The horror genre is undergoing something of a renaissance this year, with many of the biggest non-horror films bombing at the box office. Meanwhile, horror films have done the opposite: they have thrived. Naturally, studios are doubling down on the genre and the list of upcoming horror movies grows longer.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Pictures plans to release the sequel to Smile, its hit horror film from last year, during next year’s Halloween season. The sequel, which is still untitled, will arrive smack dab in the middle of the season on October 18, 2024.
Seeing the huge success Smile had when it hit the screens last year, we can’t say we were surprised when the studio greenlit a sequel. For a film that was originally meant for a direct-to-streaming release, Smile was an astounding box-office success. The popular horror film grossed $217 million globally against a budget of just $17 million, making it one of the most profitable films of that year.
More than that, Smile was well received by critics for its actors’ performances as well as its themes and cinematography. Given the first film set the bar pretty high, the untitled sequel has its work cut out. We would advise Paramount not to attempt replicating the first film’s success and simply focus on providing an enjoyable experience.
If they get that right, maybe the film will also enjoy significant success. But even that is hardly a guarantee. If you didn’t see it, Smile told the story of a therapist, Rose, who saw her patient’s horrific suicide.
Apparently, that event was the start of a series of traumatic future incidents for her. Following that tragedy, she experienced a number of terrifying supernatural occurrences that made many believe she was insane. She later finds out she is marked for death and, over the course of the film, does her best to escape her fate.
Even though there is a release date for the film, we know little else. The ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes mean there is no cast just yet, although we can’t make a call on whether there is a script or not. If we were to speculate as to the plot, our guess would be that the demonic entity that plagued Rose will pick up where it left off with Joel.
The recent report that the WGA strike is on the brink of a resolution is good news, though, and we expect that to mean that plans will kick off in earnest. Also, we expect Parker Finn, Smile’s writer and director, to deliver on his promise of giving us something fresh, exciting, and thrilling.
Last year, during an interview with ComicBook.com, he said, “If there’s more to be done with Smile, I would never want to repeat myself or retread the same ground. I’d want to make sure that there’s a new, exciting, fresh way into it that the audience isn’t anticipating. I also want to find some new ways to scare and unnerve them.”
Smile 2 will make its theatrical debut next year on October 18.
