Common Sense Media Review
By Ellen Dendy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Witchy fun with a pinch of fright.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Halloweentown
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 11 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say that the movie is a charming and whimsical choice for family viewing during Halloween, appealing to a range of ages, although some may find certain scenes slightly scary. While some reviews criticized the acting and plot quality, many enjoyed its positive messages and relatable characters, particularly resonating with younger viewers who love magic and Halloween themes.
- magic and whimsy
- family-friendly
- slightly scary
- positive messages
- relatable characters
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In HALLOWEENTOWN, life changes forever for 13-year-old Marnie Piper (Kimberly J. Brown) when she discovers she's a witch. It's Halloween night, and Marnie begs to go out, but her overprotective mom, Gwen (Judith Hoag), never lets her kids celebrate the holiday. When Grandma Aggie (Debbie Reynolds) shows up with candy, costumes, and a big secret, Marnie learns that she's a witch and that a dark force is threatening Halloweentown, where Aggie lives and Gwen was raised. Marnie decides to follow Aggie back to Halloweentown, along with her brother, Dylan (Joey Zimmerman), and little sister, Sophie (Emily Roeske). They find a cheery-looking village populated with monsters, goblins, witches, ghosts, vampires, and other creatures, and they work together to uncover a mystery that leads them to a terrifying warlock with plans to destroy not only Halloweentown, but the mortal world as well.
Is It Any Good?
While some scenes fall a little flat, and the storyline is nothing new, this made-for-TV Disney movie still offers a satisfying brew. Halloweentown is a fun combo of festive Halloween sets, creative costumes, and family adventure, all rolled up into one heartwarming feature. Reynolds, Hoag, and Brown are especially good in their roles as grandmother, mother, and daughter.
This Halloween adventure is mostly pure entertainment, but the storyline does include some valuable messages. Compared to other tween-targeted productions, this Disney feature is downright wholesome, but more sensitive viewers might not enjoy a couple of its scarier scenes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the main family of women grows closer together as the story of Halloweentown progresses, and why. How do they demonstrate character strengths such as courage, teamwork, and empathy in the process?
Why did Gwen want to shield her kids from their magical heritage and special powers? How would you parent your kids, if you were in her shoes?
Why did Marnie argue with her mom and break her mom's rules? Do you think she grows over the course of the film?
Who's your favorite magical character from books, TV, or movies? What makes them so compelling?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 17, 1998
- On DVD or streaming : September 13, 2005
- Cast : Debbie Reynolds , Judith Hoag , Kimberly J. Brown
- Director : Duwayne Dunham
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Animals , Family Stories ( Grandparents , Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Fairy Tales , Ghosts , Magic , Monsters ) , Friendship , Holidays ( Halloween )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Teamwork
- Run time : 84 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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