Summary
-
Smile
It was a surprising horror success that exploited unique marketing and effectively explored themes of trauma and grief. -
Smile 2
It wasn't necessarily a sure thing, but the director of the film came up with a new idea that hopefully won't be repeated. - The highly anticipated sequel will feature an entirely new protagonist who could potentially intertwine with a familiar face from the original.
Two years ago, director Parker Finn's groundbreaking horror film Smile took the world by surprise, grossing over $200 million on a meager $17 million budget for a project that was initially intended for a direct-to-streaming release on Paramount+. That was before a series of positive test screenings charted a new course for the film and (now) the fate of the franchise.
Driven by a highly innovative marketing campaign, Smile was all the more successful because it authentically explored trauma and grief. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the film’s ending also left the door open for a sequel to continue the Smile Entity’s reign of terror. The question is, where is this franchise headed?

Related
10 Terrifying Movies That Defy Horror Tropes
Not all horror films have unoriginal jump scares or murdered teenagers. Some films, like Longlegs and Mandy, stand out for defying convention.
What was Smile about?
It has taken a horrible turn for mental health

Related
Smile is a masterpiece of restraint in horror
The use of restraint in the first two acts of Smile helps to amplify the horror film's third act and make it even more terrifying.
Written and directed by first-time filmmaker Parker Finn, Smile It is based on one of Finn's original shorts, from 2020 Laura didn't sleep. The premise follows Dr. Rose Cotter (played by Sosi Bacon), a therapist whose life is turned upside down after she witnesses the brutal suicide of one of her patients who claimed she had just seen someone else take their own life in front of her. Soon, Rose finds herself caught in the same deadly cycle as the woman she failed to help and haunted by mysterious entities smiling at every turn.
Worse yet, this curse has a ticking clock. With the help of her ex-boyfriend (and police detective) Joel, Rose discovers she has only one week to break the curse before she herself dies. After discovering that she can escape the curse by killing someone else in front of a witness and thus passing the curse on to them, Rose refuses to perpetuate the horror any further. Instead, she hides out in her family's abandoned home, hoping to die alone. There, Rose faces the truth about her past before succumbing to the curse right in front of Joel, who arrives too late to stop her, continuing the cycle.
Simple in concept but executed to near perfection, Smile has masterfully navigated the complex and murky waters of mental health issues, while simultaneously terrifying its audiencesThe breathtaking finale has also generated excitement for what comes next.
How long has Smile 2 been in the works?
It wasn't always a sure thing

Related
Smile: Director Parker Finn Reveals BTS Secrets of Hit Horror Film
Parker Finn, writer and director of Smile, reveals the deeper themes and secrets behind the making of the most successful horror film of the year.
After generating positive momentum following its premiere at Fantastic Fest in September 2022, Smile emerged as one of the surprise box office hits of the year, earning a whopping $217.4 million worldwide. After all that success, a sequel was pretty much on the cards. Well, not so fast. Parker Finn told ComicBook.com that he initially had no plans for a follow-up film for Smile, said,
“For me, as a filmmaker, I never want to do something I've already done and do it exactly the same way. In a universe where there might be… another story to tell from Smile, I want to make sure it's surprising and different and not what people expected after the first one.”
A noble sentiment, of course, but let's face it, a sequel to a successful horror film like Smile It was inevitable; it was just a matter of time and, based on Finn's comments, finding the right story. In March 2023, Parker Finn signed a first-look deal with Paramount Pictures to develop a horror film series and a sequel to Smile It was announced with the title Deluxe Smile. The studio even announced that pre-production on the film would begin the following month. Smile 2 it was finally arriving.
What will Smile 2 be about?
The curse continues…

Related
Smile Sequel Title Confirmed
The official title of the horror sequel to Smile has been confirmed.
Parker Finn and everyone else at Paramount have remained mum on the details regarding Smile 2 for a long time. The only clue audiences had about what might happen next was how the first film ended with Joel’s fate up in the air. During a conversation with Den of Geek, Finn admitted that he purposely left elements of the first film ambiguous in order to provide fertile ground for a potential sequel, should he ever choose to make one. During that same conversation, however, he reiterated that the last thing he wanted to do was repeat himself as a director.
The audience was left to guess and fill in the blanks themselves. See how Smile ended with Rose succumbing to the curse and horribly setting herself on fire just as Joel arrived, audiences naturally expected a potential sequel that followed Joel's attempt to survive the Smile Entity. On the other hand, with how often Finn mentioned his hesitation to tread the same ground, there was always the possibility that the franchise would go in a wild and unexpected direction. As it turns out, that's exactly what happened.
Based on the events of the Smile 2 anticipation trailer, the film will explore a new storyline, seemingly separate from the first. The film focuses on a new protagonist named Skye Riley, a pop star at the top of her game whose plans for a world tour are derailed when she finds herself infected with the Smile curse following the shocking death of a friend.. While Riley will likely provide the bulk of the film’s narration, the trailer also made it clear that Joel will return, though based on what happens, perhaps not for long. It’s fair to assume that Skye and Joel will eventually cross paths during the film. It’s just a matter of whether it’ll be too late.
Who is the protagonist of Smile 2?
New faces and a major takeover

Related
Blumhouse Boss Says Smile Is So Scary, He's Jealous of Horror Film
Blumhouse boss Jason Blum, who is very familiar with blockbuster horror films, jokingly expresses his jealousy over the hit film Smile.
The only character we know for sure will be returning from the original Smile is Joel, played by Kyle Gallner. Gallner's return was announced a few months after the existence of Smile 2 has been revealed, and while the full extent of his character's role has not been revealed, it's safe to assume that elements of the first film will be carried forward in some way through his presence.
As a first wave of marketing for Smile 2 has made it abundantly clear that actress Naomi Scott will be the film's main focus and the point of view through which most, if not all, of the film will be experienced. Scott is best known for her role as Jasmine in Disney's live-action adaptation of Aladdin.He also appeared in major films such as Power Rangers, Charlie's Angels, AND The 33rd.
In addition to Naomi Scott, other actors who have been announced for the film include Lukas Gage (The White Lotus), like the friend who starts Skye's curse, Rosemarie DeWitt (The ladder), Raul Castillo (Cassander), and Miles Gutierrez-Riley (The wild nature).
Of course, every horror movie also needs a terrifying monster to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. While the nature of the best in Smile 2 will have multiple faces provide the smiling faces this monstrous Entity uses against its victims, we will most likely also see the Entity in its proper form, as we did in the first film in which Marti Matulis played it. (Her return has not been confirmed, however.) The door is also ajar for the first film's reprisals of Gillian Zinser, Jesse T. Usher, Kal Penn, and Robin Weigert, but their return remains purely hypothetical.
When will Smile 2 be released in theaters?
This news will make you smile

Related
How Smile's Craziest Plot Twist Could Turn the Movie Into a Franchise
The monstrous Smile Entity is a terrifying force and could pose a recurring threat if the film becomes a franchise.
After two years of gestation after the release of the first film, Smile 2 will be released in theaters on October 18, 2024. Coming out just a few weeks before Halloween, it's pretty much the perfect release window for a horror film and is set to compete with other scare festivals like Terrifying 3 to take up space in the public's nightmares.
Perhaps even more worthily, Smile 2 It also comes out between the exit of Joker: Madness for Two AND Venom 3: The Last Dance. Hopefully it can carve out some success at the box office during what is sure to be a busy time at most theaters, but it's a very uneven playing field that could make it difficult to replicate the success of the first film. We'll find out when Smile 2 will be coming to theaters soon.