Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 shattered box office expectations with a $63 million opening weekend—but the real shocks came in TWO post-credit scenes that set up FNAF 3. From Springtrap’s terrifying reveal to The Marionette’s chilling warning, here’s every secret from Josh Hutcherson’s haunted sequel that fans are Googling right now.
Key Takeaways
- FNAF 2 opened with $63 million domestically (December 6-8, 2025), making it the second-biggest horror opening of 2025
- YES, there ARE post-credit scenes—both mid-credits AND post-credits that directly set up FNAF 3
- Mid-credits scene reveals Springtrap: William Afton returns as the terrifying animatronic, teasing the haunted house attraction plot
- Post-credits audio message: Henry Emily warns Mike that “She’s coming for you”—referring to The Marionette/Charlotte
- Josh Hutcherson returns as Mike Schmidt alongside Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, and Matthew Lillard
- Fans loved it (70% would recommend)
- Released December 5, 2025 in theaters and streaming simultaneously
The Box Office Shocker: $63M Opening
When Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 dropped on December 5, 2025, Hollywood insiders predicted a $35-40 million opening. Instead, the haunted animatronic sequel crushed expectations with $63 million domestically in its opening weekend, claiming the #1 spot and marking the second-biggest horror opening of 2025 (behind only A Quiet Place: Day One).
The numbers tell a remarkable story:
- $7.2 million Thursday previews
- $220 million total for Zootopia 2 (which landed in second place with $43M)
- Second-best horror debut of the entire year
Paul Dergarabedian of Comscore called it a turning point: “After much concern regarding the October box office, which recorded its lowest results in decades, there’s no better way for theaters to kick off December”.
YES, Stay for BOTH Post-Credit Scenes
The #1 trending question: “Is there a post credit scene in FNAF 2?”
Answer: YES—TWO of them.
Mid-Credits Scene: Springtrap Rises
The mid-credits sequence shows William Afton’s return as Springtrap, the decayed animatronic rabbit that becomes his prison. According to Comic Book Resources, this scene directly sets up the plot of FNAF 3, which focuses on a Freddy Fazbear’s-themed haunted house attraction.
Springtrap represents Afton trapped inside the Spring Bonnie suit, a horrifying fusion of man and machine that fans of the games have been waiting years to see on screen.
Post-Credits Scene: Henry’s Warning
Following the full credits, an audio message from Henry Emily plays—mirroring the format of the first film’s post-credits. Henry admits he helped Afton create the animatronics, then delivers a chilling warning to Mike:
“She’s coming for you.”
That “she” is The Marionette/Charlotte—whose possession of Vanessa is shown in the final shot before credits roll. Screen Rant reports that Vanessa’s face begins to transform to resemble The Marionette after Mike tells her to leave him and Abby alone.
Table: FNAF 2 Essential Facts
The Josh Hutcherson Renaissance
For Josh Hutcherson, FNAF 2 represents a full-circle career moment. The 33-year-old former Hunger Games star told the New York Times he “never wanted to leave” Hollywood—but after the franchise ended a decade ago, “it felt like it almost all went away”.
The original FNAF (2023) changed everything, grossing over $290 million globally despite mixed reviews. Hutcherson admits he had zero knowledge of the fandom before signing on:
“I had no knowledge of the ‘F.N.A.F.’ fandom. I had never played the game and was unfamiliar with it. I was told the fans were dedicated, but I thought it was a smaller group. It turns out, there are millions.”
For the sequel, Hutcherson dove deeper into the lore—though he still doesn’t “fully get” the games. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘This doesn’t make any sense! How can I possibly do this?’ And they’re like, ‘It’s from the game,'” he laughed.
When asked about returning for FNAF 3, Hutcherson was emphatic: “Yes, without a doubt… if we got to have the same team, the same group of actors, that would be my absolute dream”.
Critics vs. Fans: The Great Divide
Fans told a different story. PostTrak polling revealed that 70% of ticket purchasers would “definitely” recommend FNAF 2 to friends. The disconnect mirrors the first film, which succeeded despite poor reviews by delivering exactly what the fanbase wanted: game-accurate lore, practical animatronics, and Scott Cawthon’s vision.
Collider offered a more balanced take, calling it “a sillier, fun improvement” that “genuinely starts to chart a path towards an interesting direction for an inevitable third chapter”.
What the Ending Really Means
The final moments before credits are crucial:
Vanessa’s Possession: After Mike rejects her, Vanessa stands alone in the Schmidt house doorway. Her face begins transforming to resemble The Marionette, indicating Charlotte’s spirit has taken control.
Charlotte’s Backstory: The film opens with a 1982 flashback showing young Charlotte witnessing a kidnapping at the original Freddy’s location. She’s murdered while adults inexplicably stand by, and her spirit fuses with The Marionette.
Mike’s Isolation: By pushing Vanessa away, Mike is now alone and vulnerable when Henry’s warning arrives: “She’s coming for you”.
Director Emma Tammi told USA TODAY the ending and credits scenes were carefully crafted to set up the FNAF 3 plot: a haunted house attraction built around the original Freddy’s animatronics, where Springtrap becomes the main antagonist.
Scott Cawthon’s Vision: “Game Accuracy First”
Creator Scott Cawthon—who wrote the screenplay—insisted on game accuracy above all else. This sometimes baffled Hutcherson and director Emma Tammi, who struggled to make illogical game mechanics work in a live-action narrative.
“The main focus is making something that the FNAF fandom will go crazy for,” Hutcherson explained. “Sometimes I’m like, ‘This doesn’t make any sense!’ And they’re like, ‘It’s from the game'”.
That commitment paid off. Fans flooded social media with praise for:
- Practical animatronics (not CGI)
- Expanded mythology exploring Freddy’s origins
- Game-accurate character designs
- The Marionette’s faithful adaptation
What’s Next: FNAF 3 in Development?
While Universal hasn’t officially greenlit FNAF 3, the post-credits scenes make it inevitable. The setup is clear:
- Springtrap as the main antagonist
- Haunted house attraction setting
- The Marionette hunting Mike
- Henry Emily’s expanded role
Hutcherson has repeatedly said he’d return “without a doubt,” and director Emma Tammi has hinted at a “broader narrative” vision spanning multiple films.
With FNAF 2 outperforming projections and Hollywood desperate for reliable horror franchises, expect an announcement soon—likely targeting December 2026 to maintain the yearly release schedule fans expect.
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