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Halloweentown

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 7; suggested age 7.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Tween brew: Witchy fun, a pinch of fright.

Themes in this movie include:   family relationships, friendship, growing up
updated 09.22.09

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Family members learn to trust one another and work together toward a positive goal.

  • Role models:

    An impressionable teen falls in with the bad guy, but realizes his error and changes his ways by defecting to the good side; the main character argues with and defies her mom but also demonstrates her growing independence.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Non-graphic scenes in which the good witches battle the evil warlock using their magic powers; an intense but non-graphic scene in which the mean warlock zaps two of the main characters into a zombie-like state.

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Halloweentown

Parents need to know that this made-for-TV movie contains some mildly scary scenes involving a nasty warlock who's just as scary to look at as he is to listen to; his reptilian-like face and bellowing, angry voice are a frightful combination. In the most intense scene, the evil warlock zaps Mom and Grandma in front of the kids, who are forced to leave their loved ones behind in order to save themselves. The quaint village of Halloweentown is populated with mildly scary-looking creatures of all sorts. On more than one occasion, the main character (who's 13 years old) breaks her mother's rules, and there are a few brief scenes in which family members argue (one mother-daughter squabble is quite realistic and may distress younger kids).

Read our full review by Ellen Dendy

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the Cromwell family grows closer together as the movie progresses, and why. 
  • Why did the mom want to shield her kids from their magical heritage and special powers?
  • Why did the main character argue with her mom, and break her mom's rules?
  • What makes the evil warlock a "bad guy"?
  • Who's your favorite magical character from books, TV, or movies?
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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    alllamericanreje ...
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Parents neeed to know that this family fun film is as clean as it gets and the family works together to defeat evil. Great movie that anyone should reallly see.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    the boy in the s ...
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    GREAT MOVIE FOR HALLOWEEN

    I love to watch this movie on halloween! It's sooooooooo AWSOME!!!!! But i ahve to admit that scarcrow is really creepy.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    zackaback
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    ApolloJustice
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    Love it!!!!

    I love this movie!!! I watch it every time its on TV

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    ApolloJustice
    I rate this title on for age 4 and give it 5.0

    Love it!!!!

    I love this movie!!! I watch it every time its on TV

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  6. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    tchellcie
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0

    i laughed

    i love that movie

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  7. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Spiderswing432
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 2.0

    Special affects can't hide the dull story and weak plot.

    I seemed to enjoy Halloweentown at first.The characters were charming and the mom and grandma while cliched were enjoyable as well.But toward the middle of the movie,things fall apart. Many movies like this have flaws like special affects overload,but this one could have added a little more of them to at least keep us awake througout the movie.Because the movie has no excitement at all,you'll probobly be dying for some big affects or an intersting character.While they were intersting at first,you never get to know them too well or even get to see what they're feeling.Like toward the ending,don't you think that Marnie would be crying or at least be sad at the sight of her now stone like mom and grandma? Halloweentown is a very dull movie with a poorly thought out plot and weak characters.You would be better off watching the other sequels which are alot better than this one.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  8. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    schuymarch1
    Lives in Iowa
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Great...

    This is a great Disney Channel Original Movie.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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