Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming family sitcom with great messages for all ages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Haunted Hathaways
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Based on 31 kid reviews
Kids say the show features some good role models and offers a mix of humor and cheesy entertainment, making it suitable for children under 13; however, many feel it suffers from poor acting, corny jokes, and an unoriginal plot. While some viewers enjoy its light-hearted nature and catchy theme song, there is a significant portion of the audience that finds it boring, racist, and overall poorly executed, reflecting a divide in reception among viewers.
- role models
- humor appeal
- poor acting
- unoriginal plot
- divided reception
- light-hearted nature
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Michelle Hathaway (Ginifer King) and her daughters, Taylor (Amber Montana) and Frankie (Breanna Yde), aren't sure what to expect when they relocate to New Orleans following Michelle's divorce, but nothing can prepare them for the surprise awaiting them in their new home, where they're met by a family of ghosts. Ray Preston (Chico Benymon) and his sons, Miles (Curtis Harris) and Louie (Benjamin Flores Jr.) have haunted the house for years, and they've never met a resident they couldn't scare away, but the Hathaways put up a fight and refuse to give in. Eventually the two sides agree to a truce and vow to share the house, but that doesn't stop the hijinks as these two families learn to live alongside each other.
Is It Any Good?
THE HAUNTED HATHAWAYS is a charming sitcom that touches on issues many families can relate to, like sibling rivalry, coping with unexpected change, and being open to new ideas. The supernatural aspect notwithstanding, this could be the story of any family, whether single- or two-parent, large or small, blended or not. The characters' interplay yields plenty of laughs -- thanks to a talented cast and comical set-ups that play on the ghosts' special tricks -- but there are just as many heartwarming moments that extol positive family relationships.
But perhaps the best attributes of The Haunted Hathaways exist in what's missing from the show. There's no strong language, no suggestive dialogue, and (even with ghosts in the mix), no real scares. Despite the obvious racial and gender divide among the characters, these differences don't come into play, so stereotypes are nonexistent. What's more, as the characters evolve from cautiously tolerating each other to building real relationships that transcend their differences, they rewrite the concept of what defines and unites a family.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what defines a family. Do members of a family always have to be biologically related to have an emotional connection? How has our culture's impression of a family changed in recent years?
Kids: How do the characters relate to each other beyond their obvious differences? What unique traits do they come to like in each other? How are our lives enriched by being around people who are different from us?
Do you like to be scared when you're watching a show or a movie? What kind of content crosses the line for you?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 13, 2013
- Cast : Amber Montana , Chico Benymon , Ginifer King
- Network : Nickelodeon
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 1, 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
Suggest an Update
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