Netflix is about to lose one of the decade's most disturbing psychological horror films

There’s nothing quite as frustrating as logging into Netflix, ready to rewatch one of your favorite movies, only to find that it’s suddenly gone. It’s a universal streaming heartbreak! But unfortunately, this is the sad reality of licensed content on streaming platforms.

Unlike Netflix originals, which stay put indefinitely, licensed movies are only available for a limited time due to expiring distribution deals with other studios. Once those agreements end, Netflix has to remove the titles, no matter how beloved or frequently watched they are. It’s a frustrating cycle for subscribers who grow attached to certain films, only to see them vanish from their watchlists without warning.

This November, horror fans are about to experience that disappointment firsthand, as one of the most chilling and talked-about psychological horror films of the past decade will be leaving the platform. We knew the day would eventually come, but why did it have to come so soon?

Unfortunately, Smile is leaving Netflix in November 2025

We would love to say April Fools! But it’s neither April nor a joke. Sadly, Smile is officially leaving Netflix in November 2025, and yes, it hurts just as much as it sounds. The streaming giant has even put up a removal notice on the movie's title page on the platform, which really makes things official.

Starting on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, Smile will no longer be available to stream on Netflix. This means the last day to watch this deeply disturbing horror film is Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. We might still be in October at the moment, but the days have been flying by. Before you know it, it'll be Nov. 14, and the chance to watch Smile on Netflix will be gone. We would hate for this to happen to you, so if you’ve been planning to watch or rewatch Smile, now is the time to do it.

The horror flick was initially added to Netflix on May 14, 2025. That means it will have been available on the platform for just six months before its removal. That's a relatively short window, but you just never know how long some films will stick around on streaming platforms. The good news is that it will still be streaming on Netflix for Halloween. Now, that would've been a huge bummer!

What is Smile (2022) about?

Parker Finn wrote and directed Smile. It serves as a follow-up to his 2020 short film Laura Hasn't Slept and expands the story into a full-length psychological horror feature. The story centers on Dr. Rose Cotter, a psychiatrist who starts being plagued by a sinister entity after witnessing a traumatic event involving one of her patients.

As the curse takes hold, Rose is tormented by horrifying hallucinations and is forced to face her own buried traumas in order to survive, all while desperately trying to uncover the origins of the malevolent force and break the cycle before it claims her life. Sosie Bacon delivers a standout performance as Rose, capturing the character’s escalating fear, vulnerability, and determination with gripping intensity.

Also in the cast are Jessie T. Usher, Kyle Gallner, Kal Penn, Rob Morgan, Robin Weigert, Caitlin Stasey, Judy Reyes, Gillian Zinser, and many others.

Although Smile will be departing Netflix next month, that doesn't mean you won't be able to stream it at all. It'll still be available to watch on Paramount+, which is its real streaming home. Its sequel, Smile 2, is also streaming over there. So if you miss your chance to watch Smile on Netflix, you can still catch it and its sequel on Paramount+. In addition, a third Smile movie is in the works.