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Will There Be A Smile 3? Everything We Know About The Horror Sequel's Production, Plot, And 2026 Release

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The terrifying, wide-grinning entity of the Smile franchise is not done yet, and horror fans have every reason to be excited. Following the massive, back-to-back success of 2022's *Smile* and 2024's *Smile 2*, a third installment, tentatively titled Smile 3, is reportedly not just a possibility, but a certainty, with significant movement behind the scenes as of late 2025. This article dives into the most current, up-to-date information regarding the next chapter in director Parker Finn’s unsettling supernatural saga, covering production schedules, the director’s vision, and the financial reasons why this franchise is set to continue for years to come.

The decision to greenlight Smile 3 was an easy one for Paramount Pictures, given that the first two films established the series as one of the most profitable and critically well-received modern horror franchises. With production slated to kick off in 2025, the timeline for the sequel is rapidly taking shape, cementing its place as one of the most anticipated horror releases on the near horizon.

The Greenlight: Production Status and Tentative Release Window

The question of "will there be a Smile 3?" has been answered with a resounding "Yes." The project has reportedly been given the greenlight, and the production timeline is now becoming clearer.

A Confirmed 2025 Production Start

The most concrete piece of news regarding the sequel is its production schedule. Multiple industry reports, citing listings on platforms like Production Weekly, indicate that Smile 3 is set to begin production sometime in 2025.

This early start is a strong indicator of Paramount’s confidence and the rapid development of the script and pre-production planning. While no specific months have been confirmed, a 2025 shoot suggests a focused effort to capitalize on the momentum generated by the second film.

When Will Smile 3 Be Released?

While no official release date has been announced by Paramount Pictures as of late 2025, the production timeline allows for educated speculation. Given the typical post-production cycle for a major studio horror film—which often includes extensive visual effects for the entity—a 2026 release date is highly probable.

The first two films, *Smile* (2022) and *Smile 2* (2024), both successfully dominated the early-to-mid-fall box office, making an October 2026 premiere a very strong possibility. Some unconfirmed rumors have even pegged the release date as October 9, 2026, and suggested a potential subtitle: Smile 3: Still Smiling. However, fans should treat this specific date and title as speculation until official confirmation from the studio or director Parker Finn.

The Unstoppable Success of the Smile Franchise

The primary reason for the rapid development of a third film lies in the staggering commercial and critical success of its predecessors. The Smile franchise has proven to be a financial behemoth, a critical darling, and a powerful entity in the modern horror landscape.

Box Office Dominance

The first film, *Smile*, was a surprise smash hit, but *Smile 2* proved the franchise's staying power. The sequel opened to a dominant $23 million in North America, successfully terrorizing the box office and continuing the horror bonanza.

Produced on a modest budget of under $30 million, the sequel was an instant theatrical success, ensuring a massive return on investment for Paramount Pictures.

Critical and Audience Acclaim

Crucially, the franchise has managed to maintain quality, a rare feat for horror sequels. *Smile 2* earned an impressive 84% critical approval rating and an 83% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, both of which were slightly higher than the original film’s scores.

This high level of critical and audience satisfaction is the key ingredient for sustaining a long-running horror series. It confirms that director Parker Finn has a strong grasp on the narrative and the chilling mythology of the supernatural curse.

Director Parker Finn's Vision for the Future of the Curse

The creative engine behind the Smile universe, writer and director Parker Finn, has been vocal about his ideas for where a third film could take the story. He has expressed a keen interest in continuing the series, but only if the narrative feels earned and fresh, not simply a retread of the previous installments.

Moving Beyond the 'Curse'

Finn has consistently stated that he would not want the franchise to become repetitive. The first film focused on a therapist, Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), and the second on a pop star, Skye Riley (Naomi Scott), showing how the entity adapts to different lives and public scrutiny. For a third film, Finn has hinted at expanding the scope of the mythology.

He has mentioned a desire to further explore the nature of the entity itself—the "Smiler Demon"—and the origins of the curse. Rather than simply following another victim, Smile 3 could potentially delve into the deeper lore, perhaps even showing the entity’s activities on a global scale or across a different timeline.

Potential Plot Directions: The Global Entity

The ending of Smile 2, which featured a new level of public exposure for the curse, opens the door for a truly globalized threat. The film’s antagonist, a powerful supernatural entity that feeds on trauma and fear, has demonstrated an ability to adapt to modern life, using fame and media to spread its terror.

Potential storylines for Smile 3 could include:

  • The Investigator: A focus on an outsider, perhaps a former detective like Joel (Kyle Gallner from the first film), who has become obsessed with tracking the pattern of deaths worldwide.
  • The Origin Story: A prequel-style narrative that explores the first known victim of the curse, providing a deeper understanding of the entity’s ancient roots.
  • The Cure/Containment: A desperate attempt by a secret organization or government agency to understand and contain the entity, leading to a high-stakes, action-horror scenario.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords for the Smile Franchise

As the franchise expands, the list of relevant entities and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords grows, enriching the topical authority around the series. These elements will be crucial for understanding the continued narrative of Smile 3:

  • Parker Finn: The visionary writer and director whose creative control is key to the franchise's success.
  • Paramount Pictures: The studio responsible for distribution and the financial backing of the sequels.
  • The Smile Entity: The central antagonist, a demonic entity that manifests as a wide, chilling smile and feeds on its victims’ trauma.
  • Supernatural Curse: The core mechanic of the film, passed from one victim to the next upon witnessing a traumatic suicide.
  • Sosie Bacon: Star of the original film, Dr. Rose Cotter, whose fate set the stage for the sequel.
  • Naomi Scott: Star of *Smile 2*, Skye Riley, whose celebrity status was used to accelerate the curse’s spread.
  • Kyle Gallner: Detective Joel, a character whose potential return could provide narrative continuity and a link between the films.
  • Theatrical Release: The commitment of Paramount to a wide cinema release, indicating high confidence in the film’s box office potential.
  • Horror Sequels: The genre category the film must navigate, aiming to avoid the typical pitfalls of diminishing returns.

In conclusion, the future of the Smile franchise is not just bright—it's terrifyingly confirmed. With a 2025 production start and Parker Finn at the helm, fans can confidently look forward to Smile 3 arriving, likely in October 2026, to deliver a new and expanded chapter of psychological horror and unnerving smiles.

Will There Be A Smile 3? Everything We Know About The Horror Sequel's Production, Plot, and 2026 Release
will there be a smile 3
will there be a smile 3

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