10/10 Horror Masterpiece That Nearly Went to Paramount+ Becomes a Free Streaming Hit

Some horror movies creep up on you, and the same happened with this 2022 horror thriller. Smile was a breakthrough movie in the genre, and it is once again gaining attention in 2026. Parker Finn‘s debut feature landed on Pluto TV on September 1, and as of September 6, it is placed on the platform’s Top 10 U.S. movies chart (via FlixPatrol).

The story follows Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist played by Sosie Bacon, who watches a patient die in front of her while wearing a horrible stretched grin. From that moment on, Rose starts seeing that same smile on strangers, friends, and family, and she has about a week to figure out what is happening before the curse claims her too.

Made for roughly $17 million, the film grossed $217.4 million worldwide and finished as the top-grossing horror release of 2022 (via Box Office Mojo). Paramount moved fast on a follow-up, and Smile 2 arrived in October 2024 with Naomi Scott’s pop star Skye Riley at the center. It pulled in around $138 million, and a third movie is currently in the works.

Horror Thriller Smile Is No. 6 on Pluto TV’s Streaming Charts

Sosie Bacon as Rose Cotter in Paramount’s horror thriller Smile | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Smile‘s jump up the chart is not surprising. It only landed on Pluto TV on September 1, and free ad-supported platforms tend to reward new arrivals with a big burst of curiosity. Five days later, the film is the highest-placed horror title on the service at the 6th spot in the U.S. and the only one anywhere near the top of the list.

According to Paramount, the movie arrived on Pluto TV along with Mean Girls (2024). Both of these movies made their exclusive free streaming debut on Pluto TV. Interestingly, a few other movies from the Paramount Pictures portfolio also landed on the free streaming platform, and they are also among the top 10 list.

At fifth is one of Paramount’s biggest box office hits, Top Gun: Maverick. Other Paramount movies include Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Coming to America, and Transformers: Age of Extinction. The list is dominated by the John Wick movies, which were made available on the platform recently.

The timing of the arrival also helps Smile‘s ranking. Early September is when horror fans start warming up for the Halloween stretch, and this movie is an easy first pick. It is short on setup, heavy on dread, and famous enough that people who skipped it in theaters have been meaning to catch up.

If you would rather skip the ad breaks, the movie is also streaming on Paramount+ with a subscription, along with the sequel.

Why Smile Switched From a Paramount+ Release to Theaters

Sosie Bacon as Rose Cotter in Smile | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Smile was never meant to play in cinemas. Paramount greenlit it as a straight-to-streaming title for Paramount+, and that was the plan right up until the studio put it in front of a test audience. The reaction was strong enough that Paramount reversed course, promoted it to a wide theatrical release, and built a full marketing campaign around it.

Finn recalled his reaction to the news, sharing that it was “one of those ‘pinch me’ moments” he never expected. He also pointed out that having a studio behind a streaming project was already a win. He shared (via Culver.org):

The campaign that followed did the rest. Actors in bright Smile shirts turned up grinning behind home plate at MLB games and just off camera on the Today show, and the clips went viral (via @ErikDavis/X).

When the movie hit theaters, Bacon’s performance and Finn’s control of tension received praise. The film held the No. 1 spot at the domestic box office for two straight weekends. The switch was completely justified, as a $17 million movie earned more than $217 million, launched a franchise, and won Finn a multi-year deal with Paramount.

What do you think of the movie’s new surge on Pluto TV? Let us know in the comments below!