Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Crass, mean-spirited Halloween tale has cursing, bullying.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Hubie Halloween
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 34 parent reviews
Based on 80 kid reviews
Kids say the movie is a Halloween-themed comedy that features a lot of crude humor, bullying, and sexual innuendos, making it unsuitable for younger viewers, though many enjoyed the comedic elements and positive messages about kindness and standing up to bullies. While some find it funny and a good time for older kids and preteens, others criticize it for its lack of a strong plot, offensive jokes, and a reliance on familiar actors for appeal.
- crude humor
- bullying themes
- positive messages
- unsuitable for young kids
- mixed reviews
- adult humor
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Hubie Dubois (Adam Sandler) considers himself responsible for monitoring activities every Halloween in his historic hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, in HUBIE HALLOWEEN. Hubie still lives with his mom and carries a multipurpose Thermos with him everywhere, which -- combined with his implied mental disability -- makes him the target of constant teasing and bullying by town locals. The only people who see his kind heart are his mom (June Squibb) and his local crush, foster mom Violet Valentine (Julie Bowen). As Halloween hits this year, Hubie grapples with a new and suspicious neighbor (Steve Buscemi), a local inmate on the run (Rob Schneider), and people disappearing in strange ways.
Is It Any Good?
Nobody plays a kindhearted but simpleminded character like Sandler, which this movie proves once again. Though, really, it's more than time for the abled Sandler to quit playing characters who have implied mental disabilities. Squarely targeting the teen (or tween) male audience, Hubie Halloween offers a mishmash of Halloween hijinks, potty talk, anatomical humor, and celebrity cameos. Viewers are expected to laugh as Hubie is bullied and insulted for an hour and a half. The onslaught of meanness is intended to make his largesse at the end of the movie that much more heroic, and the near absence of redeeming qualities in other characters is meant to make their ultimate confessions of insecurities more satisfying. But none of it is particularly funny or satisfying. It's mostly tiring, sometimes disturbing, and, at moments, very insensitive.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the moral of Hubie Halloween. Did the townsfolk learn their lesson?
Did the character of Hubie remind you of any other characters played by Adam Sandler? Why is it problematic for an abled person to play a character with a disability? Are there exceptions? Why, or why not?
How is bullying portrayed here? Do you think it's ever funny to see someone get bullied? Why, or why not?
There are a lot of other movies referenced in this film. Can you name any?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 7, 2020
- Cast : Adam Sandler , Julie Bowen , Steve Buscemi
- Director : Stephen Brill
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Holidays
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : crude and suggestive content, language and brief teen partying.
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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