12 Best Movies Like Smile 2 to Watch Next (2026)
Craving more tense, mystery-driven horror after Smile 2? Explore 12 smart picks with hauntings, curses, and thriller-heavy scares.
If you’re searching for movies like Smile 2, you probably want more than simple jump scares — you want horror that mixes mystery, tension, and a creeping sense that something is deeply wrong. This list covers that feeling with titles such as The Conjuring 2, Satan's Slaves 2: Communion, Terrifier 2, and Paranormal Activity 2, all of which lean into dread in different ways. You’ll also find newer picks like Death Whisperer 2, Black Phone 2, and The Haunted Apartment: Miss K, plus a few genre-bending entries that add action or drama to the mix. Whether you’re drawn to haunted houses, cursed spaces, or stories built around fear and fallout, there’s a strong match here for your next watch.
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01
Death Whisperer 2
action · horror · thriller
Three years after his sister's death, Yak relentlessly searches for the dark spirit that killed her in hopes of seeking revenge.
Why watch: If you like horror with a revenge angle and a darker edge, this may fit well. The action and thriller elements add momentum to its supernatural premise.
Directed by Taweewat WanthaCast Nadech Kugimiya, Kajbhunditt Jaidee, Peerakrit Phacharaboonyakiat, Jelilcha Kapaun, Mim Rattawadee WongthongNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
02
The Conjuring 2
horror · mystery · thriller
Lorraine and Ed Warren travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.
Why watch: If you want a polished haunted-house story with mystery at its core, this is a strong match. It leans into spirits, investigation, and sustained tension.
Directed by James WanCast Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Madison Wolfe, Frances O'Connor, Lauren EspositoMaxMore details on IMDb → -
03
Satan's Slaves 2: Communion
drama · horror · mystery
After moving from their home to an apartment building, a new terror awaits Rini’s family.
Why watch: If your favorite part is watching a family face escalating supernatural trouble, this is worth a look. Its drama-horror-mystery blend suggests a slower, uneasy build.
Directed by Joko AnwarCast Tara Basro, Endy Arfian, Nasar Annuz, Bront Palarae, Ratu FelishaAMC+More details on IMDb → -
04
The Strangers: Chapter 2
horror · mystery
When The Strangers learn that one of their victims, Maya, is still alive, they return to finish what they’ve started.
Why watch: If you enjoy home-invasion style horror with a mystery element, this one should be on your list. The premise centers on a survivor being hunted again, which keeps the pressure high.
Directed by Renny HarlinCast Ema Horvath, Olivia Kreutzova, Matus Lajcak, Madelaine Petsch, Brooke Lena JohnsonMaxMore details on IMDb → -
05
Black Phone 2
horror
Four years after escaping The Grabber, Finney Blake is struggling with his life after captivity. When his sister Gwen begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp, the siblings become determined to solve the mystery and confront a killer who has grown more powerful in death and more significant to them than either could imagine.
Why watch: If you prefer horror built around a continuing threat and a supernatural mystery, this could appeal to you. The dreamlike setup and winter-camp angle point to a more eerie, puzzle-like watch.
Directed by Scott DerricksonCast Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Demián Bichir, Miguel MoraNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
06
The Haunted Apartment: Miss K
horror · thriller
Apartment 610 holds a dark and terrifying secret, anyone who enters will die within four days. Can Alma and her sister, Mia, somehow evade the curse?
Why watch: If cursed-location stories are your thing, this is an easy pick. Its apartment-setting premise and thriller tag suggest a compact, danger-filled setup.
Directed by Guntur SoeharjantoCast Cinta Laura Kiehl, Arifin Putra, Callista Arum, Indra Brasco, Intan Rizky JaenabNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
07
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
comedy · horror · thriller
Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace discovers she’s reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith at her side. Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all.
Why watch: If you enjoy horror that mixes danger with dark humor and bigger stakes, this may stand out. The comedy-horror-thriller combination suggests something more playful but still tense.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler GillettCast Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Elijah Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn HatosyHuluDisney PlusMore details on IMDb → -
08
Ferry 2
action · crime · drama · thriller
After losing his drug empire, Ferry Bouman has found a measure of peace away from Brabant's criminal underworld — until his past catches up to him.
Why watch: If you like thrillers with drama and crime woven into the story, this is a different kind of follow-up watch. It’s a grounded option for viewers who want less supernatural horror and more criminal pressure.
Directed by Wannes DestoopCast Frank Lammers, Aiko Beemsterboer, Tobias Kersloot, Marouane Meftah, Hamza OthmanNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
09
Paranormal Activity 2
horror · mystery
Just as Daniel and Kristi welcome a newborn baby into their home, a demonic presence begins terrorizing them, tearing apart their perfect world and turning it into an inescapable nightmare.
Why watch: If you want a classic-style demonic haunting with mystery attached, this is a good fit. It focuses on a family under threat, which keeps the story personal and tense.
Directed by Tod WilliamsCast David Bierend, Brian Boland, Molly Ephraim, Katie Featherston, Seth GinsbergStarzPeacock PremiumParamount PlusMore details on IMDb → -
10
Enola Holmes 2
action · adventure · crime · drama · mystery
Now a detective-for-hire like her infamous brother, Enola Holmes takes on her first official case to find a missing girl, as the sparks of a dangerous conspiracy ignite a mystery that requires the help of friends — and Sherlock himself — to unravel.
Why watch: If you want mystery with adventure and crime mixed in, this can work as a genre change of pace. It’s a lighter fit than pure horror, but the detective angle may still appeal to fans of problem-solving stories.
Directed by Harry BradbeerCast Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, David Thewlis, Louis Partridge, Susan WokomaNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
11
Antisocial 2
horror
Years after having her newborn child stolen from her, Sam searches a world infested with infected users from the Social Redroom website. After befriending a young girl named Bean, Sam is captured and locked in a facility dedicated to finding a cure for the Redroom Virus. Trapped and tortured, Sam tries to escape the facility before an impending update on the Redroom site hits 100% and unleashes its final phase of the attack.
Why watch: If you’re curious about horror that ties fear to technology and infection, this is a niche choice. Its horror-only setup makes it leaner and more direct than some of the others here.
Directed by Cody CalahanCast Michelle Mylett, Stephen Bogaert, Josette Halpert, Samuel Faraci, Kassandra SantosFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
12
Terrifier 2
horror
A year after the Miles County massacre, Art the Clown is resurrected by a sinister entity. Art returns home, where he must hunt down and destroy teenage Sienna and her younger brother Jonathan on Halloween. As the body count rises, the siblings fight to stay alive while uncovering the true nature of Art's evil intent.
Why watch: If you want intense slasher-style horror with a straightforward survival premise, this is the pick to check out. The body-count pressure and Halloween setting make it a sharper, more aggressive option.
Directed by Damien LeoneCast Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Elliott Fullam, Sarah Voigt, Kailey HymanAmazon Prime VideoTubiPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
This roundup is built for readers who want horror with mystery, unease, and a little variety beyond one-note scares. From supernatural hauntings to revenge-driven thrillers, these titles offer plenty of different ways to keep the tension going after Smile 2. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you want a fresh recommendation, since it’s updated regularly. If your taste leans toward bleak atmosphere, persistent danger, or stories where the mystery matters as much as the fear, you should find a few strong options here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Smile 2?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.