Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Debuts to 11% on RottenTomatoes

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The movie Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is getting a mixed reaction. Critics haven’t been kind, giving it an 11% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but fans of the series seem to like it much more. Released in theaters on December 5th, the film’s initial reviews are poor, though strong support from its dedicated fanbase could still lead to success.

This article may contain very light spoilers for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.

The Five Nights at Freddy’s series began as small, independently created games where players were trapped and had to use tools like cameras and flashlights to survive against terrifying robots until morning. These initial games quickly became incredibly popular, expanding into various types of games and, by 2023, culminating in the release of a major film produced by the series creator, Scott Cawthon, and Jason Blum.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 Posts Great Numbers with Audiences, Not Critics

The Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 movie recently premiered in theaters, but it hasn’t been well-received by critics. With a score of just 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on nearly 70 reviews, the film has faced widespread criticism. Reviewers found the plot confusing and illogical, or simply too slow and lacking in the expected thrills for a horror movie. One critic, Jason Adams from My New Plaid Pants, went so far as to call it “absurdly tedious, deathly dull, flat, ugly, boring, and offensively dumb,” questioning how it was even made.

Although professional critics were quite harsh, general audiences seem to really enjoy Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter shows an 88% approval rating based on over 500 fan reviews. Many fans appreciate the game’s rich backstory, and some even say they like the sequel’s plot more than the first movie, especially since the first film made some interesting changes to the original game’s story.

Image via Univewrsal Pictures

It’s interesting how both fans and critics generally understand why others might love or dislike Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. While everyone will have their own opinion, the movie includes a lot of details that dedicated FNAF fans will appreciate. Like the first film, it’s packed with Easter eggs – nods to the game’s history, like 8-bit segments and familiar character phrases – that keep attentive viewers engaged. The movie also brings back popular actors like Josh Hutcherson, Piper Rubio, Elizabeth Lail, and Matthew Lillard, and features YouTuber MatPat in a new role after his character’s appearance in the first film. Plus, while the first movie complicated the Afton family’s history, this sequel begins to explore the story of Henry Emily, offering lore enthusiasts something new to investigate.

Image via Universal Pictures

The first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie was a major success, earning almost $292 million worldwide on a $20 million budget when it came out in 2023. While critics weren’t impressed (giving it a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences loved it, with an 86% score. The timing of its release right before Halloween likely helped. The sequel has a lot going for it too – a returning cast, fun surprises, more animatronics, a dedicated fanbase, and the success of the first film. Despite potentially receiving negative reviews from critics, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 could still outperform the original.

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2025-12-06 03:04