• The Concept: Kevin Williamson envisioned a sequel while wrapping up Scream. His pitch for Scream 2 and Scream 3 was bundled with the original script, proving that the saga was always meant to continue.
• Working Titles: Before settling on Scream 2, the film cycled through names, including the working title of Scream: The Sequel. “At times we’ve called it Scream Louder and Scream Again,” Wes Craven revealed. “But it’s been going so fast, we haven’t had a chance to name it.” 
• Production Rush: The sequel was greenlit before Scream even left theaters. Filming began just six months after its release, making it one of the fastest turnarounds in horror history.
• Williamson’s Faith in Craven: Script rewrites and on-the-fly changes were constant. Many sequences in the screenplay were simply left as “Wes will make it scary.” And he did.

• Early Internet Leak: The original script surfaced online, revealing the killers. Wes Craven recalled, “They went almost immediately on the Internet. So all that was blown and we had to go into rewrites.”
• Extreme Security: Neve Campbell described the security measures: “We got our scripts. They were burgundy with a black line through them. You can’t even read them really. So you can’t photocopy them.” Jerry O’Connell added, “When we first got the script, I got everything but the last twenty pages. I think they rewrote the ending—I’m not sure if it got leaked or what, but the script had a weird non-copyable pattern on it that you couldn’t make xerox copies of.”
• Fake Dummy Scripts: Kevin Williamson went to great lengths to mislead the press, including creating fake dummy scripts. “The Hallie and Derek ending was a dummy draft. At the time the script was written, the studio was determined to keep the plot details under wraps. They were worried the killer’s identity would be leaked, so we wrote several endings. Three in all, if memory serves, and when actors and potential crew members asked to read the script, we would send the script with the dummy ending. There was even a fake ending where Dewey was the killer. They existed as a decoy and nothing more. Extreme measures, but we really wanted to keep the killer’s identity a secret!”
• Top Secret Filming: The cast wasn’t informed of the killer’s identity until the last day of principal photography. The last ten pages of the shooting script were withheld until filming, printed on gray paper to prevent illicit duplication. Each cast member signed a confidentiality clause, barring them from discussing the outcome of the film.

• Sarah Michelle Gellar: Signed onto the movie without knowing her role. After filming, she dated co-star Jerry O’Connell.
• Phone Call Fear: Roger L. Jackson (Ghostface’s voice) made live calls to actors on set to increase their fear. During the scene where Ghostface taunts Randy, several lines were improvised. “Jamie (Kennedy) said to me, ‘Forget the lines. Just go wild. Try to scare the shit out of me.’ So I improvised some stuff. His mom was sitting next to me watching on the monitor, so I said things like ‘I’m gonna cut your mom a new smile from ear to ear.’ One of my improvs, ‘Have you ever felt a knife cut through human flesh and scrape on the bone beneath?’ actually made it into the movie. That was cool!” recalled Roger Jackson. (Trivia by Wednesday’s Korner)
• Gellar’s Stunt Doubts: Despite doing some stunts in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she refused to be thrown off the balcony in Scream 2. Her stunt double took the fall.
• Prank Calls: Wes Craven and Roger Jackson prank-called cast members during filming, with Sarah Michelle Gellar being one of their prime targets.

• Matthew Lillard: The Scream alum made an uncredited cameo as a fraternity guy at the Alpha Lambda Zeta party.
• Selma Blair: Provided the voice on the phone speaking with Cici Cooper (Sarah Michelle Gellar).
• Joshua Jackson: Appears as a student in the film studies class.
• Paulette Wilson: Won her cameo as the girl handing out Ghostface masks during Stab‘s premiere through an MTV contest.
• Peter Deming: The trilogy’s cinematographer makes a brief appearance as the popcorn vendor.
• Julie Plec: Associate producer and assistant to Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson, seen in the film studies class.
• Wes Craven: Appears as a doctor in the hospital after Derek is attacked.
• Kevin Williamson: Plays a reporter interviewing Cotton Weary.
• Tori Spelling: After being mocked in the first film, even auditioning for the first one, she showed great humor by making a cameo as Sidney in Stab.
• Nancy O’Dell: The journalist also made cameos in Scream 3 and Scream 4.

• Director Consideration: Robert Rodriguez was considered to direct both Scream and Scream 2 when Wes Craven had creative disagreements over the script.
• Declined the Offer: Dimension Films approached Rodriguez to direct the sequel, but he turned it down out of respect for Craven.
• The Stab Myth: For years, it was widely believed that Rodriguez directed the Stab sequence within Scream 2, but this is not true.

• Record-Breaking Box Office: Scream 2 shattered expectations, grossing over $172 million worldwide and proving horror sequels could dominate both critically and commercially.
• Cultural Influence: The film’s genre-savvy dialogue and high-stakes kills raised the bar for horror sequels, influencing everything from Urban Legend to I Know What You Did Last Summer.

While flipping through TV channels, Cici pauses on a scene from Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922). This serves as another self-referential nod, as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, had become a major success that same year.

During the discussion about the killer’s gender, after referencing Mrs. Voorhees, Randy also mentions the daughter of Candyman (1992).

The tragedy play Cassandra (1986) serves as a reflection of Sidney’s life.

Randy isn’t thrilled that Stab cast “Joe Blow Nobody” to play him—a fictional actor whose biggest credit was a cameo in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1992).

When Joel arrives at Omega Beta Zeta crime scene, he says he doesn’t want to end up in Faces of Death (1978)—a notorious film that, incidentally, spawned several sequels.

While speaking to the killer, Randy jokingly claims his favorite scary movie is Showgirls (1995). He also name-drops several classic campus slashers, including Final Exam (1981), Graduation Day (1981), Splatter University (1984), The House on Sorority Row (1983), and The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982).

• Cici’s friend on the phone, played by Selma Blair, playfully mimics the Friday the 13th (1980) theme during their call.
• Later, Randy brings up the film again in a discussion about the killer’s gender, pointing out that Jason’s mother, Mrs. Voorhees, was an iconic murderer. This stands as one of Scream 2‘s strongest nods to the slasher classic—foreshadowing the reveal that Mrs. Loomis, Billy’s mother, is behind the latest killings.
• Check out this video we made highlighting all the connections between these two horror sagas! 🎥🔪

• In Stab, Dewey is portrayed by David Schwimmer, as Randy points out—a fun nod since Schwimmer was starring alongside Courteney Cox in Friends (1994) at the time.
• Gale also name-drops Jennifer Aniston, adding another meta-layer to the franchise’s playful self-awareness.

While speaking to the killer, Randy jokingly claims his favorite scary movie is Showgirls (1995). He also name-drops several classic campus slashers, including Final Exam (1981), Graduation Day (1981), Splatter University (1984), The House on Sorority Row (1983), and The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982).

Halloween (1978) resurfaces once again with the introduction of Officers Richards and Andrews—an homage to Kyle Richards and Brian Andrews, who played the two children in John Carpenter’s classic.

Another nod comes during rehearsals for Cassandra, when Sidney listens to her director, Gus Gold, discuss destiny and fate—mirroring Laurie Strode’s classroom scene in Halloween, where similar themes are explored.

A woman is murdered in a movie theater, what inspired Maureen’s death in Scream 2‘s opening scene.

Maureen mentions wanting to watch a Sandra Bullock movie playing across the street. Many fans believe this foreshadows Miss Congeniality (2000), released two years later, due to the phrase “Miss Ethnicity” appearing in the dialogue shortly after.

When Hallie opens her closet, a red and green striped sweater can be seen—a likely unintentional nod to A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984).

While flipping through TV channels, Cici pauses on a scene from Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922). This serves as another self-referential nod, as Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997), starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, had become a major success that same year.

Cici mentions an episode of Party of Five (1994) while chatting with her friend on the phone—a drama series starring Neve Campbell.

• The opening of Stab features a shower scene, a clear homage to one of the most iconic horror sequences of all time—the infamous shower murder in Psycho (1960). This nod reinforces Scream’s deep-rooted connection to classic horror while also playing into the franchise’s self-aware and meta approach to the genre. By recreating the vulnerable setup of a victim in the shower, Stab mirrors not only Psycho‘s lasting influence but also foreshadows the brutal fate awaiting its characters
• When Mrs. Loomis peers through the bullet hole to catch a glimpse of Sidney, the moment closely resembles Norman Bates spying on Marion in Psycho (1960).

Joel makes a reference to the TV show Saved by the Bell (1989), a popular teen sitcom that was a staple of ’90s pop culture. This mention adds to Scream 2‘s signature meta-humor, grounding the film in its contemporary cultural landscape while also reflecting the franchise’s knack for weaving in real-world entertainment references.

While taunting the killer over the phone, Randy sarcastically claims that his favorite scary movie is Showgirls (1995). The joke plays on the film’s reputation—while Showgirls was intended as an erotic drama, its over-the-top performances and campy execution led to it being widely mocked and unintentionally viewed as a comedic horror of its own kind. This moment perfectly encapsulates Randy’s film nerd persona and Scream 2’s signature self-aware humor.

While discussing horror movies set in a college environment, Randy name-drops Splatter University (1984) alongside other campus-themed slasher films. This low-budget cult classic, known for its over-the-top kills and exploitation-style thrills.

The entire Star Wars original trilogy gets referenced. During the fraternity party scene in Scream 2, Mickey and Randy engage in a heated debate over Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980), mirroring the kind of passionate film discourse that Scream thrives on. Their argument reflects the real-world discussions among fans about which installment of the trilogy reigns supreme. Meanwhile, Hallie chimes in by mentioning the “furry” Ewoks from Return of the Jedi (1983), humorously acknowledging one of the franchise’s most divisive elements.

Mickey, who proudly flaunts his admiration for James Cameron, compliments Sidney by telling her she has “a Linda Hamilton thing going.” This is a direct reference to Hamilton’s transformation into the battle-hardened Sarah Connor in T2: Judgment Day (1991), a film that elevated the action heroine archetype. The nod is fitting, as Sidney herself has evolved from the terrified survivor in Scream to a stronger, more resilient final girl in Scream 2.

Additionally, T2 is brought up during the film class discussion as an example of a sequel that successfully surpasses its predecessor, reinforcing Scream 2’s self-aware commentary on the nature of follow-ups in cinema.

Hallie playfully asks Sidney which one of the police detectives assigned to protect her is Kevin Costner, a clear reference to The Bodyguard (1992). In the film, Costner plays a former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard who is tasked with protecting a famous singer from a relentless stalker. The nod adds a layer of irony, as Sidney’s life is once again in danger despite being under heavy security, reinforcing the idea that in Scream, no amount of protection guarantees survival.

While speaking to the killer over the phone, Randy mentions The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982), a lesser-known slasher film set on a college campus.

The Ghostface figure that flies over Maureen’s head as she enters the movie theater is a direct reference to The House on Haunted Hill (1959). Producer and showman William Castle was notorious for using interactive gimmicks to enhance the audience experience, including a stunt called “Emergo,” where a skeleton would fly over the crowd during key moments of the film. Scream 2 pays homage to Castle’s theatrical tricks, reinforcing its meta-horror roots while playing into the chaotic, immersive atmosphere of the Stab premiere scene.

While speaking to the killer, Randy mentions The House on Sorority Row (1983), a classic slasher film that follows a group of sorority sisters being stalked by a mysterious killer after covering up a tragic accident.

Derek sings “I Think I Love You” by The Partridge Family (1970) in Scream 2, as a grand romantic gesture to Sidney in the cafeteria. This moment mirrors a similar scene from Top Gun (1986), where Maverick serenades Charlie with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” The performance is both sweet and cringeworthy, making it one of Scream 2‘s most memorable and unique moments.

• The magazines Entertainment Weekly and Black Beat are referenced during Maureen and Phil’s conversation, grounding the scene in contemporary pop culture.

• Sister Murphy brings up the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game, which was widely popular at the time. The game was based on the idea that any actor in Hollywood could be connected to Kevin Bacon through six or fewer film roles.

• Cotton Weary, eager to capitalize on his newfound freedom, pressures Sidney to appear alongside him in an exclusive Diane Sawyer interview, hoping to leverage his wrongful conviction into fame.

• Randy, known for his encyclopedic knowledge of horror and crime, name-drops infamous real-life serial killers Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, O.J. Simpson, and Son of Sam while discussing the psychology behind killers.

• Mickey, ever the showman, predicts to Sidney that he will secure high-profile legal representation, citing Alan Dershowitz and Johnnie Cochran, both known for handling notorious cases. He also quips that Bob Dole will be on the witness stand and that the Christian Coalition will cover his legal fees—further highlighting his deranged obsession with turning real-life violence into media spectacle

Scream is set in 1996, with Scream 2 taking place two years later, in 1998. However, a small continuity slip is visible in the film’s opening scene at the movie theater—on the ticket booth window, the filming date, April 12, 1997, can be seen, revealing when the scene was actually shot.

• When Sidney receives an instant message from the killer in the library, the man next to her advises her to hit “Alt-M” to bring it up. However, Sidney is seen pressing far more than just two keys to access the message.
• SPOILER: At the end, when Mickey shoots Gale, Sidney shouts her name, but her lips aren’t moving.
• SPOILER: In the climax scene, Mickey’s gun makes the distinct sound of a hammer cocking, but he is using a Glock, which does not have a hammer.

• When Maureen Evans goes up to the concession counter to order her popcorn and Pepsi, the clerk hands it to her without taking any money or ringing up the purchase, yet we still see her holding the cash in her hand.
• The position of Sidney’s head near the end of her first conversation with Dewey in the gazebo noticeably changes between shots.
• When Sidney slaps Gale Weathers after being introduced to Cotton for the first time, Gale’s hair alternates between being tucked behind her ears and falling in her face between shots.
• While Cici is running away from the killer, she heads upstairs with Ghostface right behind her, yet in the next shot, she appears far ahead of him.
• While rehearsing her play as Cassandra, Sidney’s veil position changes between shots—one moment she is covering her face, the next, her arms and veil are raised before being lowered.
• When the killer taunts Randy on the phone, mocking him about not being the leading man, Randy shouts, “Fuck you!”. However, when Gale and Dewey later watch the killer’s tape, Randy says “Fuck you!” before the killer mocks him, reversing the order.
• Sidney has a visible zit on her chin when she gets into the car near the end of the movie, but in the climax, it mysteriously disappears.
• When the police chief conducts a press conference, a videotape of the event later reviewed by Gale shows a different person standing to his left (frame right).
• When Gale kisses Dewey in the lecture hall, her dark red lipstick is completely wiped off or smeared around her mouth, but none of it appears on Dewey.
• While Dewey is pounding on the soundproof glass, trying to get Gale’s attention, his hand position alternates between an open palm and a clenched fist between shots.
• SPOILER: After Cici is thrown through the window and is lying on the balcony, there is already blood on her back before she is stabbed.
• SPOILER: In the balcony scene, the killer stabs Cici in the back twice, but both times, when the knife is removed, there is no visible blood on it.
• SPOILER: When Randy is stabbed inside the news van, the blood on the knife remains the same after each stab wound, without increasing.
• SPOILER: When Sidney and Hallie get into the police escort car, Hallie enters first and sits on the left. However, when the car is seen driving down the street and later crashes, Sidney is suddenly on the left and Hallie on the right. (This was explained in an outtake—Nev and Elise played a joke by running around the car when it stopped at a red light.)
• SPOILER: During Maureen Evans’ final stabbing, the killer wraps his right arm around her and stabs her with his left, but from the back view, his left arm is around her, and he is stabbing her with his right hand.

SPOILER: When Cici is thrown over the balcony, a crew member’s head briefly pops up just beyond the edge of the balcony on the right for about a second. This error was corrected in some DVD releases.

There is a Los Angeles County Seal on the rear window of the ambulance at the end of the movie, despite the fact that the scene does not take place in California.

• At the beginning of the movie, when Maureen Evans goes to the concession stand, she orders a small Pepsi. However, when she turns around, her drink is noticeably larger than a small.
• Randy “corrects” a film student about the famous Aliens (1986) quote, “Get away from her, you bitch.” Ironically, Randy was wrong and the film student was right. Since Randy is supposed to be a horror expert, this mistake is surprising.