Common Sense Media Review
One of the all-time great haunted house movies.
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Poltergeist
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 61 parent reviews
Parents say that this film, while a classic, strikes a balance between being scary and somewhat cheesy, making it suitable for older children but potentially frightful for younger audiences, particularly those sensitive to horror elements. It contains strong family themes and messages about parental love, but viewers warn about the scenes involving mild gore, some language, and the unsettling presence of clowns.
- family love themes
- suitable for tweens
- mild gore present
- suitable for older kids
- contains jump scares
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 244 kid reviews
Kids say the film is a classic introduction to the horror genre for younger audiences, with many reviews noting it combines mild scares with positive messages about family. However, parents should be aware of some graphic scenes and language, making it more suitable for tweens and older kids, particularly those who can handle jump scares and the concept of ghosts.
- family themes
- mild scares
- graphic scenes
- appropriate for tweens
- first horror movie
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Written and produced by Steven Spielberg, POLTERGEIST is an '80s horror classic and one of the great "haunted house" movies, as a family's "perfect" suburban home becomes the target of a ghostly invasion. Steven and Diane Freeling (Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams) and their three kids are happy in their new home in a California housing development built by the company Steven works for. They don't notice at first that 5-year-old daughter Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is receiving messages from voices that speak to her through empty channels on their TV set. But Diane soon begins to see more physical evidence of a ghostly presence, one that moves things around the kitchen and scares the children during the day. The unseen beings grow more malevolent, inhabiting a tree that breaks a window and attacks the Freelings' son, Robbie (Oliver Robins). When the spirits take Carol Anne away, the Freelings call in a team of experts, including a psychic who holds the key to the other world.
Is It Any Good?
This 1980s story of a family assaulted by ghosts remains compelling and thrilling. Poltergeist's strong cast makes up for once top-of-the-line special effects that now look a bit dated.
The film works because the characters are so well written that we can't help but root for them and wish for their safety. And the writers don't abuse the fact that we've come to care about them: We're scared at the ordeals they face, but they all come through, saved by their love for one another.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what makes Poltergeist so scary. Are the effects -- the ghosts and other things that you see -- frightening? Are there any emotional moments that are equally scary?
Did you identify with any of the characters?
Did this movie remind you of moments in your childhood when you thought you weren't alone in your room at night?
Why do you think people sometimes like watching movies that frighten them?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 4, 1982
- On DVD or streaming : January 25, 2000
- Cast : Cindy Williams , Craig T. Nelson , JoBeth Williams
- Director : Andrew Adamson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 114 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : January 30, 2026
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