First reviews of “Smile 2”: One of the best horror films of the year

With the release of , another horror franchise is born Smile 2which continues the terrifying premise of the first Smilereleased in 2022. Like the original, which was Certified Fresh, the sequel is also receiving rave reviews. Many critics even describe the film as an improvement, as it becomes more extensive and daring with its story, moments of horror and set pieces. However, every review praises Naomi Scott's performance in the lead role as a pop star terrorized by the film's monster and, at least for her work, recommends the sequel.

Here's what critics say Smile 2:

How does it compare to the first? Smile?

Smile 2 is a triumph. Not just a good horror sequel, but a superior one.
— James Preston Poole, discussing film

Smile 2 is one of the best horror sequels of all time.
—Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net

Smile 2 is definitely a better film than the first in many ways.
— Jack Martin, Film Feeder

I was worried that the sequel wouldn't live up to my expectations. However, it surpassed them.
—Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky

The craft of filmmaking is a significant advance here Smile.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

It's a thoroughly entertaining addition, but frustratingly unwilling to break away from the first film's formula and give audiences more of the same but with an even bigger smile.
— Will Mavity, Next Best Film

Unfortunately, Smile 2 doesn't feel as fresh as its predecessor.
—James Mottram, NME

(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)

How is it different?

Smile 2 is the ideal horror sequel that expands and refines everything that worked in the first film, introduces a new perspective and never takes its foot off the gas.
— James Preston Poole, discussing film

Filmmaker Parker Finn is using the larger budget this time to give the horror more scale. He also ventures into a more complex direction that, while sometimes too much, mostly adds to the experience.
—Joey Magidson, Awards Radar

Smile 2 builds on the insanity of the first film by being an intense, bloody sequel done right.
—Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net

Where Smile 2 The improvement over its predecessor lies in its macabre sense of humor.
— Will Mavity, Next Best Film

The first and third acts of Smile 2In particular, they are very different from the first film.
—Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky

Restraint is thrown overboard in favor of bigger, bolder excesses.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)

Is it still scary?

There's more blood, more lore and more scares. This film is absolutely terrifying… One of the scariest films of the year.
—Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky

What does Smile 2 so scary? Parker Finn and his crew have an iron grip on the atmosphere…Finn also goes above and beyond when it comes to the actual moments of horror.
— James Preston Poole, discussing film

Like the first “Smile,” there are plenty of jump scares… Still, the scares aren’t as fresh as the first time around.
— Will Mavity, Next Best Film

There are two excellent shots Smile 2and the fact that there are no more is perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this supernatural nightmare.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

The elements that made Smile Things that get under your skin are sacrificed to gory spectacle, and the relative simplicity of the conceit is tarnished as the film pushes past the two-hour mark.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)

How does Naomi Scott play the lead role?

Naomi Scott delivers an insightful lead performance that is one of the best genre performances of the year.
— Jack Martin, Film Feeder

Naomi Scott delivers a daring performance that is definitely worth seeing in the cinema.
—Brittany Patrice Witherspoon, Screen Rant

Scott delivers a career-defining performance, touching on so many levels of her character with seemingly effortless ease.
– Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting

Naomi Scott is the perfect choice for the role of Skye Riley. She's incredible in the role and…stuns every single aspect of it.
—Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky

Scott is great at showing how Skye's horror spills over into her feelings of guilt towards the people she hurt as her drug problems spiral out of control.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Her work in this film is astounding… downright mesmerizing.
—Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net

Even though the film is largely not an acting showcase, Naomi Scott is quite effective and delivers by far her best work to date.
— Will Mavity, Next Best Film

(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)

What other reasons are there to watch the film?

The best part Smile 2 is that it keeps the audience off balance, starting with the way Cristobal Tapia de Veer's unsettling electronic score affects us.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Dan Kenyon's dense sound design is another highly effective component, often blurring the lines between ambient noise and composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer's eerie score, which contains clanging, groaning, jerky industrial sounds and leans heavily toward distortion.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Shot by cinematographer Charlie Sarroff, the film looks eerily sharp and even sterile, as if we were trapped in a terribly clean psychiatric hospital. The pictures of Smile 2 Transport the audience into a dream-like state where reality can easily be disrupted by a lurid vision, turning the dreamy fog into a vivid nightmare.
— James Preston Poole, discussing film

How is the script?

Writer-director Parker Finn does an excellent job evolving the story and bringing more to the table this time.
—Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky

Oddly enough, Finn's script this time is more humorous… Don't expect the horror film to contain the best commentary on mental health issues.
—Brittany Patrice Witherspoon, Screen Rant

I wish the story, which basically dives into the same old story over and over again, is as good as the visceral horror elements.
—Casey Chong, Casey's Movie Mania

Finn may just need to move away from the misconception that more is more and focus more on his story skills.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)

Are there any major problems?

Maybe this is just an unfortunate side effect of a horror sequel, but everything is more obvious in it Smile 2.
—Brittany Patrice Witherspoon, Screen Rant

The uncertain back and forth between what is real and what is a very visceral hallucination eventually becomes a weakness as the story progresses, even if some of the latter sequences are virtuoso set pieces.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

The film is frustrating to watch because you're constantly impressed by so many elements of this film, but also haunted by a number of things that don't really belong in something with this cinematic quality.
— Jack Martin, Film Feeder

The film is almost twenty minutes too long and the third act is poor.
—Joey Magidson, Awards Radar

Will horror fans leave happy?

Smile 2 delivers one of the biggest horror surprises of the year…a perfect Halloween treat for anyone in need of a good scare – or twenty.
– Meagan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting

The sequel will have many horror fans grinning from ear to ear.
— David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

This film will leave you gagging and gasping for air and is one of the best horror films of 2024.
—Jonathan Sim, ComingSoon.net

(Photo by ©Paramount Pictures)

Do we want to see more?

After this ending? I need more. Bring it on Smile 3.
—Tessa Smith, Mama's Geeky

Finn can probably move on Smile Sequels as long as he feels like it. Provided he at least messes up the setup like he did here, I'm more than okay with this concept.
—Joey Magidson, Awards Radar

The film gets the job done often enough to be a chart-topper – and, more importantly, suggests that its compelling ingenuity could be fully exploited in a future installment of the series.
— Nick Schager, The Daily Beast

Should there be a third? Smile I hope that Finn stops relying too much on repeating the first film's formula and instead starts expanding the mythology surrounding the demonic creature.
—Casey Chong, Casey's Movie Mania

Is there even a need for one? Smile 3? The Parker Finn sequel ends on such a wild note that perhaps it's best to let the rest play out in our imaginations.
— James Preston Poole, discussing film

On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News.