Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Proves Movie "Critics" Still Don't Get It

Do you remember the reception The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Minecraft Movie got? Overwhelming positivity from audiences, hundreds of millions at the box office (a mind-blowing $1.3 billion in Mario's case), and yet scathing reviews from critics that made them feel like two of the worst films of their respective years.

Repeating the reception pattern and joining this dynamic duo is Five Nights at Freddy's 2, the second chapter in Emma Tammi's cinematic take on the renowned horror game series that proved that the so-called "critics" – i.e., people who are supposed to know the ins and outs of the industry they're representing better than anyone else – still don't get it and have no idea what makes video game adaptations so appealing.

As of now, FNAF 2: The Movie holds just a 16% freshness rating from the so-called "experts" on Rotten Tomatoes, with criticisms ranging from reasonable notes like "the pacing could use some work" and "the scares aren't particularly scary," to more extreme condemnations calling the sequel "dismal," "incoherent," "inept," "dull," and "incompetent," to some reviewers outright labeling it "one of the worst video-game movies ever" (aren't you familiar with Uwe Boll's filmography?) and "the worst film of the year."

Putting the situation into perspective better than anything else is Metacritic, which currently lists one positive critic review – a 3/4 star rating from RogerEbert.com's Simon Abrams.

Making the "critics" look like a bunch of pretentious snobs incapable of enjoying simple things are the regular viewers, whose 7.1 Metacritic and 85% Rotten Tomatoes scores paint a completely opposite picture.

According to reviews from the hoi polloi – including both fans of the Five Nights at Freddy's game series and those who simply saw the first movie – the sequel has turned out better than the 2023 installment in nearly every way – spookier where it needed to be, funnier where it needed to be, has a stronger story than the first movie (though most viewers admit that's not saying much), features better visuals, better acting, more nods to the FNAF games, more references, more fan service, and overall just a great viewing experience that doesn't insist upon itself.

Adding another win for the "FNAF 2 good" camp are the movie's box office results. Made on a budget of roughly $36 million – likely to be around $51 million when marketing costs are taken into account – it earned $64 million in its opening weekend, claiming the top spot at the domestic box office, and has since grossed over $200 million worldwide, making it a commercial success.

So, what's your take on Five Nights at Freddy's 2? Have you personally watched it? If you have, whom do you agree with more – critics or regular viewers? Share your thoughts down in the comments below!

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