The sequel to the 2023 hit adaptation of the video game franchise of the same name, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 takes us back to the early 2000s. We follow Mike and Abby Schmidt, and Vanessa (Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, and Elizabeth Lail), a year after the events of the predecessor, navigating life after previous terrors. When Abby tries to reconnect with her animatronic friends, a chain of events transpires that leads Mike to the dark origins of Fazbear Entertainment, and its original location. Newcomers include Ghostbuster: Afterlife star McKenna Grace, Final Destination Bloodlines’s Teo Briones, and everyone’s favourite Ghostface from Scream, Skeet Ulrich, reuniting with his Ghostface duo Matthew Lillard.
Much like the predecessor, the film’s strength is the animatronic puppetry created by The Jim Henson Company and the sets built. There is a lot of work put into creating each animatronic, and it is refreshing when films like this go the practical route as opposed to fully CGI. The film makes you forget that it is the use of puppetry and takes you into its world. Much like how faithful the 2023 film was to creating Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, the same was done with the creation of the original location from the flashbacks when it was first opened to the deserted emptiness.
The trio stars succeed in continuing their character developments and having a blast on screen. Lillard’s William Afton’s presence lingers on and the events from the 2023 hit play a role that as quoted by the serial killer himself, he always comes back. Taking on the meaning as his influence lingering on. Much with Lail’s Vanessa Afton character dealing with the childhood trauma that Afton inflicted on her and having a hold on her, even in death. Piper Rubio’s Abby wants to be reunited with her animatronic ghost possessed ghost friends (even if they tried to kill her under Afton’s manipulation) and her older brother Mike avoiding hurting her feelings. Not only about his uncertainty of their fates at the end of Five Nights at Freddy’s, but also protecting Abby from a repeat.
Alas, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 suffers the same problems as the first. Much like the underuse of Matthew Lillard in the previous film, he is once again underused. While I understand that his presence still lingers on throughout the film and how his influence is known, it doesn’t justify how little screen time he has. The same goes for Skeet Ulrich’s Henry, as in the video games he plays a crucial role. The reveal that Skeet was cast and everyone guessing right away who he plays ruined the big moment of what was set up as a revelation moment. Without diving into spoiler territory, there is a lot of background that lays the foundation and motion of events in the story that the film never really dives into. Maybe they’re establishing his character for the future film instalments, but unfortunately it wasn’t satisfying.
Much like the first film, there are comedic moments that are hit-and-miss. While some beats did hit, others missed the mark and come off more awkward and unnecessary and could have been polished in the script, including the implied romance subplot that is scattered here and there. The film’s PG-13 rating is again a disadvantage and not fully utilizing much of the fear factor the games succeeded in. It comes off more tame compared to the 2023 instalment that was surprisingly a bit more violent and threatening while questioning how it even got a high MPAA rating and not a milder PG rating.
There is a lot that Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 improves upon the previous film, and a lot where it doesn’t. The trio of heroes continues in succeeding with their character developments and having a blast on screen. The scale of the world increases with more backstory of the in world franchise itself, with Easter eggs scattered throughout the movie to delight fans of the franchise. The more tame violence, not so much. If you’re a fan of the video game franchise, it’s certain to leave you both happy, but also wanting more.
Watch the trailer right here.
All images via Universal Pictures.
Directed by Emma Tammi
Screenplay by Scott Cawthon, from his video game Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
Produced by Jason Blum, Scott Cawthon
Starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, McKenna Grace, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich
Premiere Date: December 5, 2025
Running Time: 104 minutes
Cinema from the Spectrum 
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