Where to start
Paranormal Activity
7 versions · originally a film, 2007
Themes: Haunted house, Demonic possession, Domestic disturbance, Sleep paralysis, Found footage.
Paranormal Activity utilizes the visceral, unpolished tension of found-footage horror to document the terrifying encroachment of demonic forces into domestic life.
✦ Most fans start here
Paranormal Activity (2007)
The original movie
✦ Start hereParanormal Activity
Film · 2007
Paranormal Activity (2007) is the definitive origin point, masterfully establishing the franchise's signature minimalist dread as a young couple captures the escalating nightly disturbances within their own suburban home.
2010 film
Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night
Toshikazu Nagae · Film · 2010
Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night (2010) offers a localized Japanese perspective on the haunting, focusing on a brother documenting his sister's mysterious decline after her return from the United States.
2010 film
Paranormal Activity 2
Tod Williams · Film · 2010
Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) expands the lore by shifting the focus to a new family unit, illustrating how a demonic presence systematically dismantles the security of a newborn's home.
2011 film
Paranormal Activity 3
Henry Joost · Film · 2011
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) serves as a prequel, exploring the childhood origins of the franchise's central figures as they first make contact with an entity residing in their home.
2012 film
Paranormal Activity 4
Henry Joost · Film · 2012
Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) advances the timeline five years, examining the lingering, neighborhood-wide effects of the supernatural disappearances that defined the earlier entries in this long-running horror saga.
2014 film
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones
Christopher Landon · Film · 2014
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014) pivots to a coming-of-age narrative, following a teenager who uncovers an ancient, soul-claiming evil lurking within his own apartment complex's walls.
2021 film
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin
William Eubank · Film · 2021
Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin (2021) revitalizes the found-footage format by placing a documentary crew inside a secluded Amish community, where they discover a sinister secret hidden by long-lost relatives.
Common questions
What order should I watch the Paranormal Activity movies in?
The series follows a chronological release order starting with Paranormal Activity in 2007, followed by Paranormal Activity 2, 3, 4, The Marked Ones, and Next of Kin. Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night was released in 2010 as a separate entry within the franchise universe.
Is Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night considered a direct sequel to the original film?
Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night is an independent installment released in 2010. It functions as a spin-off rather than a direct narrative continuation of the original 2007 Paranormal Activity, which instead leads directly into the events depicted in the 2010 sequel, Paranormal Activity 2.
How many films are in the Paranormal Activity series?
There are seven primary films in the series: the original Paranormal Activity, Paranormal Activity 2, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, and the standalone entry Paranormal Activity: Tokyo Night.
Should I watch Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones before Paranormal Activity 4?
You should watch Paranormal Activity 4 before Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. Paranormal Activity 4 was released in 2012, while The Marked Ones followed in 2014. Following the release order ensures you experience the progression of the franchise as it was originally presented to audiences.