Animated horror film

ParaNorman (2012): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Name: ParaNorman
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Animation
Released: 2012-08-17
Duration: 1 h 32 min
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

ParaNorman is a 2012 animated horror film directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, starring Anna Kendrick, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. It runs 1 hour 32 minutes and earned $107.1 million worldwide on a $60 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.

IMDb rating: 7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
worldwide gross: $107.1M
award nominations: 4

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Watch the trailer Read the plot summary

Released: August 17, 2012
Runtime: 1h 32m (92 min)
Directors: Sam Fell and Chris Butler
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy , Horror , Comedy
Original language: English
Studio: Focus Features
Budget: $60M
After the credits: Yes Extra scene during or after the credits

The story

What Is ParaNorman About?

The premise of ParaNorman without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In a small town, a centuries-old curse unexpectedly rises, awakening the dead. Norman Babcock, a misunderstood boy who can speak with the departed, becomes the unlikely key to restoring peace. He must overcome his own insecurities and confront a frightening array of ghouls, ghosts, and skeptical adults to break the spell. As Norman investigates the supernatural threat, his unique abilities are pushed to their limits, and he discovers a deeper connection to the town’s dark history.

ParaNorman Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags

horror for children
stop motion
zombie
no one believes the protagonist
stand alone movie without sequel
witch
curse
ghost
outcast
medium
seeing dead people
brother sister relationship

+38 more

gay
psychotronic film
man wrapped in a towel
3d
creature feature
zombie movie
australian actor playing american character
zombie horror
town
revenge
school
able to hear the dead
mediumship
psychic power
able to see the dead
puppet animation
scene after end credits
bare chested male
ghostly voice
jock
child witch
hanged child
town hall
fear
wrongful conviction
dead child
storybook
psychic boy
injustice
small town
riot
angry mob
communicating with the dead
contact with the dead
dealing with the past
talking to the dead
talking with the dead
empathy

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Cast & crew

ParaNorman Cast

Anna Kendrick leads the cast, with Kodi Smit-McPhee and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler.

Co-director Sam Fell
Co-director Chris Butler

From the directors

More from Sam Fell and Chris Butler

More films directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler, best-rated first: Sing 2, Missing Link, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget and Flushed Away.

Ratings

ParaNorman Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave ParaNorman 89% on Rotten Tomatoes and 72 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.

IMDb

7.0 /10
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Rotten Tomatoes

89% Tomatometer

Popcornmeter 72%
See on Rotten Tomatoes
Metacritic

72 Metascore

User score 7.3
See on Metacritic
TMDB

70% User score
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Letterboxd

3.7 /5

3.4K ratings
See on Letterboxd
Movie Insider

3.8 /5
See on Movie Insider

Plot

ParaNorman Plot Summary

What happens in ParaNorman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the quaint New England town of Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts, a young boy named Norman Babcock possesses a remarkable ability: he can converse with the dead. This extraordinary talent allows him to communicate with his late grandmother and many ghosts residing in the town. Tragically, his family and friends refuse to accept his gift, leading to profound feelings of isolation as he faces ridicule and bullying from his peers.

Full summary

The whole story of ParaNorman, scene by scene

Read the full summary

Timeline of events

Box office

ParaNorman Box Office & Budget

ParaNorman grossed $107.1 million worldwide on a $60 million budget, 1.8 times what it cost. $56 million came from the US and Canada and $51.1 million (48%) from the rest of the world.

2012 box office

Worldwide gross

$107.1M

1.8× its budget