Paranormal Activity

This article is about the 2007 film. For the film series, see Paranormal Activity (film series). For the phenomena of paranormal activity, see paranormal.

Paranormal Activity
Theatrical release poster
Directed byOren Peli
Written byOren Peli
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyOren Peli
Edited byOren Peli
Production
company
Distributed by
Release dates
  • October 14, 2007 (2007-10-14) (Screamfest)
  • September 25, 2009 (2009-09-25) (United States)
Running time
86 minutes[5]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
BudgetProduction: $15,000
Post-production: $200,000[6]
Box office$194.2 million[7]

Paranormal Activity is a 2007 American supernatural horror film produced, written, directed, photographed, and edited by Oren Peli. It centers on a young couple (Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat) who are haunted by a supernatural presence inside their home. They then set up a camera to document what is haunting them. The film uses found-footage conventions that were mirrored in the later films of the series.

Originally developed as an independent feature and given film festival screenings in 2007, the film was shot for $15,000. It was then acquired by Paramount Pictures and modified, particularly with a new ending that cost an additional $200,000. It was given a limited U.S. release on September 25, 2009, and then a nationwide release on October 16, 2009. The film earned nearly $108 million at the U.S. box office and a further $85 million internationally for a worldwide total of $194 million.[7] Paramount/DreamWorks acquired the U.S. rights for $350,000. It is often cited as the most profitable film ever made, based on proportionate return on investment, although such figures are difficult to verify independently[8] as this is likely to exclude marketing costs.[9]

The film is the first entry in the Paranormal Activity film series. A parallel sequel, Paranormal Activity 2, was released in 2010.

  1. ^ a b "Paranormal Activity". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference img was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Kay, Jeremy (November 8, 2008). "Top buyers sign on for Oren Peli's Paranormal Activity". Screen International. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Frater, Patrick (November 13, 2008). "IM Global sells 'Paranormal Activity'". Variety. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (15)". British Board of Film Classification. October 14, 2009. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  6. ^ Stephen Galloway (January 18, 2020). "What Is the Most Profitable Movie Ever?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference thenumbers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Tom Shone (November 25, 2009). "Paranormal Activity and the myth of the shoestring shocker | Film". The Guardian. London. Retrieved February 24, 2010.
  9. ^ "'Paranormal Activity' The Most Profitable Movie Ever". Get The Big Picture. October 30, 2009. Archived from the original on February 24, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2010.