In the fall of ’22, Smile opened in the U.S.—and as writer-director Parker Finn’s unheralded horror flick proceeded to gross $200 million above its $17 million budget, there was probably no shortage of grins breaking out at Paramount’s front offices. A sequel was greenlit the following spring and Smile 2 will be arriving at your neighborhood cineplex this weekend.
The follow-up, with Finn again at the helm, is headed by Naomi Scott as world tour-bound pop diva Skye Riley. Summoned to meet a high school classmate (Lukas Gage), Skye is stunned when the young man flies into a fit…calmly, horribly smiles…and then kills himself. Now seeing the terrifying rictus everywhere she goes, Skye is now the one faced with a battle for her sanity, if not her very life.
With Smile now seemingly having spawned a series, we’d like to ask you which of the film fear franchises that have emerged in the ‘20s is your favorite? We’ve chosen several that have had sequels arrive this decade—any notable omissions? If so, let us know in the comments below!