Paranormal Activity

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Paranormal Activity

R

2009

1h 26m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

209 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Soon after moving into a suburban tract home, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a supernatural presence. Hoping to capture evidence of it on film, they set up video cameras in the house but are not prepared for the terrifying events that follow.

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Critics Consensus

Using its low-budget effects and mockumentary method to great result, Paranormal Activity turns a simple haunted house story into 90 minutes of relentless suspense.

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Julie and Brandy

Autostraddle

it was awesome in the way that it was extremely, horrendously and torturously stressful... worth it.

Sep 1, 2021

Full Review

Shubhra Gupta

The Indian Express

[Paranormal Activity] is way more scary than Blair Witch because it takes the old conceit of things that go bump into the night, and brings it slyly into a well-to-do, middle class suburb.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 17, 2019

Full Review

Deborah Ross

The Spectator

This is a scarily well-made scary little film, although it certainly isn't flawless... But the acting is supremely naturalistic and, for such a small-scale project, it does have an amazingly heightened effect.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

The found footage horror premise has a certain originality in evoking a few chills in domestic atmospheres, but, in general, the little substance there is goes out like the lights in the bedroom. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 5/10

Oct 19, 2025

Full Review

Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

...Before every douchebag had a ghost hunting tv show, this tapped into the suspension of disbelief around “real hauntings”... Ghosts [aren't] reaching through tvs stealing children, but [they are] knocking things off of shelves like housecats.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 23, 2025

Full Review

Joseph Tomastik

Loud and Clear Reviews

I had my bets on liking the film … I did not expect it to be one of the scariest movies I’ve ever seen.

Rated: 4.5/5

Dec 4, 2024

Full Review

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Warren H.

Honestly, this movie is really suspenseful. But in a good way. The fact that the entire movie is filmed from an older camera makes it so much better. And while it takes a while to get in its feet, it definitely pays off. As for if it’s scary, it’s not necessarily scary as it is suspenseful. Overall, a must watch horror movie!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

Full Review

Aidanlee W.

Classic movie, good scares and good tension. The movie created a series of interesting tales and characters.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/30/25

Full Review

Alejandra C

back in the day it traumatized everyone. OG. Watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/06/25

Full Review

Marc L

Watch this film to learn how *not* to write a horror movie. It isn’t scary. Bambi is scarier. I found myself hitting the pause button to see how much longer this nonsense was going to continue. It’s slow-burn horror that never ignites. The boyfriend character was so annoying that I was hoping something bad would happen to him. The female character had one redeeming quality: she was cute. If you find 90 minutes of bumping noises and doors moving by themselves to be scary, this movie will terrify you. Otherwise, don’t waste your time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/24/25

Full Review

randomshjt 2.

Watch this by myself and I kind of regretted it because even though this movie really isn’t that scary it’s a movie that has some very creepy and intense moments

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/25

Full Review

Affleberry F

Very well could be the best found footage movie made. I'm a big fan of the sequel as well, but it would have to come down to them or maybe As Above, So Below as my favorite found footage movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/12/25

Full Review

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Oren Peli

Director

Katie Featherston

Katie

Micah Sloat

Micah

Amber Armstrong

Amber

Mark Fredrichs

Psychic

Ashley Palmer

Girl on Internet

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - We Need Your Help

1:11

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Powder Footsteps

2:11

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - How Did She Die?

1:53

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Dragged Out of Bed

2:04

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - I Feel it Breathing on Me

1:41

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - The Sheets Move

2:10

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Slamming the Door

2:06

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Paranormal Ending

2:13

Paranormal Activity: Official Clip - Ouija Board on Fire

2:11

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Movieclips: Paranormal Activity - Try Not to Get SCARED!

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Synopsis

Soon after moving into a suburban tract home, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a supernatural presence. Hoping to capture evidence of it on film, they set up video cameras in the house but are not prepared for the terrifying events that follow.

Director: Oren Peli
Producer: Jason Blum, Oren Peli
Screenwriter: Oren Peli
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Blumhouse
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 16, 2009, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $107.9M
Runtime: 1h 26m

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