# Smile (2022 film)

> Paramount planted smiling actors at baseball games; Smile grossed $217 million worldwide.

- Owner: Paramount Pictures (distributor); Parker Finn (writer-director)
- Kind: Film
- Sector: Entertainment
- Seed date: 2022-09-22
- Observed peak date: Week of Oct 5, 2022
- Date basis: Observed peak within the documented measurement window; not an all-time maximum. Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 60 (Viral), v1.2
- Mechanics: Real-world spectacle, Mystery & lore, Platform jump, Press loop, Underdog

## Summary

Smile premiered at Fantastic Fest before Paramount placed smiling actors in televised baseball crowds. Clips spread on X and TikTok, and press explained the stunt. The film opened atop the domestic box office and held first place for a second weekend.

## Timeline

- 2022-06-22 — Paramount Pictures (YouTube) — Paramount released the official trailer on YouTube.
- 2022-09-22 — Paramount Pictures / Fantastic Fest (Box office) — Smile opened Fantastic Fest with its world premiere in Austin, Texas.
- 2022-09-23 — Paramount Pictures / TriplePlay Studios (TV) — Paramount placed paid smilers behind home plate during televised Major League Baseball games.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/smile-2022-film

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Smile (2022 film).” Case HIS-01198. Spread Score v1.2: 60/100. Updated 2026-10-22. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01198