4 Paranormal Activity movies to watch (and 1 to skip)

4 Paranormal Activity movies to watch (and 1 to skip)

As a huge fan of the Paranormal Activity franchise, I’ve had my fair share of sleepless nights thanks to these terrifying films. Oren Peli’s creation of this supernatural horror series has taken us on a rollercoaster ride of fear and suspense.


1. Supernatural horror stories are widely enjoyed because they depict occurrences that typically don’t happen in reality, providing an engaging mental, physical, and emotional experience for viewers. This is evident with the Paranormal Activity movie series. If you’re curious about which films to watch and avoid within this series, check out our recommendations below.

The “Paranormal Activity” movie series, which tells tales of families tormented by malevolent spirits called Tobi, was brought to life by Israeli filmmaker Oren Peli. These films are presented as authentic footage from security cameras that capture the eerie happenings caused by the demons, resulting in terror and ultimately death for those unfortunate enough to be involved.

1. The Paranormal Activity film series includes seven movies, with the first one debuting in 2007 as the fan-favorite. The latest addition, titled “Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin,” premiered on Paramount+ in 2021 and has garnered higher ratings than some of the earlier releases.

Paranormal Activity

Oren Peli, the creator of the first film “Paranormal Activity” (released in 2007), single-handedly wrote and directed it. He also produced all subsequent films in the series. The story is based on a couple, Katie and Micah, who lived in 2006 and were tormented by a demon that had haunted Katie since her childhood.

1. Originally, this movie was made independently, but later, Paramount Pictures bought it and altered the final scene for a new release in 2009.

Paranormal Activity 3

1. In most opinions, the third movie in the series is considered to be nearly as good as the best one. Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, this film takes place in 1988 when a younger Katie (from the initial movie) and her sister Kristi meet Tobi for the first time. Their encounters are recorded by cameras installed by their mother’s boyfriend, Dennis, and his companion Randy, who also comes across the demon.

2011 marked the debut of this movie, breaking records as it had the largest midnight premiere and boasted the highest opening-day gross for a horror film.

Paranormal Activity 2

In the second film, helmed by Tod Williams, we delve into the events unfolding mere months prior to the first movie. This installment functions both as a follow-up and an origin story, focusing on Katie and her sister Kristi as they navigate their lives post-Hunter’s birth.

Though some have pointed out that this movie doesn’t bring much fresh content to the series, it remains an effective and frightening installment. An unrated bonus scene called “Hunter” can be found on the DVD of “Paranormal Activity 2: The Director’s Cut.”

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

The Marked Ones is the fifth movie that, like the second, has received mixed reviews but ranks in the top 4 of the franchise. Written and directed by Christopher Landon, this story takes place in 2012 in a Latino community where a group of teens experience demon activity.

1. The group of teenagers uncover that one among them is branded by an enigmatic cult’s demon. This revelation spurs them to document their journey and employ hints from past movies to unearth the source of these strange occurrences.

Paranormal Activity movie to skip

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

1. In the series, “The Ghost Dimensions” is its sixth installment, and it might not be necessary to watch if you haven’t seen the others. Debuting as a director in this film is Gregory Plotkin, who was initially announced as the final movie in the franchise; however, another film titled “Next of Kin” came out in 2021. The plot unfolds after the fourth movie and has strong connections to the third one.

2013 saw me immersed in a chilling tale, centered around the Fleeges family. We find them uncovering old videos from ’92, shot during a ritual involving Katie and Kristi. Not long after, our family encounters a malevolent entity, who seems particularly drawn to Leila, a daughter who shares her birthday with Hunter from the second movie. As for this chapter in the Paranormal Activity series, both critics and I concur that it may not reach the heights of its predecessors.

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2024-07-30 20:25

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