It’s no secret thatFive Nights at Freddy’swas one of the hottest franchises in gaming in the 2010s (and some would say it still is). In late October 2023, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie hit theaters, much to the delight of fans everywhere. But the film has several differences from the games that you should know about.
The best approach is to consider the film’s canon to exist in a different timeline from the lore presented in the video games. Die-hard fans will definitelynotice the changes, but the movie is enjoyable for both old and new fans alike. Here are some of the biggest differences between the games and the movie.
7Mike Schmidt Gets Some Extra Backstory
The Movie Appears To Joss A Popular Fan Theory
The Mike Schmidt that appears in the movie is a young man down on his luck. Unable to hold down a job after the traumatic abduction of his younger brother Garrett, he desperately applies to Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria in a bid to keep custody of Abby, the one sibling he still has. It’s a sad story, but it doesn’t resemble the games at all.
Most of the protagonists of the various games, including Mike Schmidt, don’t have any canon backstory. One notable exception is the main character of Sister Location, Michael Afton. Fans have theorized that Michael is the security guard we play as in five of the first six games. He might also be the playable character in Pizzeria Simulator. It’s a compelling theory that’s completely contradicted by what we see in the movie.
6Mike Does A Lot More In The Movie
Mike’s Job Duties Just Got Way More Demanding
The first three games in this franchise have a fairly simple gameplay loop. You sit in a security office, watching CCTV footage. Your main objective is surviving the nightby preventing animatronicsfrom entering your office. There’s a bit of resource management thrown into the mix, but this is the kind of gameplay that fans have come to expect.
That being said, watching a guy sit alone in a security office for six hours is difficult to make into a compelling screenplay. Mike Schmidt acts more like an actual security guard in the movie, patrolling the pizzeria as well as watching security footage. There are even scenes of his life outside work hours. Riveting!
5We Get New Characters In The Movie
The Movie’s Changes To The Cast Alter The Plot Significantly
The expanded scope of the movie means that a new cast of human characters had to be introduced alongside the animatronics. From oily career counselors to angsty teens, the world feels much more alive in the movie. There are even cameos froma number of different Youtubers, like CoryxKenshin and 8-bit Ryan.
Most of the new characters we see are directly related to Mike. His siblings Garrett and Abby are the main focus of most of the movie, but there’s also his aunt Jane, who’s part of a quickly forgotten B plot. One memorable scene comes from a group of teens who break into the pizzeria at night, only to be killed by Freddy and his friends.
4None Of The Locations In The Games Are Abandoned
Fazbear Entertainment: It’s Not What It Used To Be
This is a major difference if there ever was one. Sure, Fazbear Entertainment was plagued with financial and legal troubles in the games. But all of the businesses featured were still operational. You even get to manage your own dubious franchise branch in Pizzeria Simulator. It was implied that despite everything, Fazbear Entertainment carried on with business as usual.
In the movies, however, absolutely no one visits Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria during daylight hours. The pizzeria is abandoned, with no one but troublemaking teens trying to come inside. What remains of Fazbear Entertainment’s coffers are being exhausted on security. This is probably a more realistic scenario, but we miss the dark comedy of the games.
3Several Key Characters From The Games Are Missing
The Games Have A Surprisingly Expansive Human Cast
While the movie adds a few new faces to the cast, it also takes away a lot. Mike Schmidt is here, but the enigmatic “phone guy”, voiced by Scott Cawthon, is missing. There’s not even a characterlikehim. This is a little disappointing, as Phone Guy’s monologs were part of the charm of the older games.
Several characters who are important to the lore of the games are also missing. William Afton’s former business partner, Henry Emily, is never mentioned. While it’s understandable that protagonists andanimatronics from other gameswouldn’t make an appearance, it would have been great to see some sort of reference to the expanded universe.
2Vanessa’s Backstory Is Completely Changed
It’s Unclear How Many Kids William Afton Has In The Cinematic Universe
Vanessa is a fairly recent addition to Five Nights at Freddys' roster, having first canonically appeared in Help Wanted. While she works as a security guard in the Pizzaplex, the RUIN DLC reveals her origins to be far more nefarious. She’s also a disciple of the Glitchtrap virus, and thus probably not someone you’d want to trust.
The movie version of Vanessa has only surface-level similarities to the Vanessa from the games. She’s a police officer in the film, and notably, she’s also William Afton’s daughter. In the games, Vanessa was never confirmed to have any relation to the Afton family. William’s daughter from the games, Elizabeth, is never mentioned.
1William Afton’s Fate Is Different
“I Always Come Back”
William Afton might be the main villain of the franchise, but he’s implied to be dead from the beginning in most of the games. While it’s not clear when his death occurred, his reanimated corpse has more direct contact with the players than his living body. There’s enough wiggle room in the first game that it can go either way.
However, Afton is confirmed as still alive in the movie. This is a huge departure from the games and has massive implications for the story. Afton’s first appearance is near the movie’s beginning, disguised as a career counselor who pushes Mike to take on the security gig. He does die by the movie’s conclusion, however, as the animatronics turn on their creator.
