Paranormal Activity 3
User Score
5.8 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 208 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 130 out of 208
  2. Mixed: 32 out of 208
  3. Negative: 46 out of 208

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  1. Motrix47
    Oct 24, 2011
    2
    Ok im s sucker for reality based horror movies. When the 1st one came out, I could not sleep for a week. It was great. I love it when as movie has that much of a scare effect. The 2nd one came out and I was literally praying to god in the cinema to get me out of here, again loved it. The 3rd one I was like ...ok where are the scenes from the trailer. I am not lying people when I say the scariest scenes are in the TRAILER and not the MOVIE. The movie is missing approx 7-8 scenes. This is not acceptable and I feel like its a Marketing tactic to attract cinema seats to be sold and for us to buy the DVD. NOT GOOD… Expand
  2. man
    Oct 24, 2011
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a difficult review to make for several reason,so I'll keep it as organized as possible.The beginning of the film that dates back to 2005 in Kristi and Daniel's house made me feel a little nostalgic(considering the fact I loved the 2nd movie.)So that beginning sequence was good.Then we get to the start of all of the tapes where it's Katie's birthday.Almost immediately we start to hear all those strange noises in the house and the cameras come out.The sex tape near the beginning is also very unnecessary.So all of the usual stuff happens and then on the very 1st night,Kristi starts talking to the demon(aka Toby!)And it's just like all of those other horror movies where little girls befriend some ghost or entity.That's been played out several times already,but some of the nights get slightly better and I'm sad to say only like one or two parts of this whole movie in all of the nights filmed made me jump the slightest bit.Also,I began to feel the film drag quite a bit and the nights got better and worse at the same time,because nothing scary happened most of the time sadly.So then the babysitter shows up and acts like a child when she dresses up as a ghost for Katie and Kristi.THEN we have one of the cameras downstairs that sits on top of a fan spinner.I really did not like this camera,because we only get to see what's partially happening in each room downstairs because of this.Anyway,the sitter(Lisa) is just sittin in the kitchen and THEN,the demon hides under a white sheet and we see it standing behind Lisa.The sheet then drops to the floor.Afterwards,she just gets freaked out and leaves when the parents get home.So throughout the movie,the dad keeps recording the action and becomes obsessed with it.Eventually,Katie and the dad's friend Randy decide to do a Bloody Mary in the bathroom and Randy ends up getting scratched mysteriously.Afterwards,the girl's room gets trashed by the demon and even Katie's hair gets pulled!After all of that,this part stayed in my head because it was insane!The mom Julie walks in the kitchen and all of the tables,chairs...EVERYTHING is gone!!!And then not a moment later,everything comes crashing down from the ceiling!!!WTF!!!?Clever,but not scary!So then they drive all the way to grandma's and crash there,and this particular granny seems sweet at first,but afterwards the dad finds her and a bunch of other grannies in the garage taking part in some demonic ritual(Whoops!Looks like grandma was into the whole demon ordeal all along!!!Go figure!So the dad runs away,locks the door and comes to find Julie hovering at the top of the stairs.Her dead body then falls on top of the dad.He hurries and hides with Kristi in a closet and you can hear heavy,demon-like breathing outside the door.OOOOOOOH!(NOT!!!)So then he comes out to find Katie all bunched up by the stairs.She then goes all freaky on him and makes him fall over.Then SURPRISE!!!Grandma shows up and bends his head and back all the way to his feet,killing him in a very exorcist-like way!The girls then go with the grandma upstairs and Kristi says"Come on Toby".And as soon as the credits rolled after that,my jaw dropped open!!!THAT WAS IT!!!???THAT WAS THE WHOLE MOVIE!!!???What about everything that was in the trailers!!!?The house fire?There was none!All that talk of Katie's house burning down in the first 2 and there was nothing!!!And what about the part where the psychic bangs his head on the table repeatedly because of the demon?Nothing!!!Katie and Kristi doing Bloody Mary in the bathroom?Never happened!!! I just don't understand what the filmmakers were thinking!This third entry was misleading for a lot of people like myself I bet,because it left out all of the major scenes that were SUPPOSED to be in this movie and scenes that were frequently discussed in the first two but were never shown.So this leads me to believe that they either dim wittingly decided to cut these exciting and important scenes or are HOPEFULLY saving them for the unrated director's cut.If this happens,I would buy the dvd just so I can watch the director's cut and MORE THAN HOPEFULLY be satisfied with what they add to it.If this happens,I might gain more respect for this movie,because I was looking foreward to this movie for over a year and what I got was a disappointment.If this was as successful as everyone says it was,hopefully the fourth one will improve in the factors where it failed in this outing,because I honestly had no idea where this movie was going with how it was weakly structured.Summing up,this had so much potential like the first too,but ended up being somewhat half-assed and fell flat on its face!Die hard Paranormal fans who closely followed the plot of the first two like me may be disappointed.Go and see this at your own risk,but I'm tellin ya.My advice,wait for Redbox on this one.Not very scary and not as good as the first 2.Nuf said?Great!Seeya!!!… Expand
  3. asjklas
    Oct 22, 2011
    3
    Paranormal Activity 3 is simply just more of the same recycled thrills, chills, twists, and shifts from the first two films, except in this case, it's more terrible than terrifying.
  4. MovieFanatic221
    Oct 22, 2011
    3
    I gave this movie and big fat 3! When I saw the trailer for this movie, I though it was awesome! So I went to see the movie and it was complete "BS"! The movie had not shown the scene when the little girls went into the bathroom to play Bloody Mary and when the movie was getting really good in the middle when Katie's hair got pulled, it went back to nothing and then again at the end when the family had went to the grandmother's home, it got great until all of the sudden out of no where, it ended! The ads on television about the movie were misleading because they said that the last 15 minutes would change your l,ife when the whole movie was nothing! I really want my money back and I advise you not to waste YOUR money at the theater or when it comes out on DVD!… Expand
  5. dougrees
    Oct 28, 2011
    4
    This was a cut above the standard horror flick in many ways, despite the inconsistencies of the whole "caught on camera" trope, done best, and as it should have been in hindsight, last, by the still stunning BLAIR WITCH PROJECT; acting of a very high order for this kind of movie, and then it all turns remarkably dumb, and of course, ends even dumber. I'd give the first 80% of this movie a 6, and the ending a 0.… Expand
  6. adelezaaba
    Nov 27, 2011
    3
    Boring, dull and got me sleepy before the first half an hour. The ending is an huge letdown. I expected better. The movie has a lot of unescessary scary scenes (which are not scary at all). It didn't really give you the kick that you expected for a horror movie.
  7. asthobaskoro
    Feb 11, 2012
    3
    I'm not Paranormal Activity franchise fans. No impress for the first one, even I skip the second one. I just curious why the third got positive reviews. I watched it and it's still boring. Come on! We don't need new SAW.
  8. Thomas21
    Nov 3, 2012
    4
    I liked watching the first 2 movies, but this movie was just overdone. The action in this movie isn't near as thrilling and unexpected as in it's predecessors. Just a good idea went to waste by a production made with some more money but less thought in it. A shame because I liked the other movies
  9. Knicksfan7
    Oct 25, 2011
    4
    I had an original review saying how scary and good this movie was so i hope this one wipes that out because now that i think of it and ive watched the trailer again, im suddenly frustrated and pissed. Where was the paranormal guy who gets his head slammed on the table? Wneres the girls playing bloody mary? Where christie jumping off the ledge ofher bedroom? Wheres the house fire? Wheres the mom getting pulled back into the bedroom? Wheres christie splashing toby with water? Ive just listed 6 of the best scenes from the trailer that werent even in the film! Theyve cut off most of the movie and the best parts. This is very frustrating and annoying, this movie couldve been a thousand times better. There was yet another abrupt ending that made no sense. Seems as thoughtheres alot of plot holes. They didnt explain very much of what katy and christie said in the first 2 movies. I dont know why but i was pretty scared throughout this movie but im bery confused and frustrated now that i think of all of the disappointments. Very frustrating but if you want cheap thrills then go ahead and see it but yu will be frustrated if you think about it. 4/10… Collapse
  10. SMRsound
    Oct 26, 2011
    1
    VERY VERY OVERRATED. NOT AS SCARY AS I WOULD ASSUME. EXPECTED MORE. WHERE ARE THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIES. THEY DONT MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TOO. THIS WAS JUST ANOTHER BLAIR WITCH, WATCHING A MOVIE THROUGH A CAMERA LENSE IS NOT SCARY@!
  11. Daniel_Aries
    Oct 27, 2011
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The movie started off pretty good, with a clip somewhat, but not quite, "explaining" the break in at Kristie's house that prompted them to install the security cams that recorded the majority of the events in PA2 (even though in PA2 they claim that the only thing stolen was a necklace, and in this one it was the old VHS tapes from when the girls were little that were the only things missing). Then the movie switches to the clips from the "missing tapes" without any explanation about where the tapes were found. I know it seems like nit-picking, but you knew that the footage shown in PA1 was found when the police showed up and found Micah and thus the video footage on the computer, the footage shown in PA2 was found when the police showed up after the murders of Kristie and Dan... but where were these "missing tape "found"? it seems like they could have at least explained that the tapes had been found in the attic of Katie and Micah's house like the burnt picture had been... something would have been better than nothing.

    The first part of the Old footage was pretty good if watched by itself, but as a part of the series there were some inconsistencies, such as the Demon being "attached" to Kristie, yet in PA1 Katie states that the Demon had been attached to her and that Kristie had simply "seen it too". Also, the fact that the demon was given a name as sinister and frightening as TOBY did a lot to take away from the scare factor. on top of that it just seemed like Toby just had a thing for little girls.

    Also there were some scenes in the previews that simply weren't in the movie such as the two girls playing Bloody Mary, one of the girls walking off of the second floor balcony, "the knocking game", the medium getting smashed into the table by an unseen force, the kid throwing water in the demon and things flying around the room, the mom getting pulled into the room and pinned to the bed, and... THE FIRE that was talked about so much in PA1! all of these were in "official previews" yet weren't in the movie. instead we got a cult of angry old women?

    I was expecting A LOT better and a movie that fit in with the whole back story from the first two movies and help tie them all in together. Also, where was the Epilogue? Like, "Lois' house was sold in 2005 following her death, It was destroyed in a fire in October of 2006. The Bodies of Julie and Dennis have never been found". Anything? Nothing? Some sort of follow up on what we had just seen like in the first two movies?    … Expand
  12. misticfoe
    Oct 27, 2011
    1
    Usually I scare very easily. This one was a real snoozer. Very predictable, and boring. Almost as bad as PA2. I definitely expected more. I don't believe I was the only one. Looking around the the theater, a lot of people found their smart phones more entertaining.
  13. Tina0523
    Oct 28, 2011
    2
    Disappointed in this round. It didnt compare to the first two; where you could actually believe these were candid type videos. In this movie, it's just too fake. The "video" quality is way too good to be VHS filmed in the 80's and stored for 23 years or so. Also, the acting seemed like... well, acting! In my opinion, there wasnt enough scare or creepy factor. Too much just day to day activities going on and it was all just a little too cheesy. However, it did keep my attention for the full movie and I am shocked in myself for wanting a 4th movie... maybe in hopes they can recapture what the first two movies had or just to find out what happened to that baby from the 2nd movie.… Expand
  14. SamHBS
    Nov 3, 2011
    0
    Mais do mesmo, nada de novo, cenas de susto que já sabemos a hora (tudo parado, alguma coisa vai na tela com barulho), roteiro idiota, final sem sentido. Enfim, LIXO.
  15. B3ckett
    Jan 30, 2012
    4
    I must say. It was a challenge to make a new & refreshing formula boring at the end of its third installment. While the first sequel covered some new ground, the third does nothing new. I admit it, I was curious about the way all of this started. The problem I have with PE3 is that it focused on the same plain dumb moments during the movie, when they stop watching the footage and argue (watch it! no! it's stupid, there's nothing to talk about. there are no ghost. stop the cameras!).
    Doing that once is okay - people are people and I can understand such behavior. But 3 times in a row? Please...

    The actors do their job well, the visuals are on par, but the story doesn't catch up. As stated before, the whole explanation (if you could call it that) took no more than a minute and was really shallow. I guess now we can expect part 4, which will concentrate on the actions from the movies finale.

    To wrap things up - if you are new to the series, give it a shot. It would be actually easier to watch the trilogy from the end. If you've seen the first two movies, you'll probably end up dissapointed with the movie and plot as a whole. There are some moments worth seeing. It's just a bit sad, that they don't get enough attention from the plot.    … Expand
  16. Jordan29903
    Nov 13, 2011
    1
    First of all its a letdown.When i went in that theater i expected to not sleep for a week straight.Instead i wanted to go to sleep by the end.Ya sure there's some parts that made me jump(a little)but besides that it was a waste of time and money. When i walked into the theater there was about 7 people including me.I thought i was early,when the movie started i turned around and there was the same people,and in the middle and end.I bet if you put all the scary parts together its about a 3 min. movie.In the end (when the credits started playing) everyone in the theater(including me) thought half way through they were going to scare you or ther was more.There wasn't.So me and everyone in the theater(7 people) wasted about 5 or 6 min. watching the credits and by the end we all felt like fools. My over all thoughts are that it sucked and me or any one besides ariel schulman could make a better movie.… Expand
  17. fatfacerick
    Feb 11, 2012
    0
    This 3rd installment, and the recently announced 4th, are greedy, bold faced grabs for your money. There is nothing original in this movie, which is to be expected considering the concept has a very limited framework (family sets up camera, things happen, someone believes it, someone doesn't believe it, someone dies). This one waits over an hour to have anything happen, has one of the worst set designer/wardrobe combinations ever, (wasn't it supposed to be in the 80's?), and moves into ridiculous territory for it's ending. Typical of Hollywood's "drive a good idea into the ground then kick it a few times" philosophy of late. Save yourself the time and money.… Expand
  18. WhovianFantatic
    May 2, 2013
    2
    This movie didn't even creep me out.. it was litterally a bore.. This movie was a load of tripe and I hated everything... The only thing that would scare anyone is the trailer.. tis is an absolute bore.. it would scare 4 year olds.. I felt like in this movie... its poorly made and not scary..

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
59 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 25
  3. Negative: 3 out of 25
  1. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    Oct 21, 2011
    50
    I fully expect Paranormal Activity 3 to be box office gold. But it's barely worth two stars, let alone two cents. As for future followups, I offer this plea: STOP!
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  2. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: A. A. Dowd
    Oct 21, 2011
    60
    Like its predecessors, Paranormal Activity 3 demands to be seen with a crowd: Being able to hear outbursts of nervous laughter and irrepressible panic ripple through a packed house is the reason movies like this exist.
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  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Mark Holcomb
    Oct 21, 2011
    40
    The further this series drifts into corporate-franchise territory and away from Peli's inventively cheap, slyly psychosexual conception, the more reasons there are to just stay away.
    Read full review
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