Smile (2022)

Smile is a 2022 American supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by Parker Finn, in his feature directorial debut. A follow-up to Finn’s short film Laura Hasn't Slept (2020), it stars Sosie Bacon as a therapist who witnesses the bizarre suicide of a patient, then becomes overwhelmed with increasingly disturbing and daunting visions that lead her to believe she is experiencing something supernatural. It also features Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Kal Penn, and Rob Morgan, as well as Caitlin Stasey reprising her role from Laura Hasn't Slept. A feature adaptation of Finn's short was announced in June 2020, and the cast was added in October 2021. Principal photography began that month in New Jersey and ended in November. It was originally set for release on the streaming service Paramount+, but the distributor, Paramount Pictures, released it theatrically after positive test screenings. Smile premiered at Fantastic Fest on September 22, 2022, and was released in the United States on September 30. It received generally positive reviews, with praise for Bacon's performance, and grossed over $217 million worldwide on a budget of $17 million. A sequel without the involvement of Paramount Players, Smile 2, was released in 2024. A third Smile film is currently in development.