‘Superman,’ Mission: Impossible,’ ‘F1’ and summer’s must-see films
USA TODAY film critic Brian Truitt releases his list of summer’s must-see films. The highlights include “Superman” and “Mission: Impossible.”
“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is leveling up.
The sequel to the 2023 horror hit, based on the hugely popular video games, has debuted its first full trailer, teasing more creepy animatronic mayhem — and a “Scream” reunion.
Josh Hutcherson returns as former security guard Mike in “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” set one year after the first movie. Since the animatronics at a pizzeria came to life in the original film, “the stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town’s first ever Fazfest,” the sequel’s plot synopsis reveals.
But when Mike’s sister Abby (Piper Rubio) sneaks out to reconnect with her animatronic friends, it “will set into motion a terrifying series of events, revealing dark secrets about the true origin of Freddy’s, and unleashing a long-forgotten horror hidden away for decades,” the description adds.
Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail and Matthew Lillard return from the 2023 movie, while new cast members include Wayne Knight and Mckenna Grace. Also joining the cast is Skeet Ulrich, reuniting the actor with his “Scream” costar and fellow Ghostface killer, Lillard.
The first “Five Nights at Freddy’s” was one of the biggest horror hits of 2023, grossing nearly $300 million at the worldwide box office, despite earning largely negative reviews from critics. It came amid a wave of successful video game adaptations on the big and small screen, from “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” in 2023 to “The Last of Us” on HBO, which just released its second season earlier this year.
But the “Freddy’s” sequel will arrive at a key moment for its production company Blumhouse, known for low-budget chillers like “Paranormal Activity” and “The Purge.” The company is in need of a hit after the failure of its sequel “M3GAN 2.0,” which bombed at the box office in June after the original was a hit three years earlier.
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ release date
“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is set to hit theaters on Dec. 5, 2025.