Matthew Lillard says his child called him crying about how proud he was for his new movie

Matthew Lillard thought his career was over.

However, he's made a huge comeback with Five Nights at Freddy's and his biggest fans are his kids.

The actor, who is well known for his involvement in the Scooby Doo franchise, was cast in the film adaptation of the video game as Steve Raglan/William Afton.

The film absolutely smashed it on its first weekend and managed to become the third-highest horror box office opening ever, behind the two It films.

Blumhouse Productions/Universal Pictures

It was the biggest horror movie of 2023, it set an all-time record for a Halloween weekend, and it became the most-watched Peacock title ever in the first five days of release.

So, it's safe to say that the movie is killing it.

But, Lillard has revealed that being part of a movie with such a huge fanbase was an incredible honor.

His kids were thrilled when he told them about the project and they said he had to take the offer.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor said: "I think they’re more chuffed that I’m in the movie than with the performance in the movie.

"My middle kid called me crying because they were so happy for me when the movie came out.

"They went to the movie with all their friends, and I think they were very proud of me being a part of it."

He said it was probably the first movie he's done since his kids were born that has been screened in a cinema.

To hear that they were so excited for their dad is so beautiful.

Blumhouse Productions/Universal Pictures

He added: "For me, personally, it has been a very humbling moment in my career.

"I’m 53, and I’ve had a couple franchises in my career that have been successful.

"I [had thought] maybe that part of my career is dead and over, and that’s fine...to get this opportunity out of the blue to have another franchise that could make a real impact on my career is humbling and exciting, and my kids are thrilled."

He's hoping a sequel gets announced so that he can continue making movie magic.

Five Nights at Freddy's focuses on a 'troubled security guard' who takes a shift at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a once-successful but now abandoned family entertainment center.

He eventually discovers that four animatronic mascots called Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy kill anyone that is still there after midnight.

The game was an absolute classic and was available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Oculus, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android.

Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

@stewartperrie