little easier to accomplish.

    Scream 2 follows pretty much the same plot as the first. This time, however, we are given a copy cat killer, and some new characters to replace all the dead from the first one. Other than those details, you should expect a lot of the same elements that the original had. This sequel is honestly almost as fun as the first. It was a damn near perfect sequel, right up to the end. Then the ending happened. It's not to say that I completely despised the ending, but after the greatness of the ending in the first film, this one left a lot to be desired.

    The Scream franchise is one of the few horror franchises that I love all the way through. Wes Craven did a great job with all for, but the quality does go down after this one. Three and four, while still good, don't match up to one and two. 
  • ajv2688
    August 11, 2011
    ajv2688
    This sequel to the popular Scream movie the previous year, is just about as much fun as the first. I really enjoyed it.
  • fb729949618
    August 6, 2011
    fb729949618
    Surprisingly good sequel.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    I love all of the Scream's! Fantastic, they're all as good as the first film! Really great film!
  • fb100000145236770
    April 16, 2011
    fb100000145236770
    When I first saw this in the theater I hated it. I didn't like the ending, and I hated the fact that Randy died. He was such a good character, no need to kill him off. Skip forward many years later, and I gotta say the movie holds up,and plays better than before. I still don'... read moret like the whole mom thing, but the rest of the movie is pretty decent. Still hate that they killed Randy, but overall not a bad sequel.
  • fb733768972
    April 15, 2011
    fb733768972
    Horror sequels are the type of films that I never look forward to, seeing as it is just filled with cliches and is really just a rehash of the original, but as for Scream 2, I could smile the entire way through with ease. Coming up with more originality to spoof the horror genre ... read morewhile still holding a strong story and terrifying thrills and scares, Scream 2 proves that horror really is dead, but can be still made original if you have the right ideas, and this film brings every possible great idea to the table and hits a home run. With a great and funny cast and likably corny script, this films rocks!
  • cosmo313
    April 15, 2011
    cosmo313
    This is a fun, bloody, and entertaining sequel, but, like almost all sequels, it's not as good as the first. In fact, the film actually brings this up...so maybe the decline in quality was by design? Anyways, it's a good film, or decent enough, in that it advances the story, expa... read morends upon some things, and, in a couple of ways, does raise the stakes.

    In fact, one crucial part of this film really has some balls, and the fact that I (an probably others) still have mixed feelings about it is a true sign that taking risks can be a great thing.

    The writing is still fresh, and the performances fun. I liked the opening too, as it was well done, but it really makes me uncomfortable...but that's basically the point. The ending is a little weird, but it could have been worse. Fun stuff...give it a shot.
  • MovieGeek13
    April 14, 2011
    MovieGeek13
    The funniest thing about Scream 2 is that within the first twenty minutes, a line is said by one of the characters, "sequels by definition alone are inferior films." This commences a debate about what sequels have proved to be better than their originals; films such as Aliens, Te... read morerminator 2, and The Godfather Part 2. When House 2: The Second Story is mentioned, the characters all throw their hands in the air, and one even says the horror genre has been completely ruined by sequels. Yet......we're watching a sequel. And a horror sequel at that. Does the film actually want us to hate it?
    This is Scream 2, the follow up to a film that called itself on its formula and cliches. Of course the characters once again think they're in a sequel and thus have to abide by the rules of a sequel. The body count is higher. The death scenes are far more graphic and brutal, etc etc.
    The screenplay offers the same irony upon irony that the original did. The question becomes, is the film better than the original? And my answer is no. I agree one hundred percent with the above mentioned line stated in the film. Sequels are cash cows first, films second. The only reason such a film is made is to duplicate what people liked about the first film, make it a little different, and package it in a way that will fill seats. Sometimes, like Aliens, The Godfather Part 2, and Terminator 2 achieve, a film manages to find a balance between maintaining what made the original so great and venturing off into its own territory. Scream 2 is not such a film. It acknowledges it's a sequel, a horror sequel to be precise, and follows the formula of a horror sequel. It's fun, don't get me wrong, but the irony of it is that the film criticizes sequels as second rate entertainment, and yet, doesn't aim to become anything higher than that. I'm saying the word "sequel" waay to much in this review.

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Critic Reviews

Chris Nashawaty
March 24, 2011
Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly

The rest of the cast of disposable archetypes deadpanned about why ''sequels suck'' -- a particularly funny joke, since this one didn't. Full Review

Leonard Klady
July 28, 2008
Leonard Klady, Variety

Visceral, witty and appropriately redundant... Full Review

Lisa Alspector
September 23, 2007
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

If you liked Scream there's no reason you shouldn't like this sequel. Full Review

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

The film itself is stuck in a cycle of repetition, with slight variations. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Wes Craven was born to direct this material. One of the most successful of horror filmmakers. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

The movie is enjoyable. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Williamson's script is funny and smart. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

A horror movie balancing gore and terror with personality, humor and a nifty gimmick.

Lisa Schwarzbaum
January 1, 2000
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

A yum-yum cast of pretties pull off the neat trick of affectionately counting the many ways available to horror sequels to suck, without making a sequel that sucks. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee

Most intelligent movie of the moment. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Sidney Prescott: Three hundred people watched. Nobody did anything. They thought it was publicity stunt, for Christ's sakes.
    • Randy Meeks: And it would have been a good one too.
    • Sidney Prescott: It's starting again Randy.
    • Randy Meeks: It's not. A lot of shit happens at the movies. People get robbed, shot, maimed, murdered. Multiplex is just a very dangerous place to be these days.
    • Sidney Prescott: Yeah and you are in extreme denial.
    • Cotton Weary: How bad is it?
    • Gale Weathers: Just bounced off my ribs.
    • Cotton Weary: Geez, Gale, you got more lives than a cat.
    • Dewey Riley: When did she started smoking?
    • Randy Meeks: Ever since those nude pictures on the internet.
    • Gale Weathers: It was just my head, it was Jennifer Aniston's body!
    • Randy Meeks: There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to create a successful sequel. Number one: the body count is always bigger. Number two: the death scenes are always much more elaborate - more blood, more gore - *carnage candy*. And number three: never, ever, under any circumstances, assume the killer is dead.
    • Sidney Prescott: I want to know who is it.
    • Hallie: No, no, Sid.
    • Sidney Prescott: I'm going back.
    • Hallie: Stupid people go back, smart people run. We're smart people so we should get the fuck outta here.
    • Sidney Prescott: I want to know who is it.
    • Hallie: No, no, Sid.
    • Sidney Prescott: I'm going back.
    • Hallie: Stupid people go back, smart people run. We're smart people so we should get the fuck outta here.
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Scream 2 : Watch Free on TV

Scream 2 Trivia

  • This actress has been murdered in both Scream 2 and I Know What You Did Last Summer but is most well known for being a vampire slayer - who is she?   Answer »
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar appears in witch movie of the Trilogy of Scream?  Answer »
  • Which one of the Scream films has Portia De Rossi guest starred in?  Answer »
  • What film coined the following 6 rules of Surviving A Horror Movie?: 1. You will not survive if you have sex 2. You will not survive if you drink or do drugs 3. Never say "I'll be right back" 4. Everyone is a suspect. 5. Never ask "Who's there?" 6. Never go out to investigate a strange noise.  Answer »
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