The decision to set Scream VI in New York City could have gone one of two ways: made the sixth film in the popular horror franchise feel too different from the rest, or add a compelling and special new element. Thankfully, the setting did the latter. Seeing Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) and their friends fight Ghostface in the big city made the horror franchise just as thrilling as it had always been. And since the first movie was released in 1996, that's definitely a good thing.
But what were the filming locations for Scream VI, and were they different from the other five movies? It's interesting to find out if Scream VI was actually filmed in New York City and to examine how this change of setting makes the story that much better.
Scream VI Was Filmed In Montreal
While Scream VI is set in New York City, Scream VI was filmed in Montreal. According to The Daily Hive, many scenes were filmed on Sherbrooke Street in the NDG neighborhood of the city in Quebec, Canada.
One of the most well-known Scream VI scenes from the trailer features Ghostface using a gun in a bodega. This scene stands out since the memorable slasher killer hasn't used this kind of weapon before. HelloSidney.com reported that this scene was filmed at Dépanneur St.Ambroise in Montreal.
Other Scream VI filming locations include Le National being used for the music venue The Shrine and McGill University being used for Blackmore University, according to HelloSidney.com. This all worked well, as Montreal looks just like New York City in the movie, and the Scream VI subway scenes capture the unique feeling of taking public transportation amongst tons of strangers.
Scream VI’s NYC Setting Makes The Plot Scarier
While it was possible to be unsure about the sixth movie's new setting, it ended up working perfectly and creates a terrifying atmosphere that isn't present in the previous five movies. It was a great idea to set ScreamVI in NYC because it makes the plot that much more horrifying. While Woodboro, California's idyllic small town is the quintessential horror movie location, as it suggests that nothing eerie has ever taken place here, there's something fresh, exciting, and different about seeing a Scream movie in such a big urban environment.
The Scream VI deaths are more gruesome because they take place in such a huge city where strangers live their lives alongside each other without a second thought. It makes sense that Ghostface would be able to go on a killing spree here, as no one would take notice at all. It's harder to ignore someone in this costume in a small town, but in an urban environment, it's easy to assume that they're just dressing up or playing a prank.
Where Were Scream, Scream 2, Scream 3, Scream 4 And Scream (2022) Filmed?
While it's possible to say that the best Scream movies are in Woodsboro, there's something to be said for the tough setting of New York City in Scream VI. It's interesting to look at where the previous five movies in the Scream franchise were filmed.
According to Movie-locations.com, Scream was filmed in Santa Rosa, California. It's interesting that the high school scenes were filmed at the Sonoma Community Center because Santa Rosa High School didn't agree in the end for the movie to shoot there.
Scream 2 was filmed in Los Angeles and Atlanta. While the sorority scenes featuring Sarah Michelle Geller as Cici Cooper were filmed in L.A., Agnes Scott College located at 141 East College Avenue, Decatur, in Georgia stood in for Windsor College, where Sidney goes to school. According to IMDb, Scream 3 was filmed in California, which of course makes sense given the Hollywood setting of this polarizing third film in the Scream horror franchise.
While Scream 4 takes place in Woodsboro, California, it wasn't filmed in the same places as the original movie from 1996. According to Michiganbusiness.org, Scream 4 was filmed in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This includes the main characters' houses and Kellogg Park. Sidney has an event to read from her memoir and sign books at the Next Chapter Bookstore & Bistro, which is located at 141 East Main Street in Northville. The Woodsboro Police Station scenes were filmed at the Old 16th District Court, which is located at 33000 Civic Center Drive in Livonia.
The successful fifth movie Scream (2022) took a different approach to filming as well. According to HelloSidney.com, the movie was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina. This location worked well since it's a peaceful, charming small town. When Sidney jogs and talks to Dewey Riley (David Arquette) on the phone, that scene was filmed on The Wilmington Riverwalk.
While there is no confirmation of a Scream 7, fans would definitely love to see more of the slasher franchise, and it will be cool to see where the franchise goes next.