Parker Finns Smile 2 caused more of a stir than the original when it opened Smile in 2022 not only in terms of box office, but also among critics, as the sequel has 85% positive reviews compared to 79% positive reviews for the original. Aside from garnering more attention than the debut film, the sequel ended with a more explicit hint that the franchise's demonic curse would be taken to new levels, with Finn recently confirming that he was only interested in a sequel to the saga , if he could find a way to tell character stories instead of giving cheap scares. He also teased that he personally sees a lot of storytelling possibilities for the franchise, although a third film has not yet been officially confirmed. Smile 2 is now in the cinema.

“Well, I will say this: I think there are a lot of interesting roads in the future Smile could go under. As for me, I love all the things that happen at night and all the really scary things of the big concept of Smile and the Smiler,” Finn explained Collider. “But really, for me Smile is a vehicle for telling really intense and hopefully thoughtful character stories, and so I want to make sure that regardless of whether more than one person has it, we still find a way to really invest intimacy in the storytelling. This is super important to me. But I think there are still some really interesting tricks up our sleeves Smile.”

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In the original film, Dr. Rose Cutter (Sosie Bacon) witnesses a client kill himself in front of her, only for the audience to realize that the young woman was possessed by a supernatural curse. In Smile 2The curse had found its way to pop singer Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), whose past trauma and guilt manifested the curse in larger and more terrible ways.

WARNING: Spoilers below for Smile 2

Part of what sets the sequel apart from the original film is the fact that in the debut film, the curse passed from one person to another in the finale Smile 2Skye violently kills herself in front of the entire crowd at her concert. It can be assumed that thousands of people in the audience will now be caught by the curse and spread it even further for another entry.

Finn is currently busy developing a new version of the 1981 horror classic possessionand while this project doesn't have a release date, it's likely he'll move forward with this one before a new project Smile. However, the success of both films could mean that another filmmaker could step in instead of Finn directing a follow-up film Smile 3or that another story could be told in this world that is not a direct sequel to Smile 2.

Stay tuned for updates on the future of the Smile Franchise. Smile 2 is now in the cinema.

Do you hope we get one? Smile 3? Contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter or on Instagram to talk all things Star Wars and horror!