Turn your frown upside down, because Smile is hitting streaming this week as it looks to transform from box office success to streaming bonanza.
Grossing an exceptional $200 million after initially being pitched as a streaming-only flick on Paramount Plus, it got saved by test audiences and pumped out into cinemas by Paramount. The success is somewhat of a shock, but Smile was fuelled by an intense and excellent guerrilla marketing campaign which seemed to work wonders.
Now it will finally see its streaming debut as it launches on Paramount Plus on Nov. 15, so if you missed out on its cinematic run you’ve got a second chance to appreciate one of the biggest horror hits of the year. Beating past rival Halloween Ends like a ruthless slasher, Smile could end the year as the most successful mainstream horror film.
Funnily enough, the film starts with an anti-streaming message which will now become either deeply ironic, or get culled once it launches on Paramount Plus. Smile’s success in cinemas feels particularly interesting to compare to Halloween Ends, which perhaps mistakenly had a simultaneous premiere on streaming.
Ends grossed $90 million less than Smile, and it’s Paramount who will be grinning ear-to-ear. Paramount’s gamble also proves original horror films are still what people want, especially in an age of remakes, reboots, and unnecessary sequels. Fittingly, Smile stars Sosie Bacon, the daughter of cult horror star Kevin Bacon.
Parker Finn’s first directorial effort is a hit amongst critics as well, with an excellent 79 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Smile is available to stream on Paramount Plus from Nov. 15.