The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The Strangers: Chapter 3 is a 2026 horror film directed by Renny Harlin, starring Madelaine Petsch as Maya Lucas, Ema Horvath and Kyle Breitkopf. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $11.2 million worldwide on a $8.5 million budget. Critics gave it 19 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Renny Harlin
- Genre
- Horror
- Original language
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English
- Studio
- Fifth Element Productions
- Budget
- $8.5M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Strangers: Chapter 3 About?
The premise of The Strangers: Chapter 3 without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Bound by a terrifying climax, Maya and the enigmatic Strangers find themselves on an inescapable, relentless collision course. Their inevitable showdown forces them to confront a shared fate, proving that the distance between them has been erased and they are far from strangers now.
The Strangers: Chapter 3 Cast & Characters
Madelaine Petsch leads the cast as Maya Lucas, with Ema Horvath as Shelly, Pin Up and Kyle Breitkopf as Teenage Gregory, Scarecrow. Directed by Renny Harlin; 20 actors are credited in all.
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Director Renny Harlin
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Madelaine Petsch as Maya Lucas - Ema Horvath as Shelly, Pin Up
- Kyle Breitkopf as Teenage Gregory, Scarecrow
- Nola Wallace as Young Shelly, Pin-Up Girl
Also Starring in The Strangers: Chapter 3
· 16 more- Krystal Ellsworth Dollface
- Rachel Shenton Debbie Lucas
- Gabriel Basso Gregory
- Richard Brake Sheriff Rotter
- George Young Howard
- Janis Ahern Carol
- Ella Bruccoleri Jasmine
- Joel Labelle Man
- Pedro Leandro Deputy Walters
- Hannah Galway
- Sara Freedland Annie
- Miles Yekinni Marcus
- Ben Cartwright
- Dani Klupsch Carrie
- Stevee Davies
- Stephanie Aubertin
The Strangers: Chapter 3 Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Strangers: Chapter 3 19 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 37/100, strongest in sensory experience (55) and weakest in story & flow (25).
The Strangers: Chapter 3 Echo Score Breakdown
The Strangers: Chapter 3 registers as a largely unremarkable entry that fails to sustain the tension of its predecessors. Critics uniformly describe the film as flat, lazy, and forgettable, while audience feedback highlights a watchable but ultimately dull experience. Combined observations point to a weak culmination of the trilogy with limited appeal beyond core fans.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 40
In terms of art and craft the film shows limited technical competence. Critics dismiss the overall production as tedious, suggesting subpar direction and editing, while one user notes that cinematography and sound design provide occasional atmospheric lifts. The mixed signals result in a modest, below‑average appraisal of visual and editorial quality.
- Character & Emotion 30
Character work receives mostly negative feedback. Reviewers comment on underdeveloped personalities and decisions that lack impact, and several critics label the narrative as shapeless. A solitary user praises a specific performance, but this isolated acclaim does not offset the broader consensus of weak acting and shallow emotional resonance.
- Story & Flow 25
The story aspect is widely criticized for its sluggish pacing and unoriginal plotting. Critics describe the script as lazy, repetitive, and devoid of surprise, and users echo concerns about dragged pacing and a conclusion that feels unsatisfying. These consistent remarks place the narrative quality in the lower quartile.
- Sensory Experience 55
Sensory elements receive a lukewarm reception. While most critics remain silent on sound and visual style, one user highlights effective sound design and atmospheric cinematography that echo the franchise's earlier tone. The limited positive notes raise the sensory score above neutral but do not suggest strong overall impact.
- Rewatch Factor 35
Rewatch potential is low according to the majority of feedback. Critics label the installment forgettable and devoid of lasting value, and users describe it as watchable yet lacking a memorable impression. A few isolated positive remarks exist, but they are insufficient to elevate the overall replay appeal.
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Metacritic 19 Metascore
User score 2.8
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 59% User score
See on TMDB
The Strangers: Chapter 3 Plot Summary
What happens in The Strangers: Chapter 3 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
The film opens a couple of years earlier in a small local diner, where Shelly [Ema Horvath] the waitress chats with an unseen patron about another customer named Frank. Later, Shelly goes to Frank’s place and knocks on the door, asking “Is Tamara here?”
“Is Tamara here?”
That night, The Strangers—Scarecrow [Kyle Breitkopf], Pin-Up Girl [Ema Horvath], and Dollface [Krystal Ellsworth]—ambush Frank in the woods and kill him, setting the pattern of fear that threads through the story. In the present, Maya [Madelaine Petsch] Lucas is recovering in the hospital after the brutal attack that left Ryan dead. She is left scarred and haunted by visions of her attackers, while rumors swirl around the diner about what happened and Maya’s role in surviving.
Full summary
The whole story of The Strangers: Chapter 3, scene by scene
The Strangers: Chapter 3 Box Office & Budget
The Strangers: Chapter 3 grossed $11.2 million worldwide on a $8.5 million budget, 1.3 times what it cost. $8.6 million came from the US and Canada and $2.6 million (23%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$11.2M
1.3× its budget
- US & Canada
- $8.6M
- International
- $2.6M
- Budget
- $8.5M
The Strangers: Chapter 3 Trailers & Videos
6 videos: 1 trailer, 4 teasers and 1 clip.
- Teaser Official Teaser
- Teaser step inside (or don't)
- Teaser are you scared?
- Teaser the end is nigh.
How Well Do You Know The Strangers: Chapter 3?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of Maya's partner who is killed in the earlier attack?
Seen The Strangers: Chapter 3?
Articles About The Strangers: Chapter 3
Our article about The Strangers: Chapter 3: “The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026) Review & Critics Opinions – Audience Reception, Performance & Storytelling Analysis”.
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Opinions
The Strangers: Chapter 3 FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Strangers: Chapter 3, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Strangers: Chapter 3?
The Strangers: Chapter 3 runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was The Strangers: Chapter 3 released?
The Strangers: Chapter 3 was released on February 6, 2026.
Who directed The Strangers: Chapter 3?
The Strangers: Chapter 3 was directed by Renny Harlin.
More films by Renny Harlin Who is in the cast of The Strangers: Chapter 3?
The Strangers: Chapter 3 stars Madelaine Petsch as Maya Lucas, Ema Horvath as Shelly, Pin Up and Kyle Breitkopf as Teenage Gregory, Scarecrow, among 20 credited actors.
How much did The Strangers: Chapter 3 make at the box office?
The Strangers: Chapter 3 grossed $11.2 million worldwide ($8.6 million domestic, $2.6 million international) on a budget of $8.5 million.
How is The Strangers: Chapter 3 rated?
The Strangers: Chapter 3 has 19 on Metacritic and 59% on TMDB.
Does The Strangers: Chapter 3 have a post-credit scene?
No. The Strangers: Chapter 3 has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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