Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartwarming series wins with music, emotional honesty.
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Julie and the Phantoms
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 86 kid reviews
Kids say this show is an incredible blend of amazing music, engaging storytelling, and strong representation of diverse characters, making it a favorite among various age groups. While many appreciate its themes of friendship and coping with loss, some parents express concerns about occasional suggestive content and the ghostly premise, advising that it may be suited for older children.
- - amazing music
- - strong representation
- - family themes
- - mixed content
- - engaging storytelling
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In JULIE AND THE PHANTOMS, it's nearly a year after her mother's death, and 15-year-old Julie (Madison Reyes) still struggles to reignite her passion for music, a love that she shared with her songwriter mom. Unfortunately, that means she loses her spot in her school's prestigious music program, which is a crushing blow to her and to her best friend and fellow program enrollee, Flynn (Jadah Marie). When fate delivers to her the ghosts of three musicians whose untimely food poisoning deaths ended their anticipated rise to fame 25 years ago, Luke (Charlie Gillespie), Reggie (Jeremy Shada), and Alex (Owen Joyner) help inspire Julie to recapture her love for music and regain the confidence to perform. In so doing, they get to revisit their own aspirations, as they become visible to the rest of the world when they're playing music with her.
Is It Any Good?
The remarkable talent of acclaimed producer Kenny Ortega is hard to eclipse, but here it's managed by the entirety of the cast of this unassuming but spectacular series. It starts with Reyes, whose emotional connection to her title role is obvious right off the bat and who captivates on-screen from then on. Enter her unlikely new trio of friends -- three quippy teens who are not surprised to learn they're ghosts but are shocked to discover they've been in limbo for a quarter of a century -- with their very genuine interpersonal relationships and their obvious care for Julie. Round that out with her compassionate father, supportive teachers, and devoted best friend, and Ortega's masterful vision for this series becomes obvious.
Beyond these rich characterizations, Julie and the Phantoms offers viewers something even more likely to reel them in time and again: the impressive musical talent of its frontmen and woman, who actually perform the songs in the show. Julie and the guys have a great rapport on-screen that's only enhanced when they sing and play together. This spells big and far-reaching success for the show, not surprising given Ortega's track record with productions that meld drama, humor, and exceptional original scores.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about where Julie finds inspiration and support in Julie and the Phantoms. How do her people rally around her when she needs it? What help is a strong support system in difficult times? In what ways can you fill that role for someone else?
How does Julie's willingness to be honest emotionally help her cope with difficult situations in healthy ways? How does she demonstrate courage and perseverance in these ways? Who are positive role models of similar qualities in your life?
Does Julie and the Phantoms do an effective job promoting the band's music? Is that its intent? How are our preferences and opinions shaped by what we see on the screen? Can this be a good thing?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 10, 2020
- Cast : Madison Reyes , Owen Joyner , Charlie Gillespie
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School ) , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 30, 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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