Parents' Guide to

Ghost Adventures

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Haunted house investigations more creepy than scientific.

TV Travel Channel Reality TV 2008
Ghost Adventures Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 24 parent reviews

Em8776
Em8776 Adult
July 2, 2020
age 10+

Absolutely LOVE this show!

I have always been fascinated in the paranormal. Ever since I was a kid, I could see the ghost of my deceased grandfather. I am now a mother to 10 year old twin boys who, like me, can see their deceased great grandmother (who passed when they were just 3 years old, but they were very close). I explained to them that it is a gift to be able to see loved ones on the other side. Since then, they too have been fascinated by the paranormal. I was watching Ghost Adventures before they were even born. After their great grandmother passed, and they understood what that meant, I didn't have them watch GA, but I also didn't discourage it. They love the show, and feel as though Zak, Aaron, Jay and Billy are part of our "paranormal family".

This title has:

Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
robing2256
robing2256 Adult
May 12, 2022
age 13+

No music. ( background)

The music is too much. We can't hear what you hear its annoying really. Very loud also. Some shows have no music. Love it. We hear what they hear. Music very frustrating. Sometimes its louder than the guys talking. No music please.
See all 24 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In GHOST ADVENTURES, Zak Bagans and his team of supernatural investigators travel around the country to find real-life haunted houses -- and hopefully capture evidence of the spirit world on film. During their investigations, the team is locked inside each location overnight, with their cameras, digital tape recorders, and other high-tech specter-sensing gear ... and possibly a few actual phantoms.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (24):
Kids say (31):

The team attempts to bring some scientific rigor to their investigations as they try to document the presence of the supernatural. There's also some history -- the investigators discuss the grisly incidents that may have created restless sprits -- and a good bit of ghoulishness, thanks to amped-up spooky music and frequent quick cuts to creepy (and usually unrelated) images.

The result is kind of muddled. The team does sometimes seem to have encounters with the unexplained, but they don't do much with their evidence; they replay it a few times, say "wow!" and then move on. At times, locked in a haunted house in the dead of night, Zak and his colleagues seem truly unnerved -- even frightened. But watching them get scared isn't very scary for viewers. This series isn't nearly as thorough as the Ghost Hunters franchise, which pioneered this genre, nor does it offer the chills that people might want from seeing a haunted house.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the supernatural. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you think the team manages to capture real footage of spirits? How does this show compare to fictional movies and TV shows about haunted houses?

  • What do you think the show's main goal is? Is it to entertain or to scare viewers? Or both? Does it succeed?

  • Do you think this kind of show is as entertaining as series about things that are familiar to everyone -- like cooking or fashion?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate