Fun, nostalgic scares may be too spooky for some kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Lots of scariness: a haunting demon character, ominous music, dark scenes, jump scares. The plot implies that something bad is always about to happen, and the teenage characters are frequently scared or in distress. Mild violence: The demon character tries to hurt the teenagers, and some injuries result in blood (not gore). Some mild bullying between the teenagers.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Teenagers are in romantic relationships that include kisses and mentions of "making out." An adult affair is a plot point. Some innuendo, like saying a shirtless boy looks likes someone from a "porno" and calling a Halloween costume "sexy." Discussion of crushes and attraction.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Scary stuff aside, the show does have positive messages around friendships, teen romantic relationships, and navigating high school.
Positive Role Models
some
The teens in the show have flaws, but they try to do the right thing. They mostly treat each other kindly and respectfully, and they advocate for themselves. They show a fair bit of bravery (or at least teen bravado) in scary situations. Some scenes show not-so-great teen behavior (like breaking into an abandoned house to have a party with underage drinking).
Diverse Representations
some
Some racial diversity, if a bit stereotypical. One main character is a Black teenager who is the star of the football team; his nerdy good friend is played by a part-Asian female actor. The gender representations are pretty good, with girls calling out boys when they act in toxically masculine ways and boys being emotionally vulnerable. There is also a recurring gay supporting character. An actor in the series is transgender.
Parents need to know that this take on Goosebumps is a scarier, more mature version than the same-named 1990s series. It's about a demon seeking revenge by inhabiting the body of a high school's new English teacher (Justin Long). While there's no extreme horror or gore, there's a general ominous feeling that something bad is always about to happen. The teen characters are frequently in distress, and there are jump scares, ominous music, and dark scenes. Parents should consider their kids' usual enjoyment of scary media: Some tweens and young teens will be thrilled by Goosebumps, while others may find that watching leads to nightmares. Other content includes underage drinking, moderate language ("ass," "damn," etc.), and some romance and sexual innuendo (including a verbal reference to a "porno"). Scary stuff aside, the show does have positive messages around friendships, teen romantic relationships, and navigating high school.
The storyline was a bit slow to start but it had us (kids 12 and 16) on the edge of our seat. The actors were great! Overall it was good.
There is way too much reference about s*x and the parent are having an affair. I think the story could have done with out that. I don't feel like it is for little kids.
What's the Story?
GOOSEBUMPSis 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.
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?
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.
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.
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
