Five Nights at Freddy’s built and secured a fanbase practically overnight, between its sleeper hit status as a video game and 2021’s overwhelmingly successful adaptation. That scenario has some very familiar pitfalls when it comes to a sequel, as those faithful to the cause will have notes for future installments. 

Our Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 review seems to suggest that further victory is on the horizon. That mindset is further bolstered by actor/horror icon Matthew Lillard, as he has a rather unique outlook into this outing’s dedication to fandom. It’s hard to argue with that case, especially when it breaks down to three core components that could spell success.

Fan Critiques About Five Nights At Freddy’s Factored Into The Sequel’s Design

Speaking with Mr. Lillard on behalf of That Hashtag Show, I had the honor of diving into Universal and Blumhouse’s new horror venture. While the Scream veteran avoided any secrets about William Afton’s return, he did offer a case for why this

 I think that they listened to the fans. People were looking for more jump scares, more set pieces, more action – less talking. Everyone loved the lore, sure; but they wanted a little more of the game element. They wanted to feel that game. I think that Scott [Cawthorn] and Emma [Tammi] did a great job of adding those elements, and then giving you all of these new animatronics that I can’t spoil – but are pretty dope.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 trailers have shown off pieces of Mr. Cawthorn’s game impressively recreated in cinematic form by Ms. Tammi. The tease of Josh Hutcherson using a Freddy mask to survive an attack is one of the varied references that tie this new movie even closer to its source material.

That’s good news for viewers that didn’t get enough of the fictional children’s play place from Hell. At the same time, it’s only the start of how Matthew Lillard feels the creative team has upped its already reverent game.

Josh Hutcherson shields his ears as Balloon Boy stands in front of his desk in Five Nights at Freddy's 2.

Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 Was Built On The Foundation Of One Word: “Bigger”

The want for more jump scares, and in some cases an R-rated level of horror, clearly helped shape Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 into the picture it is now. While the PG-13 label is still firmly in tact, our latest slice of possessed entertainment definitely feels more open than its predecessor. Turning back to Matthew Lillard’s comments, the Daredevil: Born Again newcomer framed that expansion in this context:

 You can’t just pack a movie with lore, and sort of canon. You need to make a great movie. … We had a prototype that worked [with Five Nights at Freddy’s], obviously a massive success. They’re building on that, and they’re adding to it. The budget got bigger, the story got bigger, there’s more animatronics. There’s more [of] everything people want.

Such “bigger” moves in story and budget allowed for things like Jim Henson’s Creature Shop animatronics now walking freely in the open. Not to mention there’s now a larger Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria, with attractions worthy of a scare or two acting as a centerpiece of ambition. Plus with a larger role for fan favorite YouTuber MatPat, as well as Megan Fox’s debut as Toy Chica, the scope of Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 undeniably fits the bill.

That brings us to one more victory that Matthew Lillard claimed for his current horror project. Which, depending on who you talk to, could actually be the most important one.

A maniacal Matthew Lillard stands holding a knife in Five Nights At Freddy's 2.

The Purely Theatrical Debut Of Five Nights At Freddy’s 2 Was A Necessity

Despite Five Nights at Freddy’s box office success, fans and journalists wondered how much bigger it could have been without the simultaneous Peacock debut. TikTok videos of fans freaking out over seeing the previous chapter in theaters made a clear impression a bigger hit could have been at hand.

It’s a decision that still haunts everyone, making the confirmation of FNAF 2’s theatrical exclusivity important at every step of the way. Once again, good sir Lillard’s outlook on the situation provides sound reasoning for why the total package of “bigger” thinking included giving theaters more room to play with Freddy and friends: 

I think we’re all really excited to see what happens when we’re not on Peacock on the same day, and see what this movie could do. I think fans are gonna walk out and be abuzz, and I think that’s great. 

A perfect storm of feedback made sure that Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 was in service of the fans, and the potential pay off is already starting to take form. Per Deadline‘s reporting, the $7.2 million brought in through previews is a small drop from the previous picture’s $10.3 million showing.

That doesn’t mean that another sleeper hit for Blumhouse isn’t still in the cards; a possibility that would serve producer Jason Blum’s production company well after a rocky 2025. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is currently in theaters, so any fans reading here will be able to put Matthew Lillard’s claims to the test. But be sure to check back with THS after the weekend, as whatever the box office result may be will be something worth talking about. That is, if you haven’t lost your voice from screaming.

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