Had things gone as initially planned, Parker Finn’s Smile may have been lost in the seemingly endless stream of original films that premiere regularly on the wide variety of streaming services. The feature was originally set for release as a Paramount+ horror movie, but strong responses from test screenings made the studio think twice about distribution strategy. After earning a nice heap of buzz following its premiere Fantastic Fest 2022, it played on the big screen nationwide about a week later, and it ended up becoming one of the biggest box office surprises of the year.
About a month after the movie’s wide release, Parker Finn suggested that there were “unexplored” areas in Smile that could be further investigated with a sequel (despite his intention to make the film be self-contained)… and now Smile 2 is in the works and getting ready to serve up more big scares. What is the release date for the upcoming horror movie? Is there a trailer? Who is making it? Who will star in it? What will it be about? We have put together this feature to address all of those questions and more.
Smile 2 Will Be In Theaters In October 2024
In the fall of 2022, Smile took full advantage of the movie-going audience’s hunger for new horror movies, and it ended up being a hit . As one would expect, Paramount isn’t making the decision to screw up this part of the success formula for the sequel, and in fact, the movie has a release date that is even closer to Halloween than its predecessor.
It was announced in the fall of 2023 that Smile 2 is set to arrive in theaters everywhere on October 18, 2024. The movie will be coming out the same weekend as Flight Risk starring Mark Wahlberg and Topher Grace, and as far as genre competition is concerned, Terrifier 3 is hitting theaters one week prior. It’s additionally worth noting that it is coming out in the window between Joker: Folie á Deux (October 4) and Venom: The Last Dance (October 25).
Watch The Smile 2 Trailer Now
The first look at Smile 2 premiered at CinemaCon 2024, revealing key new details about the new horror sequel, but that footage became public in June 2024 as the first trailer for Smile 2. We are introduced to Naomi Scott’s Skye Riley – a Lady Gaga-esque pop star sensation who finds her whole world turned into a nightmare when she is plagued by the malevolent force that follows victims around mimicking strangers and loved ones alike while wearing a terrifying grin. It’s notably one of two 2024 horror movies that center around musicians, as M. Night Shyamalan’s film Trap (releasing in theaters on August 2) is primarily set at an arena concert.
Naomi Scott, Lukas Gage, Kyle Gallner And More Have Been Cast In Smile 2
The ending of Smile is a tragic one for Sosie Bacon’s Rose Cotter, who succumbs to being possessed and ends up self-immolating, so it’s not terribly surprising that Smile 2 will not feature Bacon in the lead role (perhaps some kind of weird cameo is on the table?). Instead, the sequel seems to have a fresh story to tell with a new crop of characters, and this time around, as noted earlier, it will be Naomi Scott playing the protagonist in the follow-up feature.
Naomi Scott
The news about Scott landing the lead in Smile 2 came from Deadline in December 2023, and it was reported that it was a competitive casting process. The actress doesn’t have much history in the horror genre, but she certainly isn’t a stranger to high profile roles. She is probably best known for playing Princess Jasmine in the 2019 live-action remake of Disney’s Aladdin, but she also played Kimberly/The Pink Ranger in 2017’s Power Rangers and was a member of the titular group alongside Kristen Stewart and Ella Balinska in 2019’s Charlie’s Angels.
Lukas Gage
We don’t know too much about the role set to be played by Lukas Gage, who was announced to be a part of the cast in January 2024 – but the trailer suggests that his part will not be massive. Gage is best known for his work on the small screen, having worked on shows including Euphoria, The White Lotus, You, and Fargo, but he does have some features on his resume, including the acclaimed 2023 thriller How To Blow Up A Pipeline.
Rosemarie DeWitt
It has also been revealed that the Smile 2 cast will include Rosemarie DeWitt – the news of the casting coming from The Wrap just a day after Gage signed on. DeWitt has had an eclectic career, starring in films from a wide assortment of genres, but she does have a history in horror, having been in the Poltergeist remake and an episode of the Netflix series Black Mirror (namely Season 4’s “Arkangel”).
Kyle Gallner
As far as actors from the original Smile cast go, the only star we know is going to return for the sequel is Kyle Gallner… though he may only appear at the start of the movie. Fans will remember that Joel (the friendly police detective Gallner plays) is stricken with the curse when he witnesses the death of Rose at the end of the first movie.”
Parker Finn Will Be Back As Both Writer And Director
There’s a substantial history of horror directors who have made hit original films and then got replaced at the helm of the sequels, but Smile 2 will not be one of those cases. Parker Finn has signed a deal to return for the sequel.
The first Smile was based on a 2020 short film that Finn wrote and directed called Laura Hasn’t Slept, and Paramount Pictures made a deal with him to adapt it as a feature. He ended up making his directorial debut with a budget of just $17 million, and the movie ended up grossing over $200 million worldwide.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Parker Finn has launched a production company called Bad Feeling, and he will be making Smile 2 as his second feature. If all goes according to plan, however, he may not have his sights set on making a Smile 3 as his third feature. In June 2024, it was announced that he is collaborating with actor/producer Robert Pattinson to develop a remake of Possession, the cult horror film starring Sam Neil and Isabelle Adjani.
Smile Is Available To Stream With Both Paramount+ And Amazon Prime Subscriptions
If you’re like me and watch hundreds of new movies and TV shows every year, you understand the value of rewatching a film when the sequel is coming around the corner. You can not only remember certain things that you have forgotten since your first viewing, but also pick up on small details that you may have missed. With Smile 2 on the way, there’s going to be a lot of value in looking back at the first movie – and watching Smile is very easy. Not only is the movie included if you have a Paramount+ subscription, but you can also stream it if you have an Amazon Prime subscription.
If streaming isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of options available to watch Smile online, as you can rent or purchase the hit horror movie digitally via Amazon, Fandango At Home, and Google Play. Physical media fans can purchase the film on 4K UHD or Blu-ray.
We’ll keep updating this feature as more information about Smile 2 becomes available, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for the latest news about this exciting project.
