A couple of years ago, Paramount struck gold after making the wise decision to cancelSmile’s direct-to-streaming release, and choosing, instead, to put their backs into promoting it as a theatrical offering. The viral marketing campaign deployed by the studio worked wonders, andSmileemerged as a bona fide hit. Not only did it exceed expectations in its opening weekend, it registered remarkably soft drops in the subsequent days, eventually legging it past the $100 million mark domestically. The film’s sequel,Smile 2, had an equally solid debut recently, but appears to be fizzling out already. Nevertheless,both movies have now pushed the unlikely franchise past a massive global box office milestone.
Smileconcluded its global run with $217 million in 2022, whileSmile 2has so farmade $83 million worldwide. Thispushes the franchise’s combined global earnings past the $300 million mark.Smile 2won’t likely match its predecessor, but at this stage, it would be happy to hit the $50 million mark domestically and the $100 million milestone worldwide. It currently stands at $40 million stateside, after having fallen by a hefty 59% in its sophomore frame. By comparison, the firstSmilefell by only 18%, which is incredible not only for the horror genre, but for any wide release.
Both films have been directed byParker Finn, although they feature different casts. Somewhat surprisingly, however, bothSmileandSmile 2have beenacclaimed by critics and audiences alike. This is incredibly rare in the horror space.Smile 2has an 84% approval rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, aligned to its 81% audience score. By comparison, the firstSmilehas an 80% RT score and a 77% audience rating.In his review, Collider’sJeff Ewingdescribed it as “one of the year’s best horror films,” and wrote that it is “an exceptional sequel that improves almost every aspect of the original.”
In a Deviation from the Norm, the ‘Smile’ Films Have Been Critically and Commercially Acclaimed
FeaturingNaomi Scottas a recovering addict pop-star, the movie revisits the first film’s central theme of personal trauma. It also featuresRosemarie DeWitt,Lukas Gage,Miles Gutierrez-Riley,Peter Jacobson,Raúl Castillo,Dylan Gelula, andRay Nicholson, as well as a returningKyle Gallner. You can watchSmile 2in theaters, and stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
