“Smile 2” brings in $2.5 million in Thursday previews

Turn those box office frowns upside down as “Smile 2,” the sequel to Paramount’s surprise horror hit, opens this weekend.

The film, once again written and directed by Parker Finn, has grossed $2.5 million at the box office so far in its Thursday premiere. In comparison, the original 2022 film earned $2 million in previews in just the first weekend of October.

“Smile 2,” which continues the demonic, grin-inducing horror, is expected to gross between $20 million and $25 million in its opening weekend, but some predictions are even higher. However, Paramount sources are more conservative, expecting an opening in the high teens. The first “Smile” film, originally intended for a streaming release, had a theatrical opening of $22.6 million in 2022. At the end of its run, it became a successful box office hit, grossing $105 million domestically and $217 million worldwide at the box office.

With a production budget of $28 million, “Smile 2” looks set to be another low-cost horror hit for Paramount. After the first film introduced the smile-inducing, demonic force that drives victims crazy and kills themselves, the sequel increases the intensity. Naomi Scott plays Skye Riley, a world-famous pop star who becomes the latest person to be haunted by the evil demon. As she embarks on a comeback world tour, Skye slowly loses her mind and begins experiencing hallucinations among her throngs of adoring fans. The cast also includes Rosemarie DeWitt, Lukas Gage, Kyle Gallner, Dylan Gelula, Raul Castillo, Peter Jacobsen, Ray Nicholson and more.

Also opening this weekend is Neon and director Sean Baker's lively “Anora,” about a stripper who falls in love with the son of a Russian oligarch. The film has already generated buzz in the run-up to the Oscars and opens in limited release this weekend before expanding.