takes the ideas from the first film and uses them to explore completely different characters inhabiting a completely different world

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 1, 2025

“While there’s a great movie hiding inside a solid one, ‘Smile 2’ remains one of the most demonically entertaining horror films of the year through Finn’s twisted and refreshing style.”

| Jan 21, 2025

This follow-up’s two biggest strengths are its lead actress and the stunning shooting style.

| Jan 3, 2025

Smile 2 has some strong performances and cool camera work. However, it also muddles its own lore and takes the predictable route to the obvious conclusions.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 30, 2024

Both 'Smile' and 'Smile 2' are genuinely creepy. ... This sequel is driven by the U.K.-born [Naomi] Scott.... 'Smile 2' showcases her as an impressive performer — she can sing, dance and act — and gives her much more to do than run and scream.

| Dec 29, 2024

For the most part, Smile 2 is just a carbon copy of its predecessor, repeating the same beats and scares but with an increased budget.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 19, 2024

The sequel has many of the same issues as its predecessor, but Parker Finn (with help from Naomi Scott) so over-delivers on cinematic razzle dazzle that it barely matters.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 11, 2024

A relentless, brittle, and brutally-funny splice of psychological and supernatural horror, and with Scott center stage, it’s anything but predictable.

| Dec 11, 2024

Smile 2 is likely to put the thing from the title of the movie on your face.

| Dec 4, 2024

One of the rare sequels that's better than the original in every way.

| Original Score: 3.5 / 4 | Nov 29, 2024

Smile 2 is a different kind of horror movie than the first one. It is bigger, brighter, bolder than the original Smile. This isn’t a bad thing.

| Nov 27, 2024

Entirely too long for what it is but when it hits, it hits! Even with an ending you can see a mile away, it just delivers a more consistent experience to its predecessor

| Nov 24, 2024

But the same criticism of the first movie can be leveled here, and that's in how the numerous fake-outs and hallucinatory transitions cheapen some of Scott's more emotional scenes and render a good chunk of the third act incomprehensible.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 20, 2024

It's more of the same, but better!

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 18, 2024

The film’s ending, a knockout, likens the modern media fame game to nothing less than ritual sacrifice.

| Nov 15, 2024

Fun in the moment, but ultimately nothing too memorable.

| Original Score: C+ | Nov 12, 2024

A better film could have been made from this situation, had it not been part of the “Smile” franchise.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 12, 2024

Parker Finn, who returns to write and direct, focuses entirely on destroying nerves with images destined to invade the brain and generate anxiety long after the film has concluded. [Full review in Spanish]

| Nov 12, 2024

Parker Finn's direction is more assured and confident, but narratively, this is more of the same. It's not bad, but the third film needs to capitalize on the big swing hinted at in the finale of Smile 2.

| Nov 12, 2024

Smile 2 is an intelligent genre picture and a worthy showcase for an actor to portray a range of difficult, ugly emotions. It’s a maximalist exercise in introspection.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 11, 2024