Metacritic Movie Ratings
Paranormal Activity 3 Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 91

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyOwen Gleiberman

  The bottom line, for me, is this: I don't scare easily at horror films, but I watched Paranormal Activity 3 in a state of high anxiety.

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• 90

  out of 100

  Los Angeles Times

  Paranormal Activity 3, the latest installment in the low-budget horror franchise, is far and away the sharpest, most wildly aware film in the series.

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• 80

  out of 100

  The New York Times

  "3" introduces a camera affixed to a fan panning slowly back and forth, offering now-you-see-it-now-you-don't tableaus in the kitchen and foyer. (Of course we never see who's editing this footage, and the story's cameramen keep dying off.) It also brings fake-out jolts and humor into play.

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• 80

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck

  Although not exactly breaking any new ground with its by now all too familiar found-footage format, Paranormal Activity 3 hews to the formula in expertly crafted fashion, mustering up the requisite scares and then some.

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• 75

  out of 100

  Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips

  The films are not works of genius. They are, however, wily reminders of the virtues of restraint when you're out for a scare.

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• 63

  out of 100

  USA TodayClaudia Puig

  Paranormal Activity 3 delivers similarly eerie moments, though long stretches go by where nothing truly ominous occurs.

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• 60

  out of 100

  VarietyJoe Leydon

  Much like its predecessors, Paranormal Activity 3 is a slow-building, stealthily creepy supernatural thriller that takes a teasingly indirect approach to generating suspense and escalating dread.

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• 50

  out of 100

  ReelViewsJames Berardinelli

  The scares (if you want to call them that) are still there - one "boo!" moment after another, strung together like a breadcrumb trail through a labyrinth. So if that's all you want from a Halloween release like Paranormal Activity 3, you are the perfect audience member.

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• 25

  out of 100

  Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert

  Inexplicably, there are people who still haven't had enough of these movies. The first was a nifty novelty. Now the appeal has worn threadbare.

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