Editor’s Note: This article was republished on Feb. 19, 2026 following a website transfer that removed it. The article was originally published on Dec. 19, 2025.
As is often the case in conglomerate Hollywood, money talks and business listens. And when a smash-hit like “Five Nights at Freddy’s” comes out, you can safely bet that a bigger, better sequel meant to gross even more money will follow suit. Whether it’s fate, a Christmas miracle, or what have you, this prophecy was fulfilled when the film’s highly anticipated follow-up, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” released in theaters nationwide on Dec. 5.
The film, which is heavily inspired by the second “Five Nights at Freddy’s” game, once again follows Mike Schmidt (Josh Hutcherson) and his sister Abby (Piper Rubio), who are still reeling from the events of the first film. Mike’s only wish is to move on from his time at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, while Abby’s is to reconnect with the animatronics she considers friends. These conflicting aspirations lead to a noticeable rift in their relationship.
Meanwhile, police officer Vanessa Shelly (Elizabeth Lail) is forced to reckon with her past. As her history pertains to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza and Vanessa’s father, the evil murderer William Afton (Matthew Lillard), her past threatens both Mike and Abby’s safety. Once the impressionable Abby is manipulated by spirits connected to Afton and the Freddy Fazbear lore, Mike and Vanessa must once again team up to defeat the evil forces lingering inside the pizzeria walls.
If the fat from a “Five Nights at Freddy’s” collectible pizza doesn’t satisfy audiences, then this hefty amount of plot should suffice. For a franchise chock full of increasingly complicated lore, this film somehow manages to further convolute things. One example is the story being set in 2002 for nostalgia’s sake. While fun in the moment, realizing that 9/11 and the second coming of Freddy Fazbear happened months apart from each other raises more questions than answers.
Moreover, certain story beats serve little purpose within the overarching story.Ghosthunters called the Spectral Scoopers exist only as pigs for slaughter. The leader of the pack, Lisa (Mckenna Grace), is given an unholy amount of development just to wind up as a vessel for the villainous Marionette puppet to possess. The film also sets up an event called “FazFest” that kids hype up like some kind of “6–7” level phenomenon, only to do nothing with it by the end.
This redundancy within the script highlights the glaring identity crisis going on within both “Five Nights at Freddy’s” films. It’s hard to call this a true horror flick when the scariest element is Toy Bonnie being voiced by YouTuber-turned-political activist Matthew Patrick (MatPat). Some scenes also make attempts at comedy, even though the script’s funniest moments are entirely unintentional. The film is also too violent for children, despite having common childhood themes scattered throughout.
So who is this for then? Judging from the massive opening weekend and internet buzz, this is strictly for fans of the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” games. Similar to “A Minecraft Movie,” the film is self–aware of its tackiness, as shown by the constant references to internet memes and Freddy Fazbear mythology that most people would fail to notice. There is even a Marvel–esque “Avengers Assemble” scene with the animatronics that is tailor-made for ironic viewing.
Without spoiling the film, it’s evident from the climax and post-credits scene that these works of fan service won’t stop anytime soon. Why should they when there’s still plenty of storylines to explore? One exciting tease is actor Skeet Ulrich portraying Henry Emily, an old partner of William Afton. If future installments stay faithful to the lore, a reunion between Lillard and Ulrich should unfold, which would be their first on-screen appearance together since “Scream.”
These are exciting times for fans of the franchise to say the least. For everyone else, this proves to be another poorly written work of Blumhouse slop. A film can be both for the fans and good on its own two feet, which makes it baffling to think that Universal would settle for incoherent sludge like this. Everyone should be able to enjoy this, not just the minority who have seen every Markiplier Let’s Play video.
One aspect of the film that deserves unanimous praise, however, is the props and set design. Like the first film, Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza looks about as scary as an abandoned children’s arcade can be. The exterior is appropriately withered while the inside feels alive, despite its decrepit state. The practical effects work for the animatronics is also top-notch, especially for the Marionette. Scenes where they roam outside the pizzeria, in particular, stand out as a result of this.
Overall, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is slightly better than its predecessor, but that’s like saying Anteatery is better than Brandywine. In the end, they are both mediocre and easily upstaged by superior alternatives. While it’s always fun to laugh at memes and point at the screen whenever a YouTuber shows up, it’s clear that these films need to improve in quality if they want the same cultural influence of the games that inspired them.
Jacob Bernardino is an Arts & Entertainment Staff Writer. He can be reached at bernarj2@uci.edu.
Edited by June Min and Joshua Gonzales
