Metacritic Movie Ratings
Monster House Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 91

  out of 100

  Entertainment WeeklyLisa Schwarzbaum

  Kenan directs with a zingy sense of kids, comedy, fright, and visual perspective. But the movie also shimmers and shakes in all its motion-capture animated beauty with the slyly deep sensibilities of executive producer Robert Zemeckis.

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• 80

  out of 100

  The New York TimesDana Stevens

  Unpretentious, smartly written and a lot of fun.

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• 80

  out of 100

  Los Angeles TimesKevin Crust

  Has a return-to-innocence sweetness that recalls some of the work of another of its executive producers - Steven Spielberg. Kids may grow up too fast today to embrace the film's familiar message of the virtues of an unhurried adolescence, but it's nice to be reminded of the possibility.

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• 75

  out of 100

  USA Today

  Monster House may be the first true horror film for children.

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• 75

  out of 100

  Chicago Tribune

  Set around Halloween, Monster House manages to cull bits and pieces from Hammer, Hitchcock and the old-dark-house genre of 19th Century literature and early 20th Century stage and film.

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• 70

  out of 100

  VarietyTodd McCarthy

  Constant shock cuts and souped-up music and sound effects will keep small fry in a state of moderate petrification, while the trio of tweeny leads plus attitude-redolent cohorts will make teens feel welcome.

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• 50

  out of 100

  Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern

  Monster House benefits from strong graphic design and lovely lighting, but the script is nothing to write home about.

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