Extremely Disturbing Horror Hit ‘Smile’ Hits Streaming

by

If you love scary movies and are always looking for a good fright, you’re in luck this Valentine’s Day. One of the most chilling horror films from recent years, Smile, is coming to streaming. It’s a truly terrifying experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll, and it’s a great chance to revisit or discover this genuinely unsettling film.

Parker Finn’s first horror film, released in 2022, will be available on Hulu starting February 16th. While Hulu already has a large collection of horror movies – including popular titles like Barbarian and Longlegs – this new addition stands out. It’s the film that originally terrified audiences with its unsettling imagery of unexpected smiles, and it remains particularly memorable.

Smile delivers on everything you expect from a good horror film – a strong main character, effective jump scares, and all the right elements. However, it’s more than just frightening; it’s deeply disturbing. The movie takes you on a gripping ride, exposing a terrifying fear that comes from hidden, unresolved trauma you didn’t know you still carried.

‘Smile’ Is “Curse Horror” With a Twist

The movie Smile centers around Rose Cotter, a therapist whose session is interrupted by a panicked woman named Laura. Laura insists she’s being pursued by something only she can see. Before Rose can fully respond, Laura begins to smile strangely and tragically takes her own life right in front of Rose.

Rose is faced with something she can’t understand. Strange beings begin appearing, mirroring the smile of someone from her past, and these visions trigger painful memories of her childhood. She endured abuse from her mother and witnessed her death due to addiction. The haunting experiences become overwhelming, ultimately leading the therapist to fall victim to a kind of curse – one that uses deeply personal trauma as a weapon.

‘Smile’s Phenomenal Box Office Performance Was Striking Enough to Start a Franchise

The film Smile began as a short film called Laura Hasn’t Slept. After its debut at the South by Southwest Film Festival and some success on YouTube, Paramount Pictures offered the director a chance to expand it into a full-length movie. With a reported budget of $17 million, it was a promising start for a first-time studio director.

Originally, Paramount intended to release the movie directly on their streaming service, Paramount+. However, after the film received great feedback at festivals and in test screenings, they decided to release it in theaters instead. A unique and unsettling viral marketing campaign, featuring strangers mysteriously smiling during baseball games, generated a lot of buzz. This buzz translated into strong ticket sales, with the film exceeding box-office expectations during its opening weekend and going on to break several records.

MovieWeb Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters

Immerse yourself in the cinematic universe with the latest movie news, reviews, and exclusive content from MovieWeb.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our
Terms of Use
and
Privacy Policy
. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Smile wasn’t just the most profitable R-rated horror movie of the pandemic – it became a huge financial success, earning over $217 million globally. This gave Paramount Pictures a rare horror hit, and they quickly announced plans for a sequel, officially launching the film’s creator’s idea into a major Hollywood franchise.

Though Smile 2 (2024) earned just over half the revenue of the first Smile movie, it was still a low-budget horror film that some critics actually liked better. The series isn’t over, though – a comic book is planned, and a third movie is currently being developed. If you haven’t seen it, the original Smile is a genuinely scary film that’s sure to leave you on edge.

Read More

2026-02-14 21:33