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WARNING: Spoilers for Smile and Smile 2 ahead.

In recent times, the “Smile” series has rapidly emerged as one of the most successful modern horror franchises, sending shivers down spines and capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. The sequel, released in 2024, paved the way for a potential third installment. By increasing the number of victims from a single individual to numerous witnesses, the final act of violence puts more lives at risk than we’ve seen before, raising questions about the escalating death toll. This development might suggest an upward trend in fatalities, potential chaos on the streets, or a misstep by the creators. Given past horror films that have experienced such plot shifts and swiftly declined from greatness to disappointment, we hope “Smile” will prove to be an exception.

At the finale of “Smile 2”, the lead character, famous singer Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), performs her major concert at Herald Square Garden. However, as the show progresses, she’s struck with terror when she understands that the happenings of the day were a deception orchestrated by the Smile entity (the “Smiler”) from the films, which has haunted its victims in both movies. In full view of the vast audience, she encounters the beast and gets overtaken. A moment later, she spins around, flashing a chilling grin at the crowd, and viciously stabs herself in the eye with her microphone.

In the original film, Rose Cotter’s death wasn’t as violent, but in this sequel, Skye’s concert audience witnesses a much more gruesome end for her.

Unlike Rose Cotter’s death in the first movie that was less intense, Skye’s demise during her concert is incredibly brutal and witnessed by everyone present.

In Good Company

As a movie enthusiast, I find that “Smile” fits snugly among its contemporaries from the past decade. Just like “It Follows,” it sets a chilling atmosphere with its narrative about an enigmatic entity relentlessly pursuing its cursed victim until they meet their end. Similar films such as “Truth or Dare” (2018) and “The Ring” (2002) also belong to this category, adapting original Japanese works. In these movies, a supernatural force appears invincible, moving steadily towards its victims within a predetermined timeframe. The Smile Entity shares some striking similarities with Samara Morgan from “The Ring,” as it drains its victims’ energy and moves on to the next victim, much like how Samara kills her victims seven days after they view her cursed video cassette. To escape this fate, one must copy and show the videotape to someone else, just as in “The Ring.

In the 2017 release of “The Ring” trilogy, fans who enjoyed the film “Smile” should definitely pay attention. Just like “Smile 2”, “Rings” builds on the rules established in the original movie, but this time affecting a broader range of victims. In “Rings”, the cursed video from the initial story becomes viral and spreads through emails. Interestingly, something similar happened in “Truth or Dare” from 2018, where Lucy Hale’s character Olivia uploaded a video that extended her game to everyone online, effectively giving her more time to survive.

Smile 3 Needs to Pay Attention to Failed Franchises

In the aftermath of the numerous victims portrayed in “Smile 2”, any future installment must tread carefully, ensuring it honors its predecessors. Films like “Rings” and “Truth or Dare” faced harsh criticism and financial struggles, setting up ambiguous endings that hinted at potential sequels. However, the reception for these films was not favorable; “Rings”, in particular, received a scathing 8% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it a stumble for Blumhouse Productions following successful movies like “Get Out” and “Happy Death Day”. Critics were particularly harsh towards “Rings”, labeling it a misstep that recycled old plot points and weakened the mythology established in the original films. Some even went as far as to call it a botched attempt.

In simpler terms, both movies seemed uninteresting and may have ended any chances for a follow-up, except perhaps considering Fantasy Island as a kind-of sequel to Truth or Dare. However, this idea is unlikely to appeal to many, so the creators of Smile have a tough task ahead. They need to make their story compelling enough to expand the series by including more victims and developing the franchise, rather than simply repeating the first two films.

This applies not only to the marketing of the movie, but it’s also a misstep for “Rings” as the trailer revealed the main twist in the film. It serves as a lesson on what to avoid when creating a new horror series: increasing tension and setting high expectations for the sequel requires great caution, as fans are eager and quick to criticize if they are disappointed.

What Can Fans Expect From Smile 3?

According to Director Parker Finn of both “Smile” and “Smile 2,” it appears he’s already embarking on the third installment, hinting at the potential depth he’s prepared to explore within the series.

In an interview with SFX Magazine, Finn explained that while some information from the original film remained private to him, he used the chance to reveal more in the sequel. Essentially, Smile 2 is intended to provide fresh insights, as if we’ve only taken a sip from a vast ocean of secrets left unexplored in the first movie.

Finn also echoed this during a chat with Collider on a potential third movie.

In simpler terms, Finn expressed that he sees numerous intriguing paths for future iterations of “Smile”. As a fan of eerie and frightening elements, he cherishes the concept of Smile. However, for him, Smile serves as a platform to narrate intense, thought-provoking character stories. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining intimacy in storytelling, even if multiple people might be involved. In essence, Finn believes there are still many creative surprises left within the realm of Smile.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that the upcoming “Smile 3” has some ground to cover before it can garner the same acclaim as its predecessors. While I’m confident that fans will be eager to watch it upon release, its long-term success hinges on steering clear of past mistakes.

The original movie “Smile 2” and its prequel can be streamed on Paramount+, with the initial film maintaining an impressive 79% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have even suggested that the sequel surpasses its predecessor, commending star Naomi Scott’s performance. However, some critics argue that the sins of the earlier films, which drew comparisons, are still present in this installment. Additionally, there are mixed feelings among critics regarding whether the sequel effectively concludes the franchise.

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2025-05-29 22:45