Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Ultra-gory, jolt-heavy sequel will have fans grinning.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Smile 2
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 20 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a deeply disturbing and gory horror sequel that features excessive violence, strong prevalent language, and a few moments of nudity, making it unsuitable for younger audiences. While some viewers appreciated the stylish direction and standout performances, particularly from the lead actress, many expressed disappointment with the high levels of gore and swearing that detracted from the overall experience, suggesting it’s best suited for older teens or adults.
- gory and disturbing
- excessive swearing
- unsuitable for kids
- strong performances
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 36 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a highly intense horror movie filled with excessive gore, strong language, and disturbing imagery, making it clear that it is not appropriate for younger viewers. While many enjoyed the thrilling and scary elements, some found the graphic content overwhelming and questioned its suitability for teens, emphasizing that it’s more appropriate for mature audiences.
- intense horror
- excessive gore
- strong language
- not for children
- graphic content
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In SMILE 2, which picks up six days after the end of Smile, police officer Joel (Kyle Gallner) attempts a desperate plan to prevent the Smile Entity from being passed on. Meanwhile, famous pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) is about to embark on a huge tour, a comeback after battling the substance abuse that resulted in a tragic car crash, killing Skye's partner and gravely injuring her. Plagued with pain from a back wound and in dire need of help, she turns to her former drug dealer, Lewis (Lukas Gage), for some Vicodin. Skye finds him acting very strangely, and he eventually starts smiling maniacally and bashing his face in with a barbell weight. After that, Skye begins seeing smiling people and experiencing terrifying incidents that seem to be happening mostly in her head. Before long it becomes difficult to tell what's real and what isn't. After one particularly horrifying turn involving her manager/mother (Rosemarie DeWitt), Skye goes to the very edge to try to stop the demon and save her sanity.
Is It Any Good?
A little bit better than its predecessor, this gory horror sequel features surprisingly confident cinematography and sound design, with a vigorous, exhaustive lead performance by Scott. Smile 2 still relies too heavily on jump scares, but writer-director Parker Finn has also learned how to create tension around them so that they're not just cheap effects. While Smile ran a long 115 minutes and felt flabby, Smile 2 is even longer but feels just about right, using the extra time for building rather than padding. The movie imagines what it might be like to face off with this monster in the public eye, in front of hundreds of employees and millions of fans.
But the surprising thing is that even a star like Skye is alone much of the time, and—as she accidentally confesses in an onstage speech—isn't happy with herself. She has only one true friend, and even that friend, Gemma (Dylan Gelula), is the source of some trouble. It's a fascinating way to look at a famous character, making her unexpectedly relatable. Scott goes full-force in her performance, expressing terror in every bone in her body, every fiber of her being. And the camera is along for the ride, fluid and sleek, dodging and swooping along with her nightmares. Ultimately, however, there's not a lot here, as the monster is just that—a monster—and not a mysterious force as in the similar movies The Ring, Final Destination, and It Follows. It's a little too literal, with nothing really discovered or learned. But for horror hounds looking for something spooky to watch during spooky season, Smile 2 definitely delivers the jolts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Smile 2's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes enjoy being scared?
Skye says at one point that her success couldn't solve her own brokenness. Do you think that people crave fame and success to soothe some kind of inner pain? Does it work? Why, or why not?
How can a smile be so scary, when it's typically intended to convey joy and happiness?
How does the movie address alcohol and drug use? Is substance use glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 18, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : November 19, 2024
- Cast : Naomi Scott , Rosemarie DeWitt , Kyle Gallner , Lukas Gage
- Director : Parker Finn
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount Pictures
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 127 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violent content, grisly images, language throughout and drug use
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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