Smile Franchise Tops $350 Million as New Director Hired

The Smile franchise has generated more than $350 million in worldwide box office receipts. This financial performance positions the horror series as one of the most profitable original franchises in recent years. Paramount Pictures has moved to capitalize on that success by appointing a new director for the upcoming film.

David Bruckner has signed on to direct Smile 3. He will take over the project from Parker Finn, who created the series. Bruckner is known for his work in the horror genre, including the 2022 Hellraiser remake for Hulu. He also directed The Night House and The Ritual.

The development process for the third installment began with Finn, who pitched the initial framework to the studio. He will remain involved as a producer. Jonathan Fass has been named executive producer. Nick Antosca is currently writing the screenplay for the film.

Finn secured a first-look deal with Paramount in 2023. That agreement led to his involvement in the first two films of the series. The first Smile became the top-grossing original horror film of 2022. Its 2024 sequel, Smile 2, continued the commercial momentum for the brand.

Bruckner has several other projects currently in development. He is attached to direct Mice for A24. He is also writing and developing a remake of The Blob. Additionally, he is working on The Caretaker for Universal Pictures. That film is an adaptation of a book by Marcus Kliewer and stars Sydney Sweeney.

Finn is currently directing the studio's remake of Possession. The film stars Callum Turner and Margaret Qualley. It is scheduled for release on June 11, 2027. Despite moving to other projects, Finn outlined his vision for the future of the Smile series in recent interviews.

Finn told The Hollywood Reporter that he sees the franchise going "bigger and more off the rails and even crazier and more unhinged." He emphasized that the storytelling must remain intimate and character-driven. He stated that the core of the series relies on a real human nature to keep the stories impactful.