Paranormal Activity 4 is a horror film directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, written by Chad Feehan and Christopher Landon. Released in French theaters on October 31, 2012, this 1-hour-35-minute installment starring Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton, and Matt Shively will be available on Netflix starting February 13, 2026. It marks the fourth chapter of a franchise that became one of the most influential phenomena in horror cinema during the 2010s.
The story is set five years after the events of Paranormal Activity 2. Katie, now possessed after killing her sister and kidnapping her nephew Hunter, has disappeared. Rebranded as Robbie, the child reappears in a quiet suburban neighborhood where he moves in with his aunt. The arrival of these new neighbors piques the curiosity of Alex, a teenage girl who has been witnessing strange phenomena ever since their arrival.
When Katie falls ill, Alex’s family agrees to take Robbie in. Computer cameras, surveillance systems, and digital devices start capturing increasingly unsettling manifestations. Everyday life gradually turns into a nightmare, following a storytelling approach faithful to the saga’s mechanics, where an invisible threat seeps into the domestic space.
Following Paranormal Activity 3, this fourth installment continues the chronological sequence by taking place after the second film, shot in 2010. Its French release on October 31—Halloween—clearly positioned the film within an event-focused programming strategy. The production even released an infographic outlining the family tree of the possessed family and listing the number of phenomena recorded per episode.
Like the previous chapter, the film is directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, known for the documentary Catfish. The saga relies on found footage, a technique popularized by The Blair Witch Project and the series [REC], which mimics amateur or surveillance footage to enhance the illusion of reality. Coupled with a gradual build-up of scares—timed and analyzed by dedicated fans since the first film—this approach contributes to its effectiveness.
With nearly $600 million in global box office sales for the first three installments, the franchise has cemented its position as one of the most profitable low-budget series in contemporary cinema. Katie Featherston returns here for the fourth time, ensuring continuity in a universe where demonic threats transcend generations.
Paranormal Activity 4
Film | 2012
Released in theaters: October 31, 2012
Available on Netflix from February 13, 2026
Horror | Duration: 1h35
Directed by Henry Joost & Ariel Schulman | Starring Katie Featherston, Kathryn Newton, Matt Shively
Original title: Paranormal Activity 4
Country: United States
By extending the family mythology and integrating new technological tools into the narrative device, Paranormal Activity 4 affirms the saga's commitment to grounding horror in everyday domestic life. Now available for streaming, this chapter continues the established model that significantly influenced horror cinema throughout the 2000s and 2010s.
For further exploration, check out our selection of Netflix's new releases for February, our guide to new streaming releases across all platforms, and today's pick of what to watch today in streaming.
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