Paranormal Activity 3

Critics Consensus

While the jolts and thrills are undeniably subject to the diminishing returns that plague most horror sequels, Paranormal Activity 3 is a surprisingly spine-tingling treat.

67%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 124

51%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 74,679

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Movie Info

The Paranormal Activity franchise continues with this third outing from Paramount Pictures. Oren Peli and Jason Blum return to produce the highly secretive feature, with Catfish's directing duo of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman taking on the helming duties. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

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Cast

Jessica Tyler Brown
Chloe Csengery
Christopher Nicholas Smith
Lauren Bittner
Dustin Ingram
Maria Olsen

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Critic Reviews for Paranormal Activity 3

All Critics (124) | Top Critics (24)

  • PA3 not only delivers quality jolts in spades, it turns out to be much scarier than The Blair Witch Project.

    Oct 24, 2011 | Rating: 3.5/5 | Full Review…

    Jim Schembri

    The Age (Australia)
    Top Critic

  • Joost and Schulman sustain a consistent sense of dread, playing with our own fears of things that go bump in the night.

    Oct 21, 2011 | Rating: B | Full Review…

    Adam Graham

    Detroit News
    Top Critic

  • If you haven't seen the first two movies, why are you watching this? And if you have seen the first two movies, why do you need to watch this?

    Oct 21, 2011 | Rating: 2/4

    Stephen Whitty

    Newark Star-Ledger
    Top Critic

  • Series creator Oren Peli and his conscripts have managed to do it again, but you have to wonder how far they can continue to push this found-footage angle.

    Oct 21, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • The shtick movie "Paranormal Activity 3" is the horror equivalent of vaudeville comedy: a little patter, a little pie in the face, repeat.

    Oct 21, 2011 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…

    Kyle Smith

    New York Post
    Top Critic

  • This third Paranormal is a prequel that occasionally goes off the rails but also offers more laughs and somewhat more character development than the previous installments.

    Oct 20, 2011 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    Claudia Puig

    USA Today
    Top Critic
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Audience Reviews for Paranormal Activity 3

  • Apr 06, 2015
    Paranormal Activity could very well be the only horror franchise worth watching that's new to our screens in the past decade. It can't be denied that each film does borrow somewhat from the last and for some the repeated tirade of CCTV-like footage displaying apparitions, slamming doors and distant wailing could get insufferable really fast, I personally found Paranormal Activity 3 to be far stronger than 2 and on par with 1. The last twenty minutes of the film are really quite something and express promising talent and unforgetable jolts. In Paranormal Activity 3 it is what's suggested that is much scarier than what is seen.
    Harry W Super Reviewer
  • Jan 06, 2014
    It would have been a better film had it not been made as "Found Footage," because there is real ingenuity in the way this prequel scares its audience and expands on the mythology, but the drawbacks to this style, such as long drawn out periods of nothing happening and limited perspectives, are now at their most evident.
    Edward B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 02, 2013
    The same, tired tricks are used, but these do not take away from the film's ability to engage. It is in fact more involved than its predecessors, and delivers just as many, if not more, scares. The acting, in typical Paranormal Activity fashion, is raw and believable. The found-footage genre may be overused at this point, but it works well in this film, and helps create the required suspense. The plot twist was completely unexpected and brilliantly developed. This film is a heart-pounding, entertaining chapter with more thrills and chills than most horror films in recent memory.
    Matthew Samuel M Super Reviewer
  • Oct 31, 2012
    Along with the the original movie, this is one of the better Paranormal Activity movies. That isn't to say it's great, but it makes for a relatively entertaining, if gimmicky and poorly written, scary movie. Don't expect to see any of the scenes from the trailer though; very few of them are actually in the movie.
    Joey S Super Reviewer
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