Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Diverse, caring teens in live-action sequel; some peril.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Monster High 2
What's the Story?
It's a new school year at MONSTER HIGH 2 for sophomores Clawdeen (Miia Harris), Draculaura (Nayah Damasen), and Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot). But these monsters, werewolves, and vampires aren't like other teenagers, and their living, breathing high school building houses a lot more intrigue than most. When student Toralei Stripe (Salena Qureshi) returns after a year abroad in France, she heightens worries with stories about evil witches. Soon Draculaura will be drawn into a witch's plot to rid the world of vampires, and her friends from Monster High will have to come to her rescue, if they survive the ordeal.
Is It Any Good?
Despite its objectively derivative cocktail of teen genres, tropes, and messaging, this budding live-action movie manages to be both sweet and enjoyable. One thing Monster High 2 did extremely well was cast its band of amiable teenagers, a largely uncynical gang who still feel new-ish themselves but are more relaxed than in the prequel. They still move tentatively through dance numbers and pour their hearts out in lip-synched tunes about first-day jitters and the importance of friends. What could have been a mess of mixed concepts, Harry Potter meets High School Musical meets Zombies, this series manages to capture a lovely tone for impressionable tween audiences.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the value of empathy, a key message in Monster High 2. How does each main character learn and demonstrate empathy? How does this character strength benefit them individually and as a group?
How does the film use songs to convey typical feelings teenagers experience? Can you give an example?
How does this movie compare with the animated TV series and films?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 5, 2023
- Cast : Miia Harris , Nayah Damasen , Ceci Balagot
- Director : Todd Holland
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Transgender Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount+
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : STEM , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Empathy
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 9, 2026
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