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Early reviews of Black Phone 2 praised its willingness to move beyond the original’s contained horror, with several critics calling it as good as or better than its predecessor. That was not a unanimous verdict: other reviewers found the sequel too different, slower, or less effective. The key divide is whether its dreamlike supernatural turn feels like an ambitious expansion or an overcomplicated departure.
What are critics saying about Black Phone 2?
The first-review roundup followed the film’s September 2025 premiere at Fantastic Fest. Its positive reactions focused on reinvention rather than repetition: critics praised the expanded mythology, dream sequences, and renewed attention to siblings Finn and Gwen. Those are individual responses, not a claim that every critic preferred the sequel.
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Germain Lussier of io9 called it “The rare sequel that outshines its predecessor.” Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting wrote, “Black Phone 2 surpasses its predecessor in just about every way,” while Rafael Motamayor of Slashfilm praised a film that stands apart while improving on the original. The roundup’s headline captures that favorable strand of early opinion, not a settled consensus.
Is Black Phone 2 as good as the original?
There is no single answer in the early reviews. Supporters saw the sequel’s stylistic change as a way to develop the story and its characters. Detractors saw the same change as a departure from what made the first film work.
#1 Best Overall
- Runtime: 114 minutes
Why some critics preferred the sequel
For admirers, the sequel’s shift toward supernatural, dreamlike horror gives it a distinct identity. Kate Sánchez of But Why Tho? described it as “a wildly different movie from the first” and “weirder, more ambitious.” That difference is central to the praise: the film aims to broaden its world rather than simply replay the original’s setup.
The focus on Finn and Gwen’s relationship was another point in its favor. Critics who responded positively saw the sequel’s expanded mythology and visualized dreams as serving a story with more room for the siblings, rather than as decoration alone.
Why others were less convinced
Some reviewers wanted more of the first film’s approach and found the sequel slower or less successful. Sánchez’s description of the film as very different came with a warning that viewers expecting more of the original could be let down. Katie Rife of IndieWire offered a more reserved judgment: “Good enough for a horror sequel. But good enough will never be more than just that.”
In a review published October 16, 2025, Benjamin Lee of The Guardian argued that turning the Grabber into a supernatural dream threat makes the premise harder to follow. He found the rules confusing, the setup ungainly, and many of the scares ineffective. That is one reviewer’s assessment, but it identifies the clearest risk in the sequel’s approach: added mythology can make the horror feel less direct if its rules and pacing do not land.
Rank #3
How does the sequel compare with the first film?
The difference is less a simple question of “more” or “less” horror than of what kind of horror the sequel wants to deliver. The original established the central threat in a more contained setting; the sequel pushes further into dreams and supernatural mythology. Early reviews split over whether that expansion deepens the story or makes it less focused.
| Comparison | The Black Phone | Black Phone 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | A more contained threat, as characterized in the early-review comparison. | A more overtly supernatural, dream-oriented direction, according to the early reviews. |
| Story emphasis | The first film’s setup. | Expanded mythology and more attention to Finn and Gwen’s relationship. |
| Main point of disagreement | Provides the approach some viewers may want the sequel to retain. | Its reinvention is either an asset or a departure too far, depending on the reviewer. |
| Clarity and scares | The early-review materials do not establish a direct comparative verdict on these elements. | Lee found the supernatural rules confusing and many scares ineffective; other early critics praised the change in direction. |
The comparison also helps explain why a viewer’s expectations matter. Someone looking for the same kind of tightly contained threat may be less receptive to the sequel than someone interested in a broader, more dreamlike horror story.
Rank #4
- Ethan Hawke, Scott Derrickson
What did later reviews add to the first reactions?
Rotten Tomatoes’ current film page describes the sequel as a chilling follow-up that takes the consequences of the original seriously and includes later reviews and audience reactions. That is a later snapshot than the Fantastic Fest roundup: it should not be folded into the first reviews as though both reflect the same moment or group of responses.
Stephen King also reportedly praised the sequel, saying, “It’s not as good as the first one. IT’S BETTER,” in a reaction covered by GamesRadar+ on September 23, 2025. That is one prominent viewer’s response, not a critic poll or a measure of overall consensus.
Best Value
- Runtime: 114 minutes
What is Black Phone 2 about, and who made it?
Black Phone 2 is the follow-up to The Black Phone. Scott Derrickson directed the sequel; Ethan Hawke plays the Grabber, Mason Thames plays Finn, and Madeleine McGraw plays Gwen. After its Fantastic Fest premiere, the film opened theatrically on October 17, 2025.
Where can you watch Black Phone 2?
Rotten Tomatoes’ availability listing checked October 8, 2026 says the film streams on Netflix and is available to rent or buy through Fandango. Streaming and digital storefront availability can differ by territory and change over time, so check the service in your region for current options.
Quick Recap
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