Joker: Folie à Deux may have used Dick Van Dyke’s “Put On A Happy Face” in its promo, but it’s Smile 2 that has the whole world smiling with it. The entity clearly did its job, because the horror sequel spread to the masses in a big way.

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

After the jaw-dropping $18.8 million start for Bloody Disgusting's "Terrifier 3" and the continued legs of Warner Bros.' "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," there's a clear appetite among moviegoers for horror in all of its forms this Halloween season.