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Parents' Guide to

Little Monsters

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Beetlejuice wannabe with potty talk, a bit of heart.

Movie PG 1989 105 minutes
Little Monsters Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 15 parent reviews

Lisa 1
Lisa 1 Parent
April 21, 2016
age 11+

age 8 is way too young

This movie is scary and leaves an uncomfortable feeling over all.
1 person found this helpful.
Ricka M.
Ricka M. Parent of 10 and 12-year-old
October 29, 2021
age 12+

Creepy but not in a good way

The whole concept of this movie is creepy and not child-friendly. Monsters come out from under kids' beds at night to torment them (including a baby) and wreak havoc that the parents then angrily blame on the kids. The monsters never realize that this is bad. Even the "friendly" monster character is pretty obnoxious. I agree with others that the language is inappropriate for elementary school kids. One character smokes. There is mild bullying, and the parents argue a lot and eventually get separated/divorced. Some scenes (such as monsters melting or tearing off each other's heads) may be too scary for kids under about 10 years old. My 10yo and 12yo did not like it.

This title has:

Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Brian's (Fred Savage) family has just relocated to a new town, where he has no friends and spends his nights trying to drown out the sound of his parents fighting. Things start to go wonky around the house and he is blamed for them. But it's not his fault that the remote control is missing, or that his bike was left out in the driveway -- there is a devilish monster under his bed named Maurice (Howie Mandel) who is eager to bring Brian into his wacked out monster world. Through challenges and chaos, the kid and the monster forge a friendship that proves memorable to them both.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (15 ):
Kids say (10 ):

For a movie about monsters, this flick has a bit of heart. It captures the loneliness of a kid who has moved to a new town and whose parents are in a bad way. But some of the arguments and cursing from the parents beg the question of whether their participation is really necessary to the plot of the film, or just an attempt to anchor it in a gritty reality.

Kids and tweens might appreciate the feisty and juvenile behavior that Howie Mandel's Maurice brings to the screen, but viewers who have seen Beetlejuice will see more than a little resemblance to Michael Keaton's famous ghoul. He does warm up as the movie progresses, but adults might find the characterization little more than an irritant with a penchant for pulling down people's pants. Thanks to the creepy sets, spooky masks, and Fred Savage's candid portrayal of an 11-year-old kid, this movie deserves a small spot in the comedic monster movie pantheon.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about childhood fears. What scares you the most? Something hiding under the bed? What makes the idea of monsters scary? Did you find Maurice scary?

  • At what age is watching scary movies fun? Have you ever wished you hadn't seen something? How did you get the scary images or thoughts out of your mind?

Movie Details

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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.

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