‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ Debuts to 15% Rotten Tomatoes Score

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ has launched with a 15 percent Rotten Tomatoes score from critics, dipping below the first film’s 31 percent approval rating. Directed by Emma Tammi, the sequel expands the animatronic horror into new pizzeria locations, featuring 12 upgraded endoskeletons and jump scares timed to the game’s signature 6 AM chime. Universal Pictures released the PG-13 film simultaneously in theaters and on Peacock, targeting the original’s $297 million global box office haul from 2023.

The plot follows Mike Schmidt, played by Josh Hutcherson, as he returns to Freddy Fazbear’s with his sister Abby amid a corporate cover-up involving 1987’s missing children. Returning cast includes Elizabeth Lail as Vanessa and Matthew Lillard voicing William Afton, with new additions Piper Rubio as a teen ally and Christian Bako as a security guard uncovering hidden cassette tapes. Production spanned 65 days in New Orleans soundstages, incorporating practical puppetry for five core animatronics: Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Golden Freddy.

Critics cite formulaic scripting and underdeveloped lore as weaknesses, with reviews averaging 4.2 out of 10 on Metacritic. One assessment notes the film’s 110-minute runtime relies on recycled fan-service beats, including a mid-film springlock malfunction sequence lasting 4 minutes. Another highlights Tammu’s direction for escalating tension through infrared night-vision shots, though pacing falters in the 25-minute finale chase.

Audience reception counters the low score, with early CinemaScore polls yielding a B grade from 1,200 viewers surveyed at 450 North American screenings. Posts on X emphasize the sequel’s fidelity to the 2014 game’s mechanics, such as randomized AI paths for 18 enemy encounters. Hutcherson’s performance draws praise for evolving from reluctant guardian to determined investigator across 42 scripted scenes.

The franchise, based on Scott Cawthon’s survival-horror series with over 25 million units sold, now eyes a third installment greenlit for 2027. Blumhouse Productions allocated $20 million for the budget, down from $15 million on the original due to expanded VFX demands for 150 digital creature renders. Universal reports $8.2 million in domestic pre-sales, surpassing the predecessor’s Thursday preview by 12 percent.

Developer Cawthon consulted on script revisions, ensuring lore elements like the “Bite of ’87” incident anchor the narrative’s 45-year timeline. Rubio’s role introduces a subplot exploring Afton’s cult-like influence, spanning 15 minutes of dialogue-heavy flashbacks. Lillard’s voice work required 22 recording sessions to modulate Afton’s Southern drawl across taunt variations.

Box office trackers project a $45-55 million domestic opening weekend, buoyed by family viewings during holiday breaks. International rollout covers 52 markets, including a dubbed Mandarin version for China’s 1,200-screen debut. Peacock streams logged 2.1 million viewing hours in the first 24 hours post-release, per Nielsen data.

The film’s marketing campaign featured AR filters on TikTok, amassing 450 million impressions through animatronic face-swaps. Tie-in merchandise includes 10 Hasbro action figures and a Fazbear pizza kit sold at Target. Despite critical pans, the sequel solidifies the series’ jump from indie game to Hollywood staple, with Cawthon teasing deeper mythos in future entries.