Sunlit brick quad with Gothic academic buildings, oaks, and walkways at a historic Georgia college campus.

Where Was Scream 2 Filmed?

The 1997 sequel split its filming between Georgia college quads and Los Angeles area streets, theaters, and private homes.

Check availabilitySee every location

The Short Answer

Scream 2 was primarily filmed in California, with scenes shot at UCLA, Pasadena streets and homes, Malibu, the Vista Theatre in Hollywood, and a studio set in Valencia. Significant Windsor College campus footage came from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia. Though the story is set at a fictional Ohio college, nearly all exterior and interior filming happened in these two states.

Wes Craven's 1997 sequel sent Sidney Prescott to Windsor College, a fictional Ohio campus haunted by a new pair of killers. The production, which ran from June 16 to August 28, 1997, never actually set foot in Ohio. Instead it relied on a Georgia women's college for the leafy campus scenes and a scatter of Los Angeles area locations for everything else, from sorority houses to the frantic Stab premiere.

Secrecy surrounded the shoot. Cast members did not learn the killer's identity until the final day of principal photography and signed confidentiality clauses, while the last ten pages of the script were printed on gray paper to prevent duplication. Most of the filming locations remain standing and, with a few exceptions on private property, can be seen today.

Every Location At A Glance

LocationWhereWhat was filmedAccess
Agnes Scott CollegeDecaturWindsor College campus exteriors, quad, lecture scenes, libraryFree to see
Vista TheatreLos AngelesStab premiere auditorium/interior scenesTicketed
Rialto TheatreSouth PasadenaStab premiere exterior and lobbyOutside only
UCLA Kerckhoff HallLos AngelesLecture hall and campus scenes including coffee conversationFree to see
Crank House (Omega Beta Zeta Sorority House)AltadenaCici Cooper attack and balcony sceneOutside only
5730 Busch DriveMalibuStab opening bathroom attack houseOutside only
350 South Grand AvenuePasadenaDelta Lambda Zeta sorority house party scenesOutside only
East Green Street & South Los Robles Avenue intersectionPasadenaCar crash escape scene with Sidney and HallieFree to see
Variety Arts TheatreLos AngelesWindsor College theatre scenesOutside only

Filming Locations Map

9 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

Agnes Scott College, Decatur
Location 01

Agnes Scott College

Georgia, Decatur Free to see

Filmed here: Windsor College campus exteriors, quad, lecture scenes, library

This women's college in Decatur, Georgia stood in for Windsor College and carries the most recognizable campus imagery in the film: the quad, lecture scenes, library, and campus exteriors. The college remains in operation and visitors are welcome on the grounds, though anyone planning a trip during the school year should check ahead for access restrictions. It is the single best stop for recreating Sidney's college experience.

Vista Theatre, Los Angeles
Location 02

Vista Theatre

California, Los Angeles Ticketed

Filmed here: Stab premiere auditorium/interior scenes

The Stab premiere auditorium and interior scenes were filmed at this historic Los Angeles theater, which still operates as a working cinema. Screenings are ticketed, so fans can watch a film inside the very auditorium where the movie-within-the-movie descended into chaos. The building is also notable as the theater owned by Quentin Tarantino, adding an extra layer of film history to a visit.

Rialto Theatre, South Pasadena
Location 03

Rialto Theatre

California, South Pasadena Outside only

Filmed here: Stab premiere exterior and lobby

The exterior and lobby of this historic South Pasadena theater stood in for the Stab premiere's public face, where screaming fans and police gathered outside. The theater is not open for walk-in visits, but the exterior is visible from the street and photographs well from the sidewalk. It sits in a walkable South Pasadena district, making it an easy add-on to other Pasadena filming locations.

UCLA Kerckhoff Hall, Los Angeles
Location 04

UCLA Kerckhoff Hall

California, Los Angeles Free to see

Filmed here: Lecture hall and campus scenes including coffee conversation

Kerckhoff Hall at UCLA hosted lecture hall and campus scenes, including the coffee conversation between characters. As a public university campus, UCLA is open to visitors, so anyone can walk through the same corridors and arcades seen in the film. The building's distinctive Gothic architecture makes it easy to spot on a campus stroll, and it pairs naturally with other Los Angeles locations from the production.

Crank House (Omega Beta Zeta Sorority House), Altadena
Location 05

Crank House (Omega Beta Zeta Sorority House)

California, Altadena Outside only

Filmed here: Cici Cooper attack and balcony scene

This Altadena residence served as the Omega Beta Zeta sorority house, where the Cici Cooper attack and balcony scene were filmed. It is a private residence today, so viewing is strictly from the street and visitors should be respectful of the occupants. The house is a recognizable stop for dedicated fans, best photographed quickly and quietly from the public sidewalk.

5730 Busch Drive, Malibu
Location 06

5730 Busch Drive

California, Malibu Outside only

Filmed here: Stab opening bathroom attack house

This Malibu private home appeared in the Stab opening, standing in for the house where the bathroom attack sequence plays out on screen. As with other residential locations, it is visible from the street only. The coastal drive to reach it is scenic in its own right, and the address works well as part of a broader Malibu itinerary rather than a dedicated trip.

350 South Grand Avenue, Pasadena
Location 07

350 South Grand Avenue

California, Pasadena Outside only

Filmed here: Delta Lambda Zeta sorority house party scenes

This Pasadena property played host to the Delta Lambda Zeta sorority house party scenes. It remains private property, so the building can only be viewed from the street. Pasadena itself is dense with Scream 2 locations, including another sorority house and a prominent intersection crash site, so fans can cover several sites in a single afternoon of walking or short drives.

East Green Street & South Los Robles Avenue intersection, Pasadena
Location 08

East Green Street & South Los Robles Avenue intersection

California, Pasadena Free to see

Filmed here: Car crash escape scene with Sidney and Hallie

This ordinary Pasadena intersection is where Sidney and Hallie's car crash escape scene was filmed. It is a fully public street crossing with no restrictions, making it one of the easiest locations to visit and stand exactly where the action happened. Traffic still runs through it today, so visitors should use the crosswalks and treat it as the working intersection it is.

Variety Arts Theatre, Los Angeles
Location 09

Variety Arts Theatre

California, Los Angeles Outside only

Filmed here: Windsor College theatre scenes

This historic Los Angeles building housed the Windsor College theatre scenes. Only the exterior is accessible today, but the facade remains a worthwhile stop for fans tracing the film across the city. Its downtown location places it within reasonable distance of other central Los Angeles sites, including the Vista Theatre and UCLA, allowing an efficient self-guided route through the sequel's footprint.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story of Scream 2 is set at Windsor College, a fictional university in Ohio, plus the surrounding town. No filming occurred in Ohio. The campus was primarily portrayed by Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, while UCLA, the Los Angeles area, Pasadena, Malibu, and a studio set in Valencia and Santa Clarita handled the bulk of the California footage. Viewers watching for Ohio landmarks will find none.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Most Scream 2 locations are self-guided by design: colleges, public intersections, and theater exteriors do not require bookings. For travelers who prefer a structured experience, one bookable option covers horror film locations in Los Angeles with a guide.

Guided Horror Locations Tour

LA: Horror Film Locations Tour

A five-star rated Los Angeles horror film locations tour, priced at $350, that pairs genre history with a guided route through the city's scariest screen addresses.

5.0 out of 5 · 2 reviews

From$350Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Windsor College supposed to be located?

In the story, Windsor College is a fictional university in Ohio. In reality, most of its campus scenes were filmed at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, with additional campus footage at UCLA in Los Angeles.

Can you visit Agnes Scott College?

Yes. It is an operating women's college and visitors are welcome on the grounds. Checking ahead during the school year is recommended, as access may be limited when classes are in session.

Is the Vista Theatre still open?

Yes, the Vista Theatre remains a working cinema and tickets are available for screenings. The theater is owned by Quentin Tarantino and hosted the Stab premiere interior scenes.

Are the sorority house locations open to the public?

No. The Crank House in Altadena and the property at 350 South Grand Avenue in Pasadena are private residences. Both should be viewed respectfully from the street only.

When was Scream 2 filmed?

Principal photography ran from June 16 to August 28, 1997, ahead of the film's release that same year.

Why did the cast not know the killer's identity?

The production kept the ending secret. Cast members were not told the killer's identity until the last day of principal photography and signed confidentiality clauses, and the final ten pages of the script were printed on gray paper to prevent duplication.

Scream 2 left its footprint across two states, and most of it survives intact. A day in Pasadena can cover the Rialto Theatre, two sorority house exteriors, and the crash intersection, while Los Angeles adds the Vista Theatre, UCLA, and the Variety Arts Theatre. Travelers with more time can fly into Atlanta and make the short trip to Decatur, where the closest thing to Windsor College still welcomes visitors on its quads.

Keep Exploring

Sources