Julie and the Phantoms – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Julie and the Phantoms

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2020

82%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Teen girl forms a band with three cute ghost boys from the '90s. It's High School Musical meets Casper, and honestly? It works.

93%

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Julie and the Phantoms

show

TV-G, 2020

82%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Teen girl forms a band with three cute ghost boys from the '90s. It's High School Musical meets Casper, and honestly? It works.

93%

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93%

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Screenwise Verdict

This is one of those rare Netflix shows that actually deserves its hype. The premise sounds ridiculous on paper - dead '90s boy band helps grieving teen find her musical voice - but the execution is surprisingly solid.

The music is legitimately good (not just "good for a kids' show"), the cast has real chemistry, and it tackles grief without being a total downer. It's wholesome without being preachy, and fun without being brain rot.

The biggest downside? Netflix cancelled it after one season, so you're setting your kid up for disappointment when they finish and realize there's no more. But honestly, what we got is still worth watching. It's the kind of show that might actually inspire your kid to pick up an instrument or write songs, which is more than you can say for most content.

If your kid is into musicals, this is a no-brainer. If they're not, this might actually convert them.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-14, hitting the sweet spot for tweens who love music and a little supernatural fun. Older teens might find it too young, though the music and production quality hold up. The grief themes require some emotional maturity, hence the 8+ floor.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Netflix musical series about a teenage girl who forms a band with three friendly ghosts from the '90s. Models friendship, pursuing creative passions, and working through grief (Julie lost her mom). Strong positive relationships, supportive family dynamics, and characters encouraging each other. Tone is upbeat and emotionally healthy without being saccharine. Common Sense Media age 8 suggests age-appropriate emotional content.

Imaginative

Creative premise mixing music, supernatural elements, and teen drama. Features original songs and performances that could inspire kids to explore music. The ghost band concept is fun and inventive, blending '90s nostalgia with contemporary teen life. Encourages creative expression through music and performance, though it's more about consuming entertainment than hands-on creation.

Safe

Very safe content for the target demographic. Kids mode available on Netflix. No violence, gore, sexual content, or inappropriate language. Main emotional trigger is grief (Julie's mom died), but handled sensitively and age-appropriately. The ghosts are friendly and comedic, not scary. No surprise disturbing content. Extremely high audience approval (98% RT, 8.4 IMDb) suggests broad family appeal without controversy.

Enriching

Deals with meaningful themes like processing grief, finding your voice, pursuing creative passions, and the power of music to heal. Models healthy friendships and supportive family relationships. Characters show growth and resilience. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused rather than deeply educational. The musical performances and positive messages provide emotional enrichment, though it won't teach specific skills beyond inspiration to explore music.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely catchy original songs that kids will want to replay (and you won't hate hearing for the 47th time)
Handles grief and loss in an age-appropriate way that could help kids process big emotions
Positive representation of pursuing creative passions and finding your voice after setbacks
Clean, wholesome content with actual humor and heart - not just empty fluff
Strong friendships and supportive family dynamics modeled throughout

⚠

What to Watch For

The central plot involves Julie's mom dying a year before - handled sensitively but could be triggering if your kid is dealing with loss
It's a musical series, so if your kid hates spontaneous singing, this will be torture for everyone
Only one season - Netflix cancelled it, so there's no closure and fans are still mad about it
Some mild teen romantic tension between Julie and the lead ghost (nothing inappropriate, just longing looks)

Conversation Starters

"Julie uses music to work through missing her mom. What helps you feel better when you're sad?"
"The guys are stuck as ghosts from 1995. What would be the weirdest thing about jumping forward 25 years?"
"Julie almost gave up music forever. Have you ever wanted to quit something you loved? What made you keep going or stop?"
"The band has to figure out how to perform when three members are invisible to most people. How would you solve that problem?"

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