Smile 2 is a 2024 horror film written and directed by Parker Finn. About to embark on a world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott) begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her past.
Smile 2 is the latest entry in what we could call the "Smile Universe." Directed by Parker Finn, it's not a direct sequel to Smile, the 2022 horror film that caught attention with its eerily grinning characters, but rather an expansion of the franchise's world. Here, Finn trades his focus from therapists and hospitals to the glitzy yet dark realm of fame, following global pop sensation Skye Riley as she descends into a horrifying spiral. While the original Smile gained buzz with a clever marketing campaign — think "smiling" figures at baseball games and other public events — Smile 2 digs deeper into the psychological and emotional undertones lacking in its predecessor. For those who found Smile fun but ultimately disappointing, this second outing feels like a genuine upgrade, blending chills, a compelling protagonist, and improved emotional depth.
In Smile, Finn established a creepy, viral-worthy premise that brought in solid box office numbers but only middling critical reviews, scoring a 68 on Metacritic. Personally, I found it lacking. The original film has an engaging style but a surface-level approach to psychological horror that left me wanting more. Yet Smile 2 feels like a corrective. This time, Finn takes the concept of a 'haunted' celebrity and injects it with more psychological complexity, enhanced by the strong performance of Naomi Scott as Skye Riley.
Scott's portrayal of Skye anchors the film, making her a captivating but vulnerable lead. Skye is a character haunted by fame and even more so by a traumatic event in her past: a car crash that killed her boyfriend while she survived. This backstory gives Smile 2 a richer emotional texture, allowing audiences to invest in Skye as a person rather than merely as a horror target. Scott brings a rawness to the role, depicting a star whose glamorous exterior belies a deeply fractured psyche. As Skye begins experiencing increasingly terrifying, inexplicable events, Scott deftly balances Skye's internal struggle with her public persona, creating a duality that keeps the viewer gripped.
The horror in Smile 2 works on multiple levels, mixing jump scares with an ever-present sense of dread that Finn pulls off more successfully than in his previous effort. The film effectively uses Skye's celebrity status as a platform for exploring the isolating effects of fame and mental illness. Her experiences become increasingly horrific, blurring the line between psychological affliction and paranormal threat. Finn's direction plays well with these blurred lines, layering tension with just the right mix of subtlety and outright fright to make audiences question the nature of Skye's experiences. As Patrice Witherspoon wrote for Screen Rant, "Don't expect the horror film to have the best commentary on mental health issues but be ready for some jump-scare fun." It's a fitting description: Smile 2 doesn't dive deep into social commentary, but it does use Skye's plight to reflect on themes of mental fragility in an engaging way.
Smile 2 offers a more engaging narrative, enriched by its focus on Skye's personal demons. The horror feels more grounded in character, and while the supernatural threat is ever-present, it never overshadows Skye's human vulnerability. The story takes its time to establish Skye's world and psyche, allowing us to connect with her before the horror truly escalates. Finn demonstrates a refined touch with the scares here, setting up moments that feel genuinely eerie without relying on loud noises or sudden appearances.
Still, Smile 2 may be a tad long for some viewers' tastes at two hours and seven minutes. There are a few stretches where the pacing dips and a tighter edit might have increased the film's impact. However, the length is a minor detriment; Smile 2 remains engaging throughout despite the runtime, weaving in enough suspense and backstory to hold attention.
Smile 2 succeeds where Smile stumbled, providing a more balanced horror experience that pairs scares with an engaging story. It may not redefine the genre, but it's an entertaining, well-crafted horror film that builds on the promise of the original.
Watch Smile 2 — now showing in theaters