Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fun, nostalgic scares may be too spooky for some kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Goosebumps
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a mix of opinions, with some enjoying the entertaining plot and likable characters while others criticize the overwhelming sexual references and lack of genuine scares. Many viewers recommend it for slightly older kids, suggesting a maturity level is necessary due to its controversial themes and occasional cringe-inducing moments.
- mixed reviews
- sexual references
- not very scary
- opinions on maturity
- likable characters
- entertaining plot
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
GOOSEBUMPS is an extension of the universe built in the 1995 TV series (itself an adaptation of R.L. Stine's spooky book series). The series begins with teenage friends breaking into a house to throw an epic Halloween party. They soon realize that they've awakened a teenage ghost, Harold Biddle, who died in the basement in 1993 under mysterious circumstances. Biddle's ghost thinks he was wronged as a teen, and is determined to get revenge on his former friends' children. A teen's mom (Rachel Harris) makes the connection between what's happening in 2023 and what happened 30 years ago. The friends begin "time hopping" in an effort to try to stop Biddle, so they can worry about normal teenage things like college and crushes.
Is It Any Good?
Parents who grew up with the '90s Goosebumps will love watching (and getting scared) with their teens. Kids will likely be more divided -- some will love the spooky scares and others will hide under the covers. For those kids ready for a thrill, Goosebumps is an eerily good time. The scares are good: just spooky enough to be fun but not approach grown-up levels of horror. The characters are relatable, and there are a lot of great acting performances by the ensemble cast. The plot development and writing is sophisticated enough that grown-ups will also enjoy. Watch together -- just maybe not right before bed.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about watching scary TV shows or movies like Goosebumps. Is it fun to be scared? What feels scary to you? What doesn't?
When do you think the characters in Goosebumps are good role models? When are times they do not make good decisions?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 13, 2023
- Cast : Justin Long , Rachael Harris , Zack Morris , Isa Briones
- Networks : Disney+ , Hulu
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , Fantasy
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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
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