Monster House is one of those rare kids' movies that actually commits to being scary—and it succeeds, maybe a little too well for its own good. The premise is genuinely creative (a sentient, people-eating house with a tragic backstory), and it doesn't pull punches with the fear factor.
The problem? That 2006 motion-capture animation has NOT aged well. The characters live in uncanny valley, which adds an unintentional layer of creepiness. And while the themes of empathy and bravery are solid, this is primarily a Halloween entertainment piece rather than something deeply enriching.
It's a solid pick for October viewing with tweens who are ready to graduate from Scooby-Doo but aren't quite ready for actual horror. Just know that younger kids WILL be scared—Common Sense Media's age-10 recommendation is spot-on. If your 7-year-old insists they can handle it, they probably can't.