Jason Blum appears to have little interest in producing more Paranormal Activity movies, and here's why the series has run its course. Found footage movies have always been a slightly controversial subgenre. The best examples such as 2008's Rec or Cloverfield can use the format to offer a literally unique perspective on familiar stories, but some filmmakers can abuse found footage for cheap scares or to hide low budgets. 2007's Paranormal Activity was a surprise blockbuster, which was produced on a tiny budget and shot almost entirely within director Oren Peli's own home.
The intimacy Paranormal Activity created made its scares all the more effective, which could often be as simple as a door slamming. The success of the film also gave a major boost to Blumhouse, run by producer Jason Blum. Blumhouse would use its success to produce a series of Paranormal Activity sequels and spin-offs, in addition to using its high-concept, low budget formula to create more hits like The Purge or Insidious movies. Paranormal Activity originally ran its course with 2015's The Ghost Dimension, which was met with largely bad notices.
Blumhouse attempted to revive the series in 2021 with Next Of Kin - which has a cliffhanger ending - seeks out trouble. The sequel debuted exclusively on Paramount+ and was met with terrible reviews for its lack of tension or scares. Surprisingly, Blum himself openly agrees with that response, stating to Variety "That last ‘Paranormal Activity’ movie was terrible."
Will Paranormal Activity 8 Happen?
Blum also said “It has been enough already," suggesting the series is done. Blumhouse has never been afraid to greenlight sequels, be they Insidious - which has a fifth entry in development with star Patrick Wilson directing - or the Halloween legacy sequels. While certain properties lend themselves naturally to more stories, Paranormal Activity has always - by its very nature - felt small. The intimacy of the first film is what gave it its power, and later outings never quite recaptured that. Diving deep into Toby's backstory or the cult surrounding it has only served to complicate that formula - while leading to diminishing scares.
By the time The Ghost Dimension - which ALSO had a cliffhanger ending - came around it was clear the filmmakers had run out of invention, and that audiences had largely tired of the series. Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin only served to prove that coloring outside the lines of franchise formula doesn't work either. Oddly, despite Blum himself revealing in the same Variety interview he doesn't want to make another entry - outside of hearing a great pitch for one - there are reports of a sequel called The Other Side in the works. This rumored outing would be set in the '90s and return to the Toby storyline, but Blum's vocal disinterest and creator Oren Peli also dismissing reports on social media suggest it's not happening. Outside of a major overhaul of the Paranormal Activity blueprint, the franchise should be allowed to rest.
