Paranormal Activity 4

2012

Paranormal Activity 4

Critics Consensus

While it does manage to wring a few more screams out of the franchise's surprisingly durable premise, Paranormal Activity 4 provides fans of the series with dismayingly diminishing returns.

23%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 111

34%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 118,016

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Movie Info

The fourth installment in the popular horror franchise.
  • Rating:
    R (for language and some violence/terror)
  • Genre:
    Horror
  • Directed By:
    Ariel Schulman, Henry Joost
  • Written By:
    Christopher Landon, Oren Peli
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $53,921,335
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Paramount Pictures

Cast

Katie Featherston
as Katie
Kathryn Newton
as Alex
Matt Shively
as Ben
Brady Allen
as Robbie
Stephen Dunham
as Doug
Alexondra Lee
as Holly

News & Interviews for Paranormal Activity 4

Box Office Guru Wrapup: Paranormal Activity 4 Scares Up Top Spot
Critics Consensus: Paranormal Activity 4 Offers Up Stale Scares
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Critic Reviews for Paranormal Activity 4

All Critics (111) | Top Critics (19) | Fresh (26) | Rotten (85)

  • A rickety old ride and no mistake, this instalment is for franchise fans only.

    October 24, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Chris Blohm

    Little White Lies
    Top Critic

  • We're still seeing things through handheld devices and built-in laptop cameras, even though nobody seems interested in looking at the footage the cameras were supposedly recording.

    October 22, 2012

    Bilge Ebiri

    New York Magazine/Vulture
    Top Critic

  • Even for a something about supernatural shenanigans, this ending is embarrassing.

    October 21, 2012 | Rating: 2/4

    Wesley Morris

    Boston Globe
    Top Critic

  • They could have called this Paranormal Inactivity.

    October 21, 2012 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews
    Top Critic

  • The mood is often playful, with teases and fake-outs that are sometimes humorous and usually right before shocks. Violence is rare, quick and devoid of lingering close-ups.

    October 21, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Andy Webster

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • There are at least a half-dozen or so decent jolts to be enjoyed over the film's running time, but prepare for a long wait to actually get to them.

    October 19, 2012 | Full Review…

    Alonso Duralde

    TheWrap
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (111)

Audience Reviews for Paranormal Activity 4

  • Nov 05, 2014
    This Movie is so worst, almost criminal to rate it at the first place.
    NaWie M Super Reviewer
  • Oct 08, 2014
    A film series that started droll gets increasingly unbearable in Henry Joost's Paranormal Activity 4. Not physically the most boring film I've ever seen, Activity 4 does however manage to be one of the most shallow. Though I'm pleased that the marketing stratagems of Paranormal Activity 2 onwards have helped bring horror a little more into the mainstream, the issue is that its only garbage like this thats now being approved. There is virtually nothing original about the piece, even the best element it has going for it (creepy kids) is completely blown out of the water by films the likes of The Children. The mythology of Paranormal Activity (as well as the films themselves) become less gripping with every entry. Activity 4 manages to just scrape by enough points with all its merits put together to achieve a "not quite the most abominable crap I've been subjected to in my life" and somehow barely held a decent amount of my attention for up to ninety minutes. Which is more than can be said for many movies I'v reviewed in the past. 26% -Gimly
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
  • Jan 06, 2014
    A great 10-minute short expanded into a tediously boring 90 minute feature that only reflects the studio's desperation (and lack of inspiration) to milk this franchise for all its worth.
    Edward B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 24, 2013
    Pretty solid. I mean this can be cheesy and predictable at times, but this is still really entertaining. The characters are far more likable than anybody in the past installations, which makes the movie easier to watch. The characters are also far less retarded for the most part than in the past films, since in the past the characters ignored things that were so obviously wrong. It was hard to not want to yell at the screen when you see some of that idiocy. This is the best film in the series aside from the second one.
    Stephen S Super Reviewer
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