Parents' Guide to

Poltergeist

By M. Faust, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

One of the all-time great haunted house movies.

Movie PG 1982 114 minutes
Poltergeist Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 53 parent reviews

Sarah T.
Sarah T. Parent of 3 and 8-year-old
August 15, 2020
age 10+

Great Introduction To The Horror World, Dependent On Your Child

Tonight I watched this movie with my daughters. My three year old was already asleep on my lap and woke up to laugh at a couple parts, I don't think she understood most of it. But my eight, almost nine year old daughter found a couple things scary. I remember my mom showing me this movie. She skipped over the scene where the guy pulls his face off so I did too. My oldest was slightly scared by the scene in which Robbie is almost eaten by the tree. But the scene that really got to her was towards the end when the clown is on Robbie's bed. I'll be honest, I forgot that was in there so it got to me a little too. She hates clowns. I understand the point of a horror movie is to scare, but I can't help feeling like she wasn't ready. She fell asleep just fine but did say she was scared when she got into bed. If your child is 10 or a strong 9 and isn't the type to get scared at night, then this is their gateway into the land of Horror. Don't let them watch this on their own though! If at that age, this movie should be watched with family sitting close by to remind them it's all just a movie, and that they're safe.
Jackraven123
Jackraven123 Parent
August 21, 2022
age 11+
A slightly boring but interesting haunted house movie has a few bloody moments but very comic and cartoony.
See all 53 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Written and produced by Steven Spielberg, POLTERGEIST is an '80s horror classic and one of the great "haunted house" movies, as a family's "perfect" suburban home becomes the target of a ghostly invasion. Steven and Diane Freeling (Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams) and their three kids are happy in their new home in a California housing development built by the company Steven works for. They don't notice at first that 5-year-old daughter Carol Anne (Heather O'Rourke) is receiving messages from voices that speak to her through empty channels on their TV set. But Diane soon begins to see more physical evidence of a ghostly presence, one that moves things around the kitchen and scares the children during the day. The unseen beings grow more malevolent, inhabiting a tree that breaks a window and attacks the Freelings' son, Robbie (Oliver Robins). When the spirits take Carol Anne away, the Freelings call in a team of experts, including a psychic who holds the key to the other world.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (53 ):
Kids say (234 ):

This 1980s story of a family assaulted by ghosts remains compelling and thrilling. Poltergeist's strong cast makes up for once top-of-the-line special effects that now look a bit dated.

The film works because the characters are so well written that we can't help but root for them and wish for their safety. And the writers don't abuse the fact that we've come to care about them: We're scared at the ordeals they face, but they all come through, saved by their love for one another.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes Poltergeist so scary. Are the effects -- the ghosts and other things that you see -- frightening? Are there any emotional moments that are equally scary?

  • Did you identify with any of the characters?

  • Did this movie remind you of moments in your childhood when you thought you weren't alone in your room at night?

  • Why do you think people sometimes like watching movies that frighten them?

Movie Details

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