Released as a Netflix original, Hubie Halloween stars Adam Sandler as Hubie Dubois, a dedicated (and eccentric) community volunteer in Salem, Massachusetts. Hubie spends every October 31st making sure his fellow citizens stay safe, despite the fact that almost everyone in town—from the kids to the local police—treats him like a total loser.

When people actually start disappearing on Halloween night, it’s up to Hubie to convince the skeptical townspeople that the danger is real. It’s a classic "unlikely hero" story wrapped in a thick layer of slapstick, cameos from the entire Sandler friend group (Kevin James, Maya Rudolph, Steve Buscemi), and a Swiss Army thermos that does everything from dispensing soup to acting as a grappling hook.

If your kid thinks a well-timed fart joke is the pinnacle of comedy, they are the target audience here. It’s "brain rot" adjacent in the best way—low stakes, high energy, and full of physical comedy that doesn't require a lot of deep thought.

Middle schoolers, in particular, tend to gravitate toward it because of the PG-13 rating. At that age, "PG" feels like "baby stuff," and "PG-13" feels like they’ve been invited to the grown-up table. Plus, the movie features a few younger stars (like Noah Schnapp from Stranger Things), which gives it some immediate playground street cred.

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According to Screenwise community data, about 58% of families with kids in grades 6-8 have watched at least one Adam Sandler movie in the last year. Sandler has become a sort of multi-generational bridge. We grew up with The Wedding Singer and Happy Gilmore, and now our kids are finding him through his massive Netflix deal.

But here’s the thing: Hubie Halloween is much closer to the "stupid-funny" vibe of The Waterboy than the more family-friendly Bedtime Stories. If you’re okay with your kid seeing a grown man get pelted with eggs and yelled at by his neighbors, you’re fine. If you’re looking for Pixar-level emotional depth, keep scrolling.

While there isn't much "real" violence or gore, the sheer amount of yelling and mean-spiritedness might be a bit much for younger kids. The "scary" elements (a creepy neighbor, a mental patient on the loose) are played for laughs, but the concept of an entire town hating one guy can be confusing or even sad for little ones. Alternative: Spookley the Square Pumpkin or Super Monsters Save Halloween.

This is the prime demographic. They’ll get the jokes, they’ll enjoy the "edgy" feel of the PG-13 rating, and they’re old enough to understand that the bullying is exaggerated for comedic effect. You might have to explain a few of the more suggestive jokes (like the slogans on Hubie’s mom’s thrift-store shirts), but most of it will fly right over their heads.

High schoolers will either find this "mid" (average) or watch it ironically because it's so ridiculous. It’s a low-stress movie for a group of teens to have on in the background while they’re on their phones.

1. Heavy Bullying The movie’s central trope is that Hubie is the town’s punching bag. People throw things at him, set traps for him, and call him names. While the movie eventually tries to pivot to a "be kind" message, the first 80 minutes are a masterclass in how to be a jerk to someone who is different. If your child is currently dealing with social issues at school, this might hit a little too close to home.

2. Crude Humor Expect a lot of jokes about bodily functions, some mild swearing (the usual PG-13 suspects, though no F-bombs), and some suggestive humor involving "sexy" Halloween costumes and double entendres. It’s classic Sandler—not pornographic, but definitely not "clean."

3. Mental Health Representation The movie features a character who has escaped from a "psychiatric hospital." It plays into some pretty old-school tropes about mental illness being "scary" or "weird," though it’s handled with the typical Sandler slapstick silliness rather than malice.

Check out our guide on navigating "mean-spirited" comedy with kids

If you do decide to watch Hubie Halloween for family movie night, it actually provides a few good "in-roads" for conversation:

Hubie Halloween isn't going to win any Oscars, and it’s certainly not "prestige" television. It’s the cinematic equivalent of a giant bag of candy corn: sugary, a little bit "trashy," and you’ll probably have a headache if you consume too much of it.

However, in a world where kids are often exposed to much darker content on TikTok or YouTube, a goofy movie about a guy with a multi-purpose thermos is relatively harmless. Just be prepared for your kids to start trying to make their own "Hubie Thermos" in the kitchen afterward.

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