Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Smile & Smile 2!

Kyle Gallner's Joel is still alive at the beginning of the end of Smile, Joel was the only one around to see it, meaning that the smile entity was then transferred to him. Although Smile 2 focuses on an entirely different cast of characters, it manages to tie up Joel's story in its opening scene, connecting the two films in a big way.

Smile 2 opens with Kyle Gallner's Joel clearly crazed due to the influence of the smile entity, with him attempting to the curse on to a drug dealer. However, his plan goes awry when the drug dealer dies before he does. Things get worse when Lewis and several other customers show up, causing Joel to flee. However, he is hit by a car while running away, killing him. This transfers the smile curse to Lewis, who later transfers it to Skye Riley, kicking off the events of Smile 2.

Joel Lived 2 Days Longer Than The Average Smile Victim

The Smile Entity Otherwise Kills Its Victims After 4 Days

Joel's time with the smile entity is unusual due to how long he had the curse, something that is understood by fans of the first movie. The original Smile clearly establishes that the curse typically lasts for four days before the entity kills its host, a rule that is followed with each of the entity's victims throughout the film.

However, Smile 2 opens with a title card explaining that it takes place six days after the ending of the first Smile. Joel is still around, meaning he has bared the curse of the smile entity for two days longer than the average victim. This can explain why he seems so out of things when Smile 2 begins, with the extended influence of the entity having an even greater effect on his psyche.

Why The Smile Entity Didn't Kill Joel After 4 Days

It May Have Wanted To Get To Skye Riley

It is never explained why the smile entity didn't kill Joel after four days, with Smile 2 leaving this detail vague. The most popular theory is that the entity wanted Joel's plan to go through. The ending of Smile 2 sees Skye Riley's death spread the curse to more people than ever before, and if the entity knew this would happen due to Joel's death, it is possible that it would have held off on killing him until he got near Skye Riley's drug dealer.

It could also be that Joel intentionally stayed away from people, making him too isolated for the entity to kill. As Morris theorizes in Smile 2, if the host dies without another living host nearby, the smile entity could die. It could be that Joel intentionally stayed isolated for as long as possible, but by the time Smile 2 began, he just couldn't take it anymore.