Haunted Mansion – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Haunted Mansion

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

61%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A grief-stricken widower and a ragtag crew help a mom exorcise her ghost-filled mansion—spooky fun with surprising heart.

6/10

38%

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Haunted Mansion

movie

PG-13, 2023

61%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A grief-stricken widower and a ragtag crew help a mom exorcise her ghost-filled mansion—spooky fun with surprising heart.

38%

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the deal: critics absolutely trashed this movie (38% on Rotten Tomatoes), but regular families gave it 84%. That gap tells you everything—it's not cinema, but it's a perfectly serviceable family movie night option.

The grief storyline is surprisingly well-handled for what could've been a goofy ghost romp. LaKeith Stanfield plays a widower who can't move on, and the movie doesn't shy away from that heaviness. If your family has experienced loss, this might actually spark good conversations. If you haven't, it might just feel like a downer in the middle of a comedy.

The scares are real enough that Common Sense Media says 11+, and I'd agree. Younger kids will have nightmares about skeleton ghosts. But for tweens who want to feel brave? Perfect. It's spooky without being traumatizing.

Is it a must-watch? No. Will your 12-year-old have fun and maybe even get a little teary at the end? Probably. It's solidly in the "yeah, sure, why not" category of Disney+ family films.

Age Fit

Best for kids 11-14 who want spooky adventure without true horror. Younger kids will be scared, older teens might find it cheesy. Adults can enjoy it as background entertainment, but it's really aimed at the tween/early teen crowd who are ready for PG-13 scares.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models cooperation and teamwork as a diverse group works together to help a single mom and her son. Themes of grief and moving forward are handled with care, though some parents found the grief elements heavy. Characters show genuine care for each other, and the found-family dynamic is positive. Pacing is reasonable for a family film, not overly chaotic.

Imaginative

Based on the classic Disney ride, it brings ghosts and haunted mansion lore to life with creative supernatural elements. However, it's more of a straightforward haunted house adventure than truly original storytelling—it follows familiar beats without breaking new ground. The ghost characters and mansion setting offer visual creativity, but it doesn't particularly invite kids to build or explore ideas beyond what's on screen.

Safe

PG-13 for scary action and thematic elements. Common Sense Media suggests age 11+, which tracks—there are frightening ghost images, skeletons, and supernatural scares throughout. No gore, nudity, or sexual content. Mild profanity only. The scary elements are telegraphed (it's literally called Haunted Mansion), so parents know what they're getting into. Grief themes might be emotionally heavy for younger kids but aren't traumatizing. The scares are more spooky-fun than truly terrifying for the target age range.

Enriching

Deals meaningfully with grief and loss—the main character is processing the death of his wife, and learning to move forward. There's a message about facing fears and helping others. Some historical elements through the historian character. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused rather than deeply thought-provoking. Kids won't come away with major new skills or insights, though the grief processing could resonate with families dealing with loss.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Handles grief and loss with genuine emotional depth—rare for a family comedy
Strong ensemble cast with good chemistry and diverse representation
Spooky-fun scares that hit the sweet spot for tweens who want to feel brave
Themes of found family, helping others, and facing your fears
Audiences loved it (84% RT) despite critic hate—sometimes parents know better

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What to Watch For

Legitimately scary for kids under 10—skeletons, ghosts, jump scares throughout
Grief is a central theme; the main character is mourning his dead wife, which could be heavy
PG-13 rating is earned—this isn't the 2003 Eddie Murphy version
It's not a great movie objectively (critics hated it), but it's entertaining enough for a family movie night

Conversation Starters

"The main character lost someone he loved and couldn't move on. Have you ever had trouble letting go of something?"
"If you could have one ghost superpower from the movie, what would it be?"
"Why do you think the ghosts were stuck in the mansion? What were they afraid of?"
"The crew all had different skills that helped solve the problem. What's your special skill that helps your friends or family?"

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