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Horror film

The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026) movie poster

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.

worldwide gross
$11.2M
Echo Score
37
Metascore
19
budget
$8.5M
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The Strangers: Chapter 3 (2026) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Director
Renny Harlin
Genre
Horror
Original language
English
Budget
$8.5M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

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.

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Cast & crew

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.

Ratings

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).

37 /100

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.

Plot

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

Read the full summary
Box office

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.

2026 box office

Worldwide gross

$11.2M

1.3× its budget

US & Canada
$8.6M
International
$2.6M
Budget
$8.5M
US & Canada 77% Rest of the world 23%
Videos

The Strangers: Chapter 3 Trailers & Videos

6 videos: 1 trailer, 4 teasers and 1 clip.

All 6 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Teaser step inside (or don't)
  • Teaser are you scared?
  • Teaser the end is nigh.
Quiz

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is the name of Maya's partner who is killed in the earlier attack?

Seen The Strangers: Chapter 3?

FAQ

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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