It’s rare for a movie series to deliver three truly excellent films, and the Pitch Perfect franchise almost achieved that. Historically, many trilogies have a strong first two installments but stumble with the third. Examples like Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and Blade, and the Alien series, demonstrate this pattern.
The first Pitch Perfect movie was a major success, both financially and with critics. Pitch Perfect 2 continued this trend, earning almost $300 million and receiving positive reviews. Unfortunately, the third film in the series didn’t perform as well at the box office and received the most negative reviews of the three movies.
Pitch Perfect 3’s Spy Storyline Made No Sense
The biggest problem with Pitch Perfect 3 is the unnecessary addition of a spy plot. The movie starts with a good premise – the Barden Bellas are on a tour performing for troops overseas, knowing it will be their last time performing together – but the spy storyline feels out of place.
The show also introduces a surprising subplot about Amy’s father, Fergus Hobart, played by John Lithgow. He’s a powerful and dangerous criminal, and his sudden appearance feels completely unexpected and doesn’t quite fit with what we already know about the story.
Beyond a weak storyline, the movie doesn’t fully explore the central conflict until the final act. The Bella sisters are kidnapped and held on Fergus’ yacht as part of a plan to control Amy, who then bravely sneaks aboard to rescue them. She skillfully uses martial arts to defeat multiple dangerous criminals, largely on her own.
Throughout Pitch Perfect, Amy demonstrated many talents, but no one ever suggested she had the skills to do something like this. When she unexpectedly saves her friends and then builds a bomb, the audience is more shocked and disturbed than happy or impressed.
The story would have been more logical if Amy had tried to handle her father’s issues herself, instead of hiring someone else. Without that, the plot feels strange. It makes you wonder if this will even be mentioned again if they ever make a Pitch Perfect 4.
Amy’s Spy Story Doesn’t Fit The Franchise’s Tone
Look, I’m all for movies taking big swings and getting a little crazy, and honestly, it often works. But here’s the thing: the movie has to commit to that level of wildness, so you, as the audience, are willing to go along for the ride, no matter how unbelievable things get. A sudden shift into spy territory might play well in some franchises, but in the world of Pitch Perfect, it just feels…off. It doesn’t quite fit the established vibe.
Although this series was often silly and lighthearted, it always stayed grounded. Because it wasn’t known for action, the explosive finale with a character suddenly fighting criminals felt out of place and didn’t quite fit the tone of the previous movies.
The filmmakers could have explored Amy’s complicated relationship with her father in Pitch Perfect 3 without resorting to an action-packed finale. It would have been a natural fit, considering Aubrey’s storyline also revolves around a distant father. The series didn’t need elaborate action sequences to conclude; a focus on character relationships would have sufficed.
The Rest Of Pitch Perfect 3 Is Actually Good
What’s most disappointing about Pitch Perfect 3—and its conclusion to a great series—is that most of the movie actually delivers what fans expect and enjoy. It’s not without flaws—like a somewhat awkward new romance for Beca—but overall, it’s a really entertaining film.
People love the musical performances in Pitch Perfect, and this installment doesn’t disappoint. The cover of “Toxic” is particularly impressive, even within the movie’s spy storyline. Their rendition of “Sit Still Look Pretty” is also strong, and “Cheap Thrills” stands out as one of the best songs in the whole franchise.
As a huge fan of Pitch Perfect, I always get so excited for the Riff Off scenes! This time around, they really switched things up by having some of the competing groups use instruments, which was a fantastic twist. It was different enough from previous Riff Offs to feel special, and that’s why I loved it so much.
The story of the Bellas, now graduates facing an uncertain future, is compelling, and characters like Emily help keep the narrative relatable to current students. However, the addition of a spy plot turned what could have been a solid third installment into something that just didn’t quite fit.
The movie boasts a talented and charming cast – Anna Kendrick, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, and the others all give strong performances – which should have guaranteed success. However, Pitch Perfect 3 somehow failed to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the series, despite all its strengths.
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2026-02-01 18:01