Paranormal Activity
Metascore
68 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
view
per page
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    91
    With its this-is-really-happening vibe, Paranormal Activity scrapes away 30 years of encrusted nightmare clichés. The fear is real, all right, because the fear is really in you.
  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Felix Vasques, Jr.
    90
    This is a brutal, exhausting, and genuinely horrifying little ghost flick.
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    An ingenious little horror film, so well made it's truly scary.
  4. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    83
    The film loses some of its grimy verisimilitude toward the end, but it’s nevertheless a surprisingly effective low-budget shocker with a sensibility as current as the latest viral videos, yet rooted in the suggestive, less-is-more atmospherics of Val Lewton.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.6 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 478 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 147 out of 280
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 280
  3. Negative: 107 out of 280
  1. grandpajoe6191
    6
    Oren Pelli's "Paranormal Activity" is a decent movie in the 'scary' category, but a fantastic one in the 'psychology' category.
  2. ChrisC
    9
    Admittedly the first parts of the movie were kinda boring. But I can't help but feel it was purposely boring to lower expectations to increase the shock value. Brilliantly made movie, the ending is one that still haunts me even days later and is probably the most terrifying scene in a horror movie I've ever seen. Honestly I can't stand when people act tough and say this movie didn't scare them. Stop kidding yourself. It was probably the best horror movie I've ever seen. And Mike R.....you paid $20 for a ticket????… Full Review »
  3. ScarTissue1990
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. This movie is okay, not "the scariest film I have ever seen" but, the end where the body flies to the camera did make me jump a little. But, I wouldn't really watch it unless someone made me..… Full Review »
See all user reviews »