ParaNorman

Name: ParaNorman
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Animation
Released: August 17, 2012
Duration: 92 min
Rating: 72
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kodi Smit-McPhee

2012

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 33 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 450 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 450 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Focus Features | Release Date: August 17, 2012 | PG

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kodi Smit-McPhee

Summary: In ParaNorman, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst, of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find hisIn ParaNorman, a small town comes under siege by zombies. Who can it call? Only misunderstood local boy Norman, who is able to speak with the dead. In addition to the zombies, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and, worst, of all, grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse. But this young ghoul whisperer may find his paranormal activities pushed to their otherworldly limits. (Focus Features)… Expand

Director: Chris Butler and Sam Fell

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy, Animation, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 92 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Lawrence Toppman

Aug 16, 2012

It's freakishly funny, suddenly tender, gleefully macabre, genuinely scary, and full of a moral – fear turns weak people into bullies – which is dosed out so gently that it never tastes like medicine. Read full review

Lou Lumenick

Aug 17, 2012

ParaNorman is probably the year's most visually dazzling movie so far, and the stunning climax centering on an 11-year-old witch (Jodelle Ferland) is too good to spoil. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Aug 16, 2012

It may be the most fun you'll have with ghosts and zombies all year. Read full review

Peter Travers

Aug 16, 2012

My advice? Just go with ParaNorman. There's magic in it. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Aug 18, 2012

In the end, perhaps the most touching quality of this film is its low-key, but sensitively rendered portrait of a young, awkward child who hasn't quite managed to figure his way out in the world yet. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

Aug 16, 2012

None of this is all that engaging. But the art design of the movie makes up for the slack story. Read full review

Boxoffice Magazine Sara Maria Vizcarrondo

Aug 8, 2012

ParaNorman is easily one of the most charming, imaginative and quirky comedies to come out of Laika Entertainment (Coraline), but for all its cleverness and urbane wit, it's in no way appropriate for kids. Read full review

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User Reviews

nickireland7

Aug 20, 2012

Simply an amazing movie. It's like a Tim Burton movie, but it isn't. The art style is just fantastic and innocent, and the message of the movie is even better! This is probably my favorite film now, no joke. ParaNorman focuses a lot on tolerance and the movie never bored me: the visualSimply an amazing movie. It's like a Tim Burton movie, but it isn't. The art style is just fantastic and innocent, and the message of the movie is even better! This is probably my favorite film now, no joke. ParaNorman focuses a lot on tolerance and the movie never bored me: the visual effects were so great and so was the voice acting! It was definitely entertaining start to finish -- although it did start off weird, it quickly got to the point and surprised me!! I loved the characters and just the movie itself! DEFINITELY a must see, whatever age!!!

Seriously people? You're giving an amazing movie a ZERO because of a gay reference? Calm down, and stop being immature. It's not that big of a deal.… Expand

9 of 14 users found this helpful95

geewah

Jan 27, 2021

One of the best animated movies of the decade.
A goulish roller coaster ride of laughs that will keep both kids and adults entertained.
While not a Tim Burton feature, his influence is all over this treat.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Knicksfan7

Aug 21, 2012

The fact that these so called "parents" are agitated over the extremely small moment where a character says hes gay goes to show your a crappy parent. The whole message of the movie is that you should be happy with who you are and don't judge someone just because they're different fromThe fact that these so called "parents" are agitated over the extremely small moment where a character says hes gay goes to show your a crappy parent. The whole message of the movie is that you should be happy with who you are and don't judge someone just because they're different from yourself. If you weren't so homophobic and stupid you'd realize that this is a great message sent to your kids. So shutup and open your mind and enjoy the film. Clearly you're the type of parent that will hate their kid if they end up gay. There isn't anything wrong with this movie people, some scenes may be too intense for really small children but overall this is a great film, with a BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE! Don't listen to the homophobes, they're just dumb and don't know a good movie when they see one. 9/10… Expand

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

SuperWooper

Oct 25, 2015

A hilariously spooky family movie that adults will find even funnier than kids will. Packed with adult humor and kids humor both, great animation, and a good message to go along with it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

spacebear1

Dec 11, 2017

Laika's ParaNorman is another flawlessly animated film. The characters are great and so is the story. I have a few problems with the film but they are just little nit picks. In the end, this is a great film and my rating is a 7.9/10

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

theahsanhaseeb

Dec 20, 2012

ParaNorman is a kind of film that you can love, from which you can learn those little things that happen in our everyday life but nobody bothers to fix it or do something about it. It gives a great message of "being different from others" and in this society, this happens a lot. VisualParaNorman is a kind of film that you can love, from which you can learn those little things that happen in our everyday life but nobody bothers to fix it or do something about it. It gives a great message of "being different from others" and in this society, this happens a lot. Visual effects, the entire stop-motion animation is brilliant, I loved every frame of it. The voice acting is fantastic, sounds very natural and genuine that sometimes it makes you forget that you're watching an animated film. The background score in the climax when Norman is convincing Agatha is so freaking awesome and so is the animation in those frames. A couple of days ago, I was reading a review about Mitch being "gay" and they had given it a really low score because of that factor. But honestly, I don't care about it. It's not a big deal. And definitely not an important factor to consider when reviewing a movie especially when you're reviewing an animated feature film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MikefromAngus

Nov 30, 2012

The number one reason why this movie is bad is lack of a good story movie, it doesn't exist. The scary atmosphere isnt there either. The movie is very boring at times. Animations are very well done, but thats not enough

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

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67	#67 Most Discussed Movie of 2012
78	#78 Most Shared Movie of 2012