Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026) is long overdue. The first Ready or Not film was monumental in the careers of those involved. A sleeper hit that gained audiences from all sides of the aisle, the 2019 horror-comedy put directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, known collectively as Radio Silence, on the map. Meanwhile, star Samara Weaving became a modern scream queen overnight. Now, seven years, one pandemic, many notable roles for Weaving, two Scream sequels, and a vampire comedy (Abigail) from Radio Silence later, Ready or Not 2 is finally here. To no surprise, it was well worth the wait; Ready or Not 2 is just as good, if not better, than the original.
Although the setting isn’t as distinct as that in the first movie, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett put their pedal to the metal in all other aspects of Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Weaving continues to hone her enthralling lead performance while franchise newcomer Kathryn Newton, best known for Freaky (2020), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), and Lisa Frankenstein (2024), proves to be an exceptional co-lead. A downright perfect supporting cast flanks them as the set pieces double down on the increasingly ridiculous antics from the first film. Most surprisingly of all, the expansive worldbuilding of Ready or Not 2 will have fans foaming at the mouth for more.
The World of Ready or Not Just Got A Whole Lot Bigger
Directly after the events of Ready or Not, Grace MacCaullay (Samara Weaving) thinks she’s got away scot-free. This couldn’t be further from the case, as her victory over the Le Domas family in “hide and seek” has triggered a second game. Instead of competing against her in-laws, Grace is now being hunted for sport by the wealthy members of a widespread Satanic cult who worship the entity “Mr. Le Bail.” If she lives, they risk losing all their influence. Plus, if they disobey any part of the game’s strict rules, they’ll literally explode as part of their supernatural contract with the devil. Grace’s forced competition is complicated when her estranged sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), is brought into the game.
As strange as it feels to say, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come greatly expands the cinematic world of the series. Not since John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) has a sequel so thoroughly re-contextualized the original film as a small cog in a much bigger machine. Returning screenwriters Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy zoom out, in a sense, and unveil a Satanic network full of all sorts of colorful characters, intricate rules, and, yes, games. Holding together this world is a delightfully cast Elijah Wood as “The Lawyer,” who functions as a comically deadpan lorekeeper of sorts for the movie.
This isn’t jumping the shark; this is Ready or Not evolving, and it’s hard not to feel giddy about every new revelation.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come Boasts One Hell of a Cast
It also helps that the supporting cast is this stacked. Scream queen Sarah Michelle Gellar and The Pitt‘s Shawn Hatosy bring a campy icy-ness to their roles as the Danforth siblings. Genre mainstays Néstor Carbonell and Kevin Durand do what they do best, giving their own flavor to the elites they play. Lesser-known performers like Varun Saranga as the obnoxious Madhu Rajan and Maia Jae as the capable yet bloodthirsty Francesca El Caido steal the spotlight in their scenes. When a cast is so good that legendary director David Cronenberg — who, to be fair, has one of the film’s most memorable gags in its opening moments — is barely noteworthy, then we’re cooking with grease.
Our new cast of scoundrels easily matches the Le Domas family. But, of course, the MacCaullay sisters are still front and center. Samara Weaving is better than ever as Grace. She has such an “over it and ready to kill whoever gets in my way” energy that’s infectious from start to finish. Kathryn Newton meets her at this level as the rebellious younger sister. Weaving and Newton’s natural comedic chemistry is a joy to watch as they find hilarious ways to play off each other while being hunted alive. The two convincingly convey the bickering that comes with being sisters as well as the support that makes each other better. To borrow Gen Z terminology, it’s a joint slay.
Radio Silence at Their Best
It seems like Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are having the most fun they have ever had in their careers here. Without repeating themselves, they up the ante in a major way. There are far more bloody explosions, brought to life via awesome practical effects, and gory carnage that rides the line between cringe horror and undeniable comedy. The first Ready or Not had to slowly build up the absurd chaos; this sequel does not have that problem. Radio Silence have never been more comfortably brash and ambitious as filmmakers, relishing the propulsive energy they create as the madness keeps spiraling. Trying not to grin ear-to-ear during this movie is basically impossible. It’s their best directorial work yet.
Courtesy of Searchlight
Perhaps the only aspect in which this sequel doesn’t quite match the first is the location. Whereas the Le Domas family mansion was a highly detailed, rich environment, the multiple locations in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come are a little more nondescript, with the cartoon violence taking precedence over the setting. This issue is corrected as the final act shifts to a decadent set. However, the set won’t be what you’re focusing on. Ready or Not 2 nails its operatic finale, bringing this story to an ending that feels instantly iconic and destined to be talked about for years to come.
Horror Comedies Have a New Champion
It took 7 years for Ready or Not 2: Here I Come to see the light of day. A lot has happened in those years, some good, some bad. Regardless, all that time has allowed the crew to reunite and create a sequel that exceeds expectations. We go to the movies for many reasons, yet they all essentially come down to the same theme: we want to be swept away. Ready or Not 2 is the exact movie to do that job, taking viewers on a gruesome thrill ride full of huge laughs and rich mythology. In the horror-comedy space, no one’s doing it like Radio Silence has with the Ready or Not franchise.
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come premiered at the 2026 SXSW Film Festival!
Release Date: March 20, 2026.
Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett.
Written by Guy Busick & R. Christopher Murphy.
Produced by Tripp Vinson, James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, & Bradley J. Fischer.
Executive Producers: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Samara Weaving, Greg Denny, Tara Farney, Paul Neinstein, Chad Villella, Guy Busick, & R. Christopher Murphy.
Main Cast: Samara Weaving, Kathryn Newton, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, David Cronenberg, Elijah Wood, Néstor Carbonell, Kevin Durand, Olivia Cheng, Varun Saranga, Nadeem Umar-Khitab, Juan Pablo Romero, Masa Lizdek, Maia Jae, Daniel Beirne, & Antony Hall.
Cinematographer: Brett Jutkiewicz.
Original Themes by Brian Tyler.
Composer: Sven Faulconer.
Editor: Jay Prychidny.
Production Companies: Vinson Films, Mythology Entertainment, & Radio Silence.
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures.
Runtime: 108 minutes.
Rated R.
