The World Needs Happy Death Day 3
A recent theatrical showing of the first film reinforced that the Tree-logy must be completed.
A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I went to see Happy Death Day in the theater again and were just as delighted as the many other times we’ve watched it. The 2017 movie was playing for one night at AMC Theaters as part of this fall’s BlumFest, which featured a number of popular Blumhouse films returning to theaters in the lead-up to Halloween. The lineup contained some other great selections, including Paranormal Activity and The Black Phone, but it was Happy Death Day – as you might gather, a huge favorite for both of us – that was the clear can’t miss.
Happy Death Day is a terrific example of just how well comedy and horror can blend together when done right. Taking the time loop concept that’s so enjoyable in films like Groundhog Day, Edge of Tomorrow and Palm Springs, and mixing it with a slasher movie/whodunnit scenario is an inspired mash-up. Director Christopher Landon manages to find just the right clever and winking tone, as the snobby Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) is stalked and killed on her college campus over and over again, only to then wake up on the same ill-fated day, which also happens to be her birthday. There are inspired touches throughout, including how Tree retains injuries from each of her deaths as the loop continues and the way the film manages a bit of a double reveal near the end as she figures out who exactly is so damn intent on killing her.

Though it not part of BlumFest (perhaps next time?), 2019’s Happy Death Day 2U is an rather inspired sequel that manages to both deliver more of what fans already loved – Tree once more dies over and over again, in darkly funny ways – but also skews in a new direction, with the film leaning more into science fiction than horror at times, as we get a trippy scientific explanation for what caused Tree’s dilemma in the first place. It also pushes the comedy even more, getting outright wacky at times, which perhaps all was a bit much for some, since its $64 million worldwide box office was far below the $125 million of the original. Which is a shame, since while a bit more uneven than the first, Happy Death Day 2U is still an incredibly fun movie that joins the ranks of Gremlins 2: The New Batch or Thor: Ragnarok in terms of coming at a sequel from a notably different perspective and really making it work. Oh yeah, and it’s a great multiverse movie - one that came out before everything from the MCU to Everything Everywhere All at Once went all in on that concept.
It’s worth noting that even with that big dip in the box office, Happy Death Day 2U made money, given its budget was only $9 million. But still, the drop seemed to put a stop to any early plans for a third entry, despite it being very much set up by how 2U ended. But there is a passionate fanbase for these films, which has meant Landon has been asked for updates about Happy Death Day 3 ever since, no matter what he’s promoting (yes, I’ve been guilty of bugging him about it, when I interviewed him for 2020’s Freaky) including when he did press for BlumFest recently. His answer is always the same: He wants to do it, but Universal and Blumhouse haven’t given it the greenlight. But my rewatch of the original – and even its inclusion in BlumFest at all – gave me renewed hope, while also making me once more lament that it still hasn’t happened.
Landon and Rothe filmed an intro for Happy Death Day at BlumFest together in which they thanked fans for their support and then did a funny bit where they said if they want a third film, they should contact Jason Blum personally - and then proceeded to give out his phone number and email address (both of which were bleeped out). They ended the video once more stressing that yes, they both still want to make the film. I’d love to think that video could mark the first step towards a new movie becoming a reality, since Blumhouse commendably had the sense of humor to include it, while implicitly acknowledging that yes, they know Happy Death Day 3 is something people keep asking for. So consider my fingers (eternally) crossed for this one…
…and in the meantime, Hollywood, can you please hire Jessica Rothe more?? Rewatching Happy Death Day is also a reminder of just how incredibly funny, charming and terrific Rothe is as Tree. She has to take this character on quite a journey, starting out as an especially rude, dismissive young woman and then showing how her bizarre experience leads to some huge personal growth (and falling for Israel Broussard’s charming Carter in the process). She does it all so effortlessly and has such Movie Star charisma that it’s bizarre she hasn’t been in many high profile projects besides the Happy Death Day films. Put her in more horror movies! Get her into a sitcom! The world needs more Happy Death Day but whether or that happens, it needs more Jessica Rothe.
Other Stuff:
I posted reviews on YouTube of a couple of recent film releases, including Venom: The Last Dance and Your Monster, along with the upcoming Heretic, which you can watch below. Plus, check out my thoughts on the finale of Agatha All Along, which happily stuck the landing.