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Parents' Guide to

The Banana Splits Movie

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Slasher comedy-horror isn't a kid-friendly reboot.

Movie R 2019 89 minutes
The Banana Splits Movie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 11 parent reviews

IncognitoMom
IncognitoMom Parent of 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16-year-old
June 9, 2023
age 18+

Terrible and gory.

Wonder_Woman
Wonder_Woman Adult
October 31, 2023
age 18+

Worst horror "movie" ever!

This "movie" is so bad it makes the live-action "Jem" movie look like a beloved well-done classic. I'm being serious here-all the movie producers and directors did was take the Banana Splits and plunk the beloved characters into a crappy soulless movie that had no plot whatsoever. The "plot" is just ta generic and boring "Malfunctioning robots kill people" cliche,and the Banana Splits themselves are so out-of-character it's unreal. Added pointless blood and gore don't help the movie in any way-the the has blood and gore just for the sake of having blood and gore. And did I mention the Token Black woman, the Token Asian and the Token Latino? I wish I was kidding,but I'm not. Those people are in there just to tell the audience"We're not being racist cuz we plunked in minorities just to make this movie look diverse". No-the poor minorities are just in the movie so the producers and directors won't be accused of being racist, Let's not forget how they messed up on the looks of Drooper and Fleegle. In the TV series,Drooper had closed eyes. In the movie,he had open eyes,and both he and Fleegle had narises for some un-explaiened reason. Let's not forget the un-needed and un-necessesary "Sloppy Time" and the un-needed human character of Stevie-neither "Sloppy Time: nor Stevie were in the 1960s or 2008 TV series,so why add them to the movie? The beloved costumed characters are also animatronics-they were made into animatronics just to cash in on the killer robot bandwagon. I guess the ones who made this "movie" ignored the fact that the Banana Splits are supposed to be people acting goofy in silly animal costumes, NOT being killer robots. The Splits were made into killer robots just so they could TRY to be just like FNAF. Final words: If you want to see a REAL horror movie with robots,go watch "Chappie"," The Hug" "Wily's Wonderland" or the new FNAF movie.
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In THE BANANA SPLITS MOVIE, a young boy named Harley receives a special surprise for his birthday. His mother Beth (Dani Kind) has gotten him tickets to attend a taping of his favorite TV show, The Banana Splits. Beth and Harley will be joined by Beth's awkward 19-year-old son Austin, their jerk stepdad Mitch, and Harley's new friend Zoe. Around the time they're taking their seats, it's announced backstage by the vice-president of programming that The Banana Splits is to be canceled. During the taping of the show, Austin convinces Paige the page to hook up his family with passes to meet The Banana Splits after the show. But after learning that their show is canceled, Bingo, Fleegle, Drooper, and Snorky, programmed by a deranged robotics designer, decide to take matters into their own hands. With no means of escape, and their smartphones destroyed, those who survive the massacre must find a way to stop The Banana Splits from continuing their twisted murderous rampage.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11 ):
Kids say (23 ):

This is a horror-comedy residing in the same low budget, deliberately-dumb, so-bad-it's-good space as Sharknado. Any weak points to the story, corny dialogue, or cheap production value is wink-winked away, and much of the entertainment is supposed to be derived from one being in on the joke. The premise of The Banana Splits Movie soon wears thin, and once the audience gets past the initial shock of seeing Drooper committing a homicide with an overlarge lollipop, all the blood splatter and entrails accomplish is a lack of creativity and a waste of potential.

It's downright bizarre to see these well-known children's television characters going on a blood-drenched frenzy. Perhaps more shocking than anything in the movie is that Hanna-Barbera would consent to allowing this movie to be made in the first place. What's next? Josie and the Pussycats start a death cult? Yogi Bear and Boo-Boo attack the campers of Jellystone Park with chainsaws? Hopefully not, as The Banana Splits Movie's dalliance with blood and gore proves that this kind of demented fan fiction misses the mark.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about "comedy-horror" movies. Why do you think some people are entertained by exaggerated violent acts?

  • Did the blood, gore, and violence seem necessary to The Banana Splits Movie, or did it seem gratuitous? Why?

  • What are your thoughts on characters from a kids' show being presented as bloody murderers? Does it ruin the possibility of enjoying the more wholesome depictions of The Banana Splits?

Movie Details

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