Boo! A Madea Halloween
By S. Jhoanna Robledo,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Madea franchise is getting so tired it's scary.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Boo! A Madea Halloween
Community Reviews
Based on 18 parent reviews
Give it a chance
Report this review
It just wasn't funny
Report this review
What's the Story?
It's Halloween, and 17-year-old Tiffany (Diamond White) is determined to go to a raucous frat party with her friends. Her dad, Brian (Tyler Perry), is just as determined that she not go anywhere near the place. So he calls in Madea (also Perry) to stay the night and help keep an eye on Tiffany. But when she disappears, and the house is invaded by ghosts and ghouls, it's up to Madea to save the day in BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN -- if she can manage not to get too spooked herself.
Is It Any Good?
This inert installment in the Madea franchise is proof that Perry may have just hit a wall -- or is phoning it in. Though past Madea films have garnered decidedly mixed reviews, they were often still laced with enough can't-help-but-laugh jokes to keep fans returning for yet another dose of Madea's tough-love "wisdom."
But Boo! A Madea Halloween has very few zingers that actually land and enough cliches -- "bro" frat boys, insolent teenagers, college kids with no clue -- to fill a whole series of movies. And the supposedly "scary funny" parts are neither scary nor funny. Which isn't to say that Boo! doesn't have a few small charms: The main character herself is still as spunky and winning as ever. Too bad she doesn't have much to work with here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Madea movies are so popular. What's the character's appeal? How does Boo! A Madea Halloween compare to previous movies?
One of the characters really likes to smoke pot. Do you think the film glamorizes her habit?
How does the film deal with parenting and communication? What do you think about Brian's relationship with Tiffany? Does she respect him? What kind of parenting advice does Madea give Brian, and how does it differ from his own ideas of raising children?
Movie Details
- In theaters: October 21, 2016
- On DVD or streaming: January 31, 2017
- Cast: Tyler Perry, Bella Thorne
- Director: Tyler Perry
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Black actors, Pansexual actors, Latinx actors
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Holidays, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Run time: 103 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: drug use and references, suggestive content, language, some horror images and thematic material
- Last updated: January 4, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Scary (But Not TOO Scary!) Halloween Movies
Halloween Books
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate