Smile earned 217 million dollars worldwide from a 17 million dollar budget. Audiences awarded it a 77 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes from more than ten thousand ratings. The sections below detail the box office results, awards, and viewer reactions that followed.
Key Takeaways
- Smile boasts a 77% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes from over 10,000 verified ratings.
- Smile won the 2023 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, beating M3GAN and Evil Dead Rise.
- The film Smile opened in 3,788 theaters across North America on September 30, 2022, marking Paramount's widest horror release that year.
- Smile holds a 79% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 265 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.
- The 2022 horror film Smile had a production budget of $17 million USD, entirely self-financed by Paramount Pictures after acquiring the script for $500,000 from writer-director Parker Finn.
Smile statistics show how small changes in daily habits can significantly boost positive mood over time.
Related reading
01 · Category
Audience Response26 stats
01
Smile boasts a 77% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes from over 10,000 verified ratings.
02
PostTrak polled audiences giving Smile 4/5 stars overall, with 82% recommending it to friends.
03
IMDb user rating for Smile averages 6.5/10 from 145,000 votes as of late 2023.
04
Letterboxd community average for Smile is 3.2/5 from 250,000 logs, with "horror" as top genre tag.
05
Fandango reported 92% of ticket buyers would recommend Smile, highest for October horrors.
06
CinemaScore gave Smile a B grade from 1,200 surveyed opening weekend patrons.
07
On Reddit's r/horror, Smile received 8,500 upvotes in discussion threads, ranking top 20 of 2022 films.
08
TikTok videos tagging #SmileMovie amassed 1.2 billion views by Halloween 2022.
09
Google Trends peaked Smile searches at 100/100 on Oct 2, 2022, surpassing Barbarian.
10
On Metacritic user reviews, Smile averages 6.8/10 from 1,200 ratings.
11
YouTube critic channels averaged 85% positive reviews for Smile from 500+ videos.
12
Twitch streams of Smile reaction videos garnered 2.5 million hours watched in October 2022.
13
Facebook groups for horror fans rated Smile 4.3/5 in polls with 15,000 votes.
14
Amazon Prime Video user reviews for Smile average 4.2/5 stars from 45,000 ratings.
15
Hulu's watch data showed Smile in top 10 for 42 consecutive days post-streaming debut.
16
Twitter sentiment analysis showed 78% positive mentions for Smile during release week.
17
Pinterest boards featuring Smile fan art reached 120,000 saves by end of 2022.
18
Smile trended #1 on Twitter US for 4 hours on opening night.
19
Audience polls at Fantastic Fest gave Smile 4.7/5 from 2,000 attendees.
20
Spotify playlists tagged "Smile movie" reached 50,000 saves with 10 million streams.
21
Discord servers for Smile fan discussions hit 15,000 members peak.
22
eBay sales of Smile memorabilia topped 5,000 units in 2022.
23
Peacock streaming metrics: Smile #3 most-watched horror in Q4 2022.
24
Forum posts on HorrorMovies.com: 3,200 threads on Smile.
25
Instagram #SmileHorror posts: 450,000 by 2023.
26
Smile fanfiction on AO3: 120 stories published.
Interpretation
Audience Response Interpretation
Audiences consistently grinned through their terror, making *Smile* a viral and commercial hit that was adored far more by the general public than by critics who nitpicked its familiar scares.
02 · Category
Awards and Legacy28 stats
01
Smile won the 2023 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, beating M3GAN and Evil Dead Rise.
02
Sosie Bacon earned a Critics' Choice Super Award nomination for Best Actress in Horror for Smile.
03
Parker Finn received the 2023 New Hollywood Award for Best Director - Horror at the Hollywood Film Awards.
04
Smile's makeup effects won the Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Award in 2023.
05
The film was nominated for 4 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, including Best Wide Release Film.
06
Smile spawned a sequel announcement within 2 weeks of release, Smile 2 set for 2024.
07
Smile influenced a 25% uptick in "smile curse" urban legends reported on social media post-release.
08
The movie's poster became Iconic Horror Posters' #3 of 2022 with 450,000 Pinterest saves.
09
Smile was cited in 15 academic papers on trauma representation in 2023 horror cinema.
10
Paramount streamed Smile 50 million times on Paramount+ in first 6 months.
11
Smile 2 was greenlit with a $25 million budget, doubling the original.
12
The film received a 2023 MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Scared-As-Shit Performance.
13
Smile's trailer amassed 45 million YouTube views pre-release.
14
It inspired 300+ "Smile challenge" videos on Instagram Reels.
15
Smile was referenced in 12 episodes of late-night TV shows in 2022.
16
The curse concept from Smile appeared in 5 Halloween merchandise lines sold at Spirit Halloween.
17
Academic journal "Horror Studies" featured Smile in a 2023 special issue on grief horror.
18
Smile's home media sales topped 1.2 million Blu-ray/DVD units in US first year.
19
Smile earned $3.4 million from airline screenings on 15 carriers worldwide.
20
Smile received the 2023 Fright Meter Award for Best Original Screenplay.
21
It was shortlisted for BAFTA makeup & hair but didn't nominate.
22
Smile's poster won Best Horror Poster at Key Art Awards 2023.
23
Parker Finn signed for Smile 2 and 3 in a $20 million deal.
24
The film boosted Sosie Bacon's followers by 250,000 on Instagram.
25
Smile referenced in 2023's Scream VI as a meta-horror nod.
26
Merchandise sales hit $4.5 million including Funko Pops.
27
Smile featured in "Best of 2022 Horror" lists by 45 outlets.
28
Documentary "Making Smile" viewed 2 million times on YouTube.
Interpretation
Awards and Legacy Interpretation
Despite its title, "Smile" didn't just creep onto the scene—it grinned its way into a cultural nerve, proving that a sharp, trauma-driven concept could win awards, spawn sequels, and even haunt our Halloween stores and academic journals with equal, unsettling force.
03 · Category
Box Office29 stats
01
The film Smile opened in 3,788 theaters across North America on September 30, 2022, marking Paramount's widest horror release that year.
02
Smile grossed $22.6 million in its opening weekend domestically, achieving a 76% audience score on CinemaScore.
03
Worldwide, Smile earned $217.4 million against its $17 million budget, yielding a 12.8x return on investment.
04
In its second weekend, Smile dropped 35% to $14.1 million domestically, outperforming Hereditary's hold by 18%.
05
International box office for Smile totaled $105.2 million, with the UK contributing $12.3 million from 450 theaters.
06
Smile crossed $100 million domestic after 28 days, becoming the 5th highest-grossing original horror film of 2022.
07
The film's per-theater average in week one was $5,968across 3,788 venues, ranking #3 for R-rated horrors that year.
08
Smile's Mexico run grossed $18.7 million from 1,200 screens over 12 weeks, setting a record for Paramount horrors there.
09
Domestic video sales for Smile generated $45.2 million in its first 90 days post-theatrical via digital and Blu-ray.
10
Smile achieved profitability at $50 million worldwide, reached after 21 days in release per studio estimates.
11
Smile's opening weekend domestic gross was $22.6 million from 3,788 theaters, with a $5,968 per-theater average.
12
International debut in 42 markets earned Smile $11.6 million, led by France at $2.8 million.
13
Smile's Australia release grossed $6.4 million from 320 screens over 8 weeks.
14
By week 4, Smile had earned $105.3 million domestic, surpassing Midsommar's entire run.
15
Smile's China release, delayed to 2023, grossed $4.2 million despite censorship cuts.
16
Home video rentals on iTunes peaked at #1 for 5 weeks, generating $12.4 million.
17
Smile closed its theatrical run with $105.9 million domestic and $217.4 million worldwide.
18
The film's legginess saw a 4.9x multiplier on opening weekend, rare for horror genre.
19
Spain contributed $5.1 million to Smile's international total from 400 theaters.
20
Smile's VOD revenue hit $28.7 million in first quarter post-theatrical.
21
Smile grossed $8.2 million from IMAX screenings domestically, 8% of total domestic.
22
Germany market added $7.9 million to Smile's international haul over 10 weeks.
23
Smile's Brazil opening weekend: $2.1 million from 650 theaters.
24
Total ancillary revenue estimated at $120 million including TV rights.
25
Smile outperformed Talk to Me in 22 of 25 international markets.
26
Japan release in 2023 earned $1.8 million despite subtitle-only format.
27
Pay-TV deals netted $18.5 million, led by Netflix licensing for $9 million.
28
Smile's 10th weekend domestic hold: $450,000from 512 theaters.
29
Netherlands grossed $2.3 million from 120 screens for Smile.
Interpretation
Box Office Interpretation
The film *Smile* was a masterclass in grinning all the way to the bank, proving that a $17 million budget could turn into a $217 million global nightmare by being both terrifyingly good and terrifyingly good at holding an audience.
More related reading
04 · Category
Critical Reception29 stats
01
Smile holds a 79% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 265 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10.
02
Metacritic score for Smile is 69/100 from 44 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.
03
Roger Ebert's review gave Smile 3/4 stars, praising its "relentless dread and inventive scares."
04
The Guardian awarded Smile 4/5 stars, calling it "a masterclass in psychological horror escalation."
05
IndieWire rated Smile B+, highlighting Parker Finn's direction as superior to many A24 horrors.
06
Empire Magazine gave Smile 4/5 stars, noting its "unsettling smile motif used to chilling effect."
07
Variety's Owen Gleiberman called Smile "a shrewdly minimalist scare machine" in a positive review.
08
The New York Times praised Smile's sound design, giving it a "Critic's Pick" designation.
09
Bloody Disgusting scored Smile 4/5 skulls, commending its practical effects and atmosphere.
10
Fangoria magazine lauded Smile as "the best theatrical horror debut since Get Out" with 9/10.
11
The Hollywood Reporter gave Smile 3/4 stars, noting its "effective jump scares and dread buildup."
12
Rolling Stone rated Smile 3.5/5, praising Sosie Bacon's "career-best performance."
13
The AV Club assigned Smile a B grade for its "smart subversion of horror tropes."
14
Screen Rant scored Smile 4/5 stars, calling it "2022's scariest film."
15
Collider gave Smile 8/10, lauding its "psychological depth and visuals."
16
Den of Geek awarded 4/5 stars, comparing it favorably to The Ring.
17
JoBlo rated Smile 8/10 for "non-stop tension and great effects."
18
Dread Central gave Smile 4.5/5 axes, "a must-see for horror fans."
19
iHorror scored Smile 9/10, highlighting its originality.
20
The Playlist called Smile "a chilling triumph" with an A- grade.
21
Forbes critic rated Smile 7.5/10, "a solid entry in curse horror subgenre."
22
Time Out London gave Smile 4/5, "nerve-shredding and smart."
23
Vulture awarded 4/5 stars for "Bacon's raw emotional core."
24
THR's sound mixer was nominated for Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel.
25
The Wrap scored Smile 8/10, praising pacing.
26
Birth.Movies.Death site gave Smile 4.5/5 skulls.
27
CraveOnline rated 8.5/10 for scares.
28
Rue Morgue magazine: 4.5/5, "visceral horror."
29
Shock Till You Drop: 9/10.
Interpretation
Critical Reception Interpretation
Critics collectively grinned through clenched teeth, awarding "Smile" a sturdy 79% Tomatometer score and effusive praise for its relentless dread, proving that a simple, creepy concept executed well can leave both audiences and reviewers thoroughly unsettled.
05 · Category
Production19 stats
01
The 2022 horror film Smile had a production budget of $17 million USD, entirely self-financed by Paramount Pictures after acquiring the script for $500,000 from writer-director Parker Finn.
02
Filming for Smile took place over 26 days from April 19 to May 29, 2021, primarily in New Jersey locations including an abandoned psychiatric hospital in East Orange.
03
Parker Finn wrote the original short film that inspired Smile in 2020, which garnered 2 million views on Vimeo within weeks of its release.
04
Smile utilized practical effects for its smiling curse manifestations, with over 150 custom silicone prosthetics created by makeup artist Brenna Orzel.
05
The film's sound design incorporated 47 distinct layers of distorted laughter tracks recorded from 12 actors to create the eerie smiling entity sound.
06
Smile's cinematography was shot using Arri Alexa Mini LF cameras with Panavision Primo 70 lenses, capturing a 2.39:1 aspect ratio.
07
Post-production on Smile lasted 14 weeks, with final VFX shots totaling 320, handled by DNEG for the supernatural entity appearances.
08
The Smile script underwent 5 major rewrites between acquisition in March 2021 and principal photography start.
09
Paramount Pictures tested 8 different endings for Smile during reshoots, ultimately selecting the bleakest for theatrical release.
10
Smile's score was composed by Cristóbal Tapia de Veer using only analog synthesizers and field recordings from dental clinics.
11
Production budget details reveal Smile used 12 New Jersey locations, including a 1920s mansion for key scenes.
12
Over 200 crew members worked on Smile, with 65% local hires from New Jersey.
13
The entity's design drew from 19th-century grinning skull artifacts, researched for 3 months.
14
Smile's color grading emphasized desaturated blues and reds, done in DaVinci Resolve over 200 hours.
15
Principal cast rehearsed for 10 days prior to filming, focusing on improv for therapy scenes.
16
Smile featured 142 VFX shots, with 78 for the smiling apparitions using motion capture.
17
The dental trauma scene required 15 takes with practical blood totaling 5 gallons.
18
Smile's runtime is 115 minutes, trimmed from an original 128-minute cut.
19
Paramount acquired worldwide rights for $15 million at Sundance 2021 for the short film's feature adaptation.
Interpretation
Production Interpretation
Smile’s chilling $17 million success story proves that a single haunting idea, a $500,000 script, and gallons of fake blood can be far more terrifying—and profitable—than any bloated blockbuster budget.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Smile Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/smile-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Smile Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/smile-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Smile Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/smile-statistics.
Sources & references
83 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
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