A modernhorror moviehas become a hit on streaming a few years after its release, which is good news for the next sequel that is already in development. Horror has always been one of the most popular genres in film history, and each new generation produces a ton of memorable chillers that reflect that era’s biggest fears. Horror also has the added benefit of being a low-risk-high-reward genre, and Hollywood is able to pump out dozens of low-budget horror films that can turn big profits at the box office.
With the rise of streaming, horror has found a new way to grab its audience, and movies that made a splash in theaters can continue to enthrall viewers at home as well. Consistently, horror has been a major draw across nearly every streaming platform, and even as more and more services flood the market, horror is still something that gets audience members to tune in regularly. Streaming also introduces a new layer to a movie’s lifespan, and studios can look to a film’s continued success online as proof that a sequel is in demand.
Smile (2022) Has Entered Netflix’s Top 10 Streaming Charts
The Memorable Horror Flick Still Has Plenty Of Fans
Around six months after the sequel was a box office smash in October 2024, the originalSmilefilm has entered Netflix’s top 10 charts. As reported byFlix Patrol,the high-concept horror film has landed at the sixth spot on the list for May 15, jumping over other established hits likeTwilightandDespicable Me 4. The movie is only outranked by three brand-new Netflix originals, the 2015 children’s filmHome, andBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. May 15 wasSmile’s first day on the chart, meaning it could still move up or down the ranking in the coming days.
What This Means For The Future Of The Smile Series
Developing A Third Film Was A Smart Idea
The fact that fans are still seeking out the original after three years proves thatSmilehasn’t run its course yet.
WithSmile 2grossing over $130 million in late 2024 (viaBox Office Mojo), and the original film continuing to be a hit on streaming, it’s a good thing thatSmile 3is confirmed. The series has the potential to become a long-running success, and a third film is an absolute necessity. The fact that fans are still seeking out the original after three years proves thatSmilehasn’t run its course yet. The money alone is usually enough to get films green-lit, butSmile’s streaming success is just additional evidence thatSmile 3is needed sooner rather than later.
Our Take On Smile’s Streaming Success
Smile’s Netflix Ranking Is Anything But Surprising
Horror films are almost always popular, andSmilemanaged to grab the attention of moviegoers in a way that most mainstream hits can’t. It mixed a convoluted concept with simple horror storytelling to deliver more than a few jump-worthy scares. Also, the less-than-subtle messaging concerning trauma is about as deep as a mainstream horror movie dares to go without alienating viewers. While I saw the original concept as somewhat derivative of films likeIt Follows, its continued success has allowed the basic idea behindtheSmilemonsterto blossom into something original.
