Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spooky spin on books may be too scary for kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Goosebumps
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 22 parent reviews
Parents say the show is a mixed bag, with many rating it as suitable for children around the ages of 7 to 10, though some episodes may be too scary or intense for younger viewers. The quality of the episodes varies, and while some find it fun and nostalgic, others believe it lacks depth and can be distressing for sensitive kids due to unsettling themes and abrupt endings.
- suitable for children
- mixed quality
- sensitive viewers advised
- varying scary levels
- nostalgic for some
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 106 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Based on the popular books by R. L. Stine, GOOSEBUMPS is a live-action horror series for tweens and teens that originally aired in the mid-1990s. The anthology, which includes adaptations of 43 of the original books, brings many of readers' favorite tales to life. Like most grown-up horror films, Goosebumps takes place in a bizarre reality in which remarkably unusual events happen on a regular basis without really shocking the people involved. In each story/episode, the young character or characters (usually teens) at the center of the madness must figure out how to survive the frightening and often dangerous situations they're forced into.
Is It Any Good?
The tales run the gamut from creepy to spooky to just plain weird. Curses, mysticism, and paranormal activity are the norm here, and the ever-changing plot makes content difficult to predict. Each story aims to scare its viewers, and heart-pounding suspense is around every corner. In addition, many of the young characters terrorize and play mean jokes on each other, and plots often center on one person seeking revenge on another.
While the books are popular among 8- to 10-year-olds, the scary visuals make Goosebumps iffy for tweens, and parents will likely want to give each episode a once-over before giving sensitive young viewers the OK. And while teens can probably handle the scares, they may be turned off by the dated, low-budget film style and overacting that often plagues horror films of all levels.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the appeal of scary stories. Is it ever fun to be frightened by what you read in a book or see on TV shows or at the movies? Why?
How the show compare to the book series? Which version did you think was more frightening? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 27, 1995
- Cast : Cody Jones , Kathryn Short , Scott Wickware
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 22, 2022
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