The opening sequence of “Smile 2” is now available to watch at no cost, provided you’re ready to flash a smile while viewing. This follow-up to Parker Finn’s 2022 horror film “Smile” hit theaters on October 18, and Paramount has devised a playful way for fans to experience the first seven minutes without spending a dime.
Launched on Halloween, the official “Smile 2” website invites fans into the franchise’s universe. By activating their cameras and smiling, viewers can enjoy the opening scenes. The technology used is responsive, meaning if a viewer stops smiling at any point during the seven-minute clip, the video will automatically pause.
The film’s logline teases a gripping narrative: “As global pop sensation Skye Riley prepares for a world tour, she encounters increasingly horrifying and mysterious occurrences. The mounting terror and the pressures of stardom compel Skye to confront her troubled past.”
The impressive cast features Naomi Scott, Kyle Gallner, Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Dylan Gelula, Raúl Castillo, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Ray Nicholson, Peter Jacobson, Zebedee Row, Roberts Jekabsons, Sean Stolzen, Margot Weintraub, Drew Barrymore, and more.
Finn not only wrote and directed “Smile 2,” but also took on producing duties alongside Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Isaac Klausner, and Robert Salerno, with Jonathan Fass serving as co-producer.
As of October 20, the film topped the global box office with a $23 million opening weekend, surpassing the original film’s debut of $22.6 million. Initially intended for streaming, “Smile” was later released theatrically, where it earned $105 million in the U.S. and $217 million worldwide.
In a review for Variety, film critic Owen Gleiberman praised “Smile 2” as a horror film that aims to establish a true emotional core.