WISE Score
IMDb
Two second-grade besties try to exorcise a school bathroom. It's basically Ghostbusters but with more glitter and zero proton packs.
5.6
This is a refreshing break from the high-octane, neon-colored 'brain rot' that dominates Netflix's kids' section. It feels grounded and human.
It’s not trying to sell your kid a toy or a battle pass; it’s just telling a story about two girls with overactive imaginations. If your kid liked the books, they'll love this. Even if they haven't read them, it's a solid, safe pick for a Friday movie night that won't make you want to scroll on your phone the whole time.
Perfect for the 5-to-10 crowd. Anyone over 11 will probably find the 'bathroom ghost' drama a bit beneath them, but for the elementary set, it's peak cinema.
It captures the chaotic but sweet energy of real childhood friendship. Ivy and Bean are opposites who balance each other out without the show feeling like a forced 'lesson' on diversity.
The entire plot is fueled by kid-logic and pretend play. It turns a mundane school bathroom into a supernatural mystery, which is exactly how kids actually see the world.
Extremely low stakes. The 'ghost' elements are handled with a light touch that won't give most kids nightmares. No language or behavior issues beyond some mild school-yard mischief.
Strong focus on social-emotional intelligence and navigating peer dynamics. It's not 'educational' in a math-and-science way, but it's great for empathy.
The title has the word Ghost in it, which is usually the first thing parents of five-year-olds check on. If you’re worried about nightmares, you can relax. The "ghost" here is mostly atmosphere—white mist, some clanking pipes, and a lot of overactive imagination. It’s less Poltergeist and more "what’s that weird sound in the plumbing?" Critics and some Letterboxd reviewers have been a bit cool on it, likely because the stakes feel small, but for a second-grader, a haunted school bathroom is basically high-stakes drama.
If your kid is in that phase where they want to be "brave" but still hides behind the couch during the slightly tense parts of a Disney movie, this is a perfect training-wheels mystery. It uses spooky tropes—rituals, secret missions, "potions"—without any actual jump scares or malevolent spirits.
One thing you’ll notice quickly is that Ivy and Bean aren't exactly "perfect" role models. They sneak around, they break school rules, and they generally cause a ruckus. In a world of hyper-sanitized kids' media where every character learns a clear moral lesson by the 22-minute mark, these girls feel refreshingly messy.
This leads to the one thing parents usually debate: is the mischief a bit too much? We’ve seen some parents worry that Bean’s loud, sometimes defiant personality might rub off on their own kids. If you're on the fence about the "bad influence" vibe, check out our guide on Ivy + Bean: Mischief, Magic, and the 'Naughty' Debate to see why this series is often more about independence than actual rebellion.
If you’re exhausted by the neon, high-energy screaming of typical streaming service "Originals," the visual style here is a relief. It looks like a real neighborhood. The school looks like a real school. The acting doesn't feel like a series of rehearsed TikTok takes; the two leads actually talk and move like kids who have dirt under their fingernails.
It’s a great "bridge" movie. If your kid is moving out of the Bluey phase but isn't quite ready for the snarky, fast-paced world of teen sitcoms, this hits that middle-child sweet spot. It respects their intelligence without trying to make them grow up too fast.
This isn't a movie you need to sit and analyze, but it is a great one to have on while you're doing something else in the room. You won't find yourself annoyed by the dialogue. If your kid is a fan of the books, they’ll likely spot some of the specific "spells" and items from the series. If they haven't read them, this movie usually acts as a gateway drug to the library. It’s one of the few cases where the screen version actually makes the kid want to go back to the page.
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