Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action, monsters, humor in R.L. Stine adaptation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Goosebumps
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 37 parent reviews
Based on 92 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a fun, light-hearted introduction to the horror genre, with many finding it entertaining and suitable for family viewing despite some mild jump scares and minor language. While younger children may find certain elements creepy, the overall consensus is that it strikes a balance between humor and thrills, making it a good choice for kids aged 7 and up.
- entertaining
- family-friendly
- mild scares
- light humor
- age-appropriate
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In GOOSEBUMPS, teen Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) moves with his mom (Amy Ryan) from the big city to the small town of Madison, Delaware. Zach doesn't seem to fit in at school (where his mom is vice principal), and the only person he meets is a misfit named Champ (Ryan Lee). But Zach does connect with his next-door neighbor, Hannah (Odeya Rush), who seems to be kept prisoner in her house by her mysterious father (Jack Black). Investigating, Zach and Champ discover that Hannah's dad is R.L. Stine, the famous author of the Goosebumps books. Unfortunately, they also discover a series of locked original manuscripts that, once opened, release real monsters into the world.
Is It Any Good?
Fans of Stine's books may or may not find something to enjoy here, since the movie is less intent on being scary than on loud action, special effects, goofy humor, and a tentative teen romance. Director Rob Letterman previously made Gulliver's Travels—also starring Black—and Goosebumps brings that same kind of broad, lowbrow approach to this adaptation of the beloved middle-grade book series.
It's all rather graceless, and yet it has a certain kind of good cheer, hearkening back to a time when horror fans simply loved monsters and took pride in not being afraid of them. Goosebumps parades an endless, imaginative array of monsters and lets viewers make their own connections. Black is also used well—he's more or less restrained in his role (but still funny)—and the younger actors are similarly likable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Goosebumps' violence and scariness. Is it exciting? Upsetting? Which are the scariest monsters or moments? Why? How much scary stuff can kids handle?
How does the movie compare to the Goosebumps books? If you've read the books, what references did you notice? Were the monsters brought to life in the way you imagined them? What are some of the challenges in adapting books like this for the screen?
How does the R.L. Stine character compare to how you might have imagined him as a writer? How does he deal with fame and success? How does he compare to other writers in movies?
How do the characters in the movie show courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths, and how do they help in scary situations?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 16, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : January 26, 2016
- Cast : Jack Black , Dylan Minnette , Odeya Rush
- Director : Rob Letterman
- Studios : Columbia Pictures , Sony Pictures Releasing
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- Run time : 90 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : scary and intense creature action and images, and for some rude humor
- Last updated : October 29, 2026
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