Summary

• Despite its success, Pitch Perfect 4 hasn't happened, leaving fans questioning why the fourth installment hasn't materialized yet.
• The franchise has teased a potential fourth film since 2017, but with no confirmation from Universal Pictures or the cast, it remains uncertain.
• Instead of a fourth movie, a television series called "Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin" was developed by Universal as a safer bet after Pitch Perfect 3's reception.

Pitch Perfect was a success story upon its release, but after three films, a fourth never happened. Pitch Perfect released in theaters in September 2012 and, after several months, grossed over $100 million at the global box office, and became a staple of cable television airings. The film’s popularity led to two sequels, Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015 and Pitch Perfect 3 in 2017, with the latter taking place after the Barden Bellas graduated from college. With both sequels suring the original film’s box office numbers, it seemed likely Pitch Perfect 4 would happen — but it surprisingly has not.

Pitch Perfect came at the perfect time for a cappella, which was on the rise in the late aughts. The Barden Bellas’ Pitch Perfect introduction pulled audiences into the world of competitive a cappella, something no film had done. The film was a sleeper hit, so it’s no surprise there were two follow-up films. Starring Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson, and many more, the film blended comedy and music in an exciting way. With the Pitch Perfect franchise being as profitable and popular as it has been over the years, why has Pitch Perfect 4 not happened?

Pitch Perfect 4 Has Been Teased Since 2017 (& Could Still Happen)

The Pitch Perfect franchise has been so successful that another installment would make sense. However, Pitch Perfect 4 has been hinted at since 2017 and while the cast has discussed the possibility of returning for the fourth film, and Rebel Wilson posted a picture with the cast holding up four fingers, the sequel has not been confirmed by Universal Pictures or any of the cast.

Considering the fact that Pitch Perfect 3 was poorly received and made less money at the box office than Pitch Perfect 2, there has been no word on a fourth installment since the third film’s release in 2017, and it doesn’t seem like Pitch Perfect 4 is in the cards.

That said, the lack of forward momentum doesn’t mean that Pitch Perfect 4 won’t happen eventually. However, the sequel would need a script and a director for it to have a chance. What’s more, the cast has been very busy working on other projects over the years, and Pitch Perfect 4 would need their schedules to align, so they could return to reprise their roles. For now, there hasn't been any decision either way about making another Pitch Perfect sequel, so only time will tell what happens next for the Barden Bellas.

What The Cast Has Said About Pitch Perfect 4

In addition to the Instagram photo Rebel Wilson posted, the actress hinted at a fourth film being in the works in 2018 (via Vanity Fair), and that the cast would love to return for it. During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2022, Brittany Snow called making Pitch Perfect 4 a “no-brainer” and expressed her love of making the films. Regarding Pitch Perfect 4 specifically, Snow said she would “love” to make another sequel, if only to reunite with the rest of the cast and sing with them again.

I do love doing them. I get to be with my best friends, and we get to sing and dance … So I would love to do another because we would just all get to be together.

Anna Camp also expressed interest in returning for a fourth installment. Speaking with ET Online in 2019, Camp said that she loved playing her character and that if they needed her back, she’d absolutely return. Similarly, Anna Kendrick would also be down for Pitch Perfect 4, telling EW in 2017 that she and her co-stars “would do them forever,” indicating that she and the cast would be interested in returning for more sequels beyond a fourth film.

Why Pitch Perfect Made A Bumper Spinoff Series Instead Of A Fourth Movie

Rather than greenlighting a fourth movie, Universal went the route of developing a television series for Peacock, Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, which saw the return of Adam DeVine and Flula Borg, who appeared in Pitch Perfect 2 as a member of the Barden Bellas’ rival group Das Sound Machine. It’s likely NBCUniversal wanted to boost its TV series slate, and Bumper in Berlin was a way to expand upon existing IP without having to go the route of a sequel.

Bumper had already appeared in two Pitch Perfect movies, and Bumper in Berlin capitalized on the world Pitch Perfect had built while following Bumper’s ongoing journey instead. It’s possible the series was a safer bet than Pitch Perfect 4, especially after the negative reception Pitch Perfect 3 received from critics and fans alike. Bumper in Berlin was a way for Universal to test whether a Pitch Perfect spinoff would work, especially considering how much more of a low-stakes risk it is compared to a fourth movie.