Common Sense Media Review
Frightfully fun horror animation has lazy stereotypes.
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Monster House
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 54 parent reviews
Parents say that the movie, while intended as a children's film, contains many inappropriate themes and scenes that can be frightening for younger audiences, leading to significant fear and anxiety for some children. Despite some parents enjoying its mild horror elements and humor, many criticized its crude language, adult themes, and questionable character portrayals, deeming it unsuitable for kids, particularly under the age of 10.
- inappropriate content
- scary for children
- mixed reviews
- potential nightmares
- unsuitable for under 10
- mild horror elements
Summarized with AI
Based on 129 kid reviews
Kids say that the animated movie, while not overwhelmingly scary, does contain some disturbing elements, making it unsuitable for young children. Parents note its mix of crude humor and dark themes, with varying opinions on its appropriateness, suggesting it may only be suitable for older kids, generally recommending ages 9 and up for viewing.
- not suitable for young kids
- mixed opinions on appropriateness
- contains crude humor
- dark themes present
- various layered messages
- inappropriate scenes mentioned
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
MONSTER HOUSE is an animated family horror movie that centers on three kids who discover that a neighbor's house is actually a living, breathing monster. It all begins when DJ (voiced by Mitchel Musso) looks out his window at the creepy house across the street. It's old. It's run-down. And it's owned by "Old Man Nebbercracker" (Steve Buscemi), the meanest guy in town, who loves terrorizing the neighborhood kids. And heaven forbid any toys should land on his lawn, or he'll snatch 'em away forever. DJ starts keeping track of all the lost items, so much so that he becomes a bit of an outcast. Right before Halloween, DJ's parents (Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard) head to a convention and leave him home with a grumpy babysitter, Zee (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Left to his own devices, DJ starts to notice all kinds of strange goings on, and he's soon joined by best friend Chowder (Sam Lerner) and neighbor Jenny (Spencer Locke) to keep watch. The kids discover that Nebbercracker isn't the only thing that's creepy. The house, it seems, has a life of its own.
Is It Any Good?
A suitable introduction to the horror genre, this animated family movie boasts a top-notch voice cast, an exciting story, and a twisty-turny ending. Monster House is one of those movies where all the planets seem to align, but a few aspects stop it from becoming a classic. The motion-capture animation is the same as that used in The Polar Express, where the characters have so much personality that you feel like you're watching real people. But even more important is the compelling story, around which characters and animation revolve (rather than the other way around). But unnecessary content—like the potty humor, name-calling, fat jokes, and other stereotypes—mean that some viewers might be less enamored.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the kids approach solving the mystery in Monster House. Do you think it was OK for them to steal, break and enter, and put themselves in danger? Does the end justify the means? How might they have handled it better?
How are adults and older teens portrayed? Are they kind, reliable, responsible? Do you think any of them are good role models? Why, or why not?
Did you find the movie scary? Which scenes stood out? Do you think the movie balances the horror elements with other aspects like friendship and humor?
What stereotypes did you notice in the film? Why is it important to be aware of stereotypes and talk about/challenge the ones we see on screen?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 21, 2006
- On DVD or streaming : October 24, 2006
- Cast : Jon Heder , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Nick Cannon , Steve Buscemi
- Director : Gil Kenan
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Family and Kids
- Topics : Fantasy , Holidays ( Halloween )
- Run time : 91 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : for scary images and sequences, thematic elements, some crude humor and brief language.
- Awards : Academy Award - Other Category Nominee , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 14, 2026
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