FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S 2 (2025)

Genre: Horror/Fantasy
Director: Emma Tammi
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Theodus Crane, Matthew Lillard, Freddy Carter, Skeet Ulrich, Wayne Knight, Mckenna Grace
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence and Horror)
Released By: UIP
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 4 December 2025

Synopsis: In 2023, Blumhouse’s box-office horror phenomenon Five Nights at Freddy’s, based on the blockbuster game series by Scott Cawthon, became the highest-grossing horror film of the year. Now, a shocking new chapter of animatronic terror begins. One year has passed since the supernatural nightmare at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The stories about what transpired there have been twisted into a campy local legend, inspiring the town’s first ever Fazfest. Former security guard Mike (Josh Hutcherson) and police officer Vanessa (Elizabeth Lail) have kept the truth from Mike’s 11-year-old sister, Abby (Piper Rubio), concerning the fate of her animatronic friends. But when Abby sneaks out to reconnect with Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy, 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.

Movie Review:

With the runaway financial success of the first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie in 2023, it comes as no surprise that a second movie was greenlit. The franchise has long since proven the cultural might of its video-game origins: what began as a small-scale indie horror title has grown into a global phenomenon, spawning lore-rich sequels, spinoffs, and a fiercely devoted fanbase. The film series, naturally, follows that momentum—though its ambitions remain firmly tethered to commercial considerations rather than cinematic daring.

As an adult viewer seeking genuine thrills—those rooted in violence, blood, and visceral dread—the sequel again feels like a missed opportunity. The towering animatronics should, in theory, offer all the material needed to terrify: their hulking silhouettes, deadened eyes, and uncanny stiffness evoke an immediate chill. Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy possess designs so striking that a single still frame can summon a wave of unease. Yet, as with the first movie, the scares stop at the surface. The film never allows its animatronic nightmares to fully unleash their horror, pulling back just when things should escalate.

This restraint seems intentional, a clear decision to court younger audiences who have grown up with the franchise. The PG13-friendly atmosphere ensures box-office safety, but it also declaws what could have been a thrillingly dark adaptation. Instead of leaning into the potential violence or psychological terror, the film flirts with fear only to retreat into safe territory. For longtime fans who discovered the games as children and are now adults craving something more intense, the result can feel frustratingly tame.

The cast delivers performances that are serviceable, even if the script limits how much impact they can make. Josh Hutcherson remains reliably watchable, grounding the story with the same quiet intensity he brought to the first instalment. Child star Piper Rubio steps more fully into the spotlight this time, doing her best to carry the emotional weight of the narrative. And for horror fans of a certain generation, it is undeniably fun to see Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich share the screen in a genre piece again—decades after their iconic roles in Scream (1996). Their presence alone injects a nostalgic spark, even if the film doesn’t fully capitalise on their talents.

The combination of brand loyalty, charismatic creature designs, and its younger target demographic virtually guarantees strong box-office numbers. And given how eagerly the studio leans into building a cinematic universe around the animatronics, it feels almost inevitable that more sequels are on the way.

Ultimately, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is a movie designed less to terrify than to entertain a wide audience—particularly the fans who aren’t old enough for harsher horrors. For viewers seeking the sensory jolt of true fear, it may feel underwhelming. But the franchise shows no signs of slowing down, and perhaps future instalments will dare to explore the darker, more thrilling possibilities lurking in Freddy Fazbear’s shadow.

Movie Rating:

(A fan-friendly sequel that keeps the Freddy phenomenon rolling—just don’t expect the gang’s scares to be as sharp as their teeth)

Review by John Li