Warning: This article contains spoilers for Smile 2.Smile 2 has proven that Naomi Scott can and should return as Skye Riley in Smile 3. Fictional pop star Skye was introduced in the 2024 horror sequel, which also stars Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Ray Nicholson, Dylan Gelula, Raúl Castillo, and Kyle Gallner. Gallner is the only actor from 2022’s Smile to return in a major capacity in the new movie, reprising the role of original survivor Joel in a prologue the explores the tense moments leading up to the character’s death.
While a third installment in the franchise has not yet been greenlit at the time of writing, the box office performance of the 2024 movie means that there is a strong chance of a continuation. While it is not showing signs of becoming a smash success at the level of the original movie, it has already grossed $90.1 million against its $28 million budget, passing the $70 million milestone which was most likely its break-even point. Smile 2 reviews have also been strong, earning the movie a Certified Fresh score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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7 Ways Smile 2 Sets Up Smile 3
Smile 2 brings audiences back to the terrifying world of the Entity through pop star Skye Riley, yet it also plants the seeds for another sequel.
Skye Riley Should Be One Of The Curse’s Forms Haunting The Next Victim In Smile 3
The Smile Entity Has A Consistent Trait
If the third installment gets greenlit, precedent showcases how Smile 2 star Naomi Scott can reprise her role as Skye Riley. Because the movie ended with her death passing the sinister smiling entity’s curse, she is now set to be an apparition who haunts the visions of the lead character of the next movie. Although the entity takes many smiling forms throughout both movies, one thing it has consistently done is appear in the form of its previous victim.
[Lewis] was seen repeatedly in Skye’s visions throughout the duration of the movie.
This aspect of the entity’s methodology is perhaps motivated by it wanting to emphasize the trauma of witnessing a death as thoroughly as possible. This began in the original movie when lead character Rose (Sosie Bacon) was haunted by her dead patient Laura (Caitlin Stasey) and continued when Joel saw Rose in a vision during a blink-and-miss-it Smile 2 cameo. Joel then passed the curse on to Lewis (Lukas Gage), who was seen repeatedly in Skye’s visions throughout the duration of the movie.
Smile 3 Could Show The Full Extent Of Skye Riley’s Death
Her Death Set Up Multiple New Curses
Because the Smile 2 ending saw Skye’s death at a concert seemingly passing along the curse to an entire stadium of people, the third movie could feature Skye in multiple ways as her smiling specter haunts various characters. Because the victims were also presumably fans of the pop star, Naomi Scott could also reprise her role in various archived interviews or music videos watched by the fans who are coping with their grief over her death before they begin to see her in their own visions.
Smile 2 is the sequel to the 2022 psychological horror film by director Parker Finn that centers on a therapist who witnesses a patient’s suicide, leading to a series of terrifying supernatural events. The sequel will see the return of Finn as director, with Paramount continuing distribution.
- Director
- Parker Finn
- Release Date
- October 18, 2024
- Distributor(s)
- Paramount Pictures
- Runtime
- 132 minutes