Let's be honest: this is a movie that exists primarily in the nostalgia banks of Gen X parents who saw it as kids. The 44% critic score tells you what you need to know—even in 1989, this wasn't considered great cinema.

The core problem is that it centers pranking and chaos as fun without much substance underneath. The monster world is creative in concept but executed with dated effects and humor that feels stuck in a very specific late-80s vibe. Modern kids raised on Pixar's emotional depth and Marvel's production values will likely find this painfully slow and boring.

If you loved it as a kid and want to share it with your children, go ahead—but manage expectations. This is more of a 'look what movies were like when I was young' experience than a genuinely engaging film for 2025 kids. The 62% audience score suggests some people have fond memories, but that's doing a lot of heavy lifting.