Parents' Guide to Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest

Movie NR 2013 57 minutes
Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Renee Schonfeld By Renee Schonfeld , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 3+

George finds mischief in mildly spooky Halloween tale.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 3+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 4+

Based on 16 parent reviews

Parents say that this Halloween special elicits mixed reactions, with some appreciating its cute and gentle approach suitable for young children, while others find it uninspired and overly simplistic. While many families enjoy watching it annually, caution is advised for sensitive viewers due to its potentially frightening elements involving a headless scarecrow, which can unsettle some preschoolers.

  • cute visuals
  • mixed reactions
  • suitable for kids
  • overly simplistic
  • caution advised
Summarized with AI

age 5+

Based on 14 kid reviews

Kids say this Halloween-themed movie is a beloved classic, often enjoyed multiple times during the season and filled with nostalgia for many families. Some younger viewers may find elements like the headless scarecrow frightening, but overall, it is considered a fun and cute film suitable for a range of ages.

  • nostalgia
  • family favorite
  • lighthearted fun
  • age-appropriate
  • charming characters
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

It's autumn in CURIOUS GEORGE: A HALLOWEEN BOO FEST. Leaves are falling, and the holiday is almost here! George is excited, getting ready for the town Boo Festival, the costume contest, the haunted house, and all the fun. But when George hears the Legend of No Noggin, a headless scarecrow who traditionally arrives for Halloween to kick the hats from everyone's head, the little monkey is intrigued and a little bit scared -- and, as always, CURIOUS! Why doesn't No Noggin have a head? Why does he kick off hats? And why does he only do so at Halloween? George has to find out. At the same time, he desperately wants to come up with a spectacular costume, one that could win the grand prize -- an amazing leaf vacuum George would love to give to The Man with the Yellow Hat. As the holiday gets closer, things get spooky, and George ends up in the middle of a very mysterious adventure.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 16 ):
Kids say ( 14 ):

Gently illustrated and well-produced as always, this episode finds the inquisitive monkey in a mildly spooky Halloween adventure. Though there are lots of cute moments and a funny legend with surprising origins, it's the telling of the tale that falls short. The writing is not as linear and clear as most Curious George stories, and the songs are uniform and generic. Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest feels long and, at times, meandering. Still, George is lovable, and Halloween is a favorite time of year -- that may be enough for most preschoolers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about different kinds of traditional tales, like the ones George hears in Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest. How is a legend different from a fairy tale? A fable? A myth?

  • Why is it fun to dress up in a costume? How does it change you? How does it feel when you're YOU again?

  • Besides eating candy, what are your favorite Halloween activities? Pick an activity and find out how it came to be a Halloween tradition.

  • How do the characters in Curious George: A Halloween Boo Fest demonstrate curiosity? Why is that an important character strength?

Movie Details

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