R. L. Stine is one of the most prolific writers of horror fiction for children and teen readers. Considered the “Stephen King of children’s literature,” Stine has written over a hundred books for young readers, many of which have been adapted to TV and film.
Most recently, Netflix released the adaptation of his novel The Prom Queen, which marks the fourth installment in the Fear Street film series. Viewers interested in Stine’s adaptations can use our guide to find out how to watch them all in release date order on platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and more.
Goosebumps (1995-1998)
Goosebumps marked the first adaptation of Stine’s book series of the same name. It is an anthology series, with each episode or two-part episode adapting one of the Goosebumps books. Anthology TV adaptations of children’s books were quite rare at the time, as were horror series for young viewers. However, Goosebumps proved successful, running for four seasons and helping kickstart the careers of actors like Ryan Gosling and Hayden Christensen. It perfectly blended fantasy, horror, and child-friendly entertainment for young viewers in the ‘90s and proved that Stine’s work was well-suited for the screen.
The Nightmare Room (2001-2002)
The Nightmare Room is another anthology adaptation of Stine’s book series of the same name. The series is like The Twilight Zone for adolescents, featuring eerie, strange stories and narration about children’s nightmares and fears. It was a short-lived series, considering there were only 12 books in The Nightmare Room book series. The Nightmare Room performed well as a more mature but still adolescent-friendly series filled with chills, thrills, cliffhangers, and shocking twists.
When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)
When Good Ghouls Go Bad is a Stine movie that came before the book. Stine developed the idea for the TV movie and, later, wrote the film's novelization. The film centers on Danny (Joe Pichler), a new kid in Walker Falls, Minnesota, who struggles with fitting in and also happens to have a reanimated zombie, Uncle Fred (Christopher Lloyd). When other not-so-good zombies reanimate, it’s up to Danny and Fred to stop them and save the town. When Good Ghouls Go Bad is a gem for both Lloyd and Stine fans. Lloyd is a hilarious, charismatic zombie, while the film is well-written and a lighthearted watch for families.
Haunted Lighthouse (2003)
Based on Stine’s book of the same name, Haunted Lighthouse is a short 4-D film. It premiered in theme parks like SeaWorld, where viewers got to experience tactile special effects such as water jets sprayed at them. In the movie, two ghost children stuck in a lighthouse for over a hundred years begin searching for other children to turn into ghosts and keep them company. Lloyd also stars in this film as Cap’n Jack. While the short film mainly prioritized the 4-D experience, Haunted Lighthouse is also a brief, breezy watch with a fun ghostly twist.
The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It (2007)
The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It is a direct-to-video adaptation of Stine’s book of the same name. The film follows Cassie (Emily Osment), a rebellious teen, who plays a prank on her younger brother by reading from a cursed book against the book’s warning. In the process, she unwittingly releases a monster on Halloween night. The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It is the perfect introductory horror film for viewers wishing to enter the genre. It’s family-friendly but frightening enough to scare younger viewers while also featuring considerable teen talent and relatable teen drama.
Mostly Ghostly Trilogy (2008-2016)
Based on Stine’s book series of the same name, the Mostly Ghostly trilogy kicked off in 2008 with Most Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out? The film centers on Max Doyle (Sterling Beaumon), who discovers the ghosts of two siblings in his home and agrees to help them find out what happened to them. The sequels, Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? and Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House, continue following Max’s adventures with his ghost friends, with Ryan Ochoa and Corey Fogelmanis taking over the role of Max. The Mostly Ghostly movies feature fairly impressive visuals for TV and direct-to-video films while maintaining an excellent balance of horror and humor.
R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour (2010-2014)
Following the success of The Haunting Hour: Don’t Think About It, Stine’s Haunting Hour books received a TV adaptation, R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour. It’s another anthology series featuring young cast members in chilling and eerie situations involving creatures and supernatural phenomena. R. L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour was significantly more mature than Goosebumps, featuring more thoughtful and complex themes and darker stories in which characters found themselves in dangerous and sometimes fatal situations. Its more mature nature resonated well with viewers, earning critical acclaim and offering families a show that would genuinely scare children and parents.
Eye Candy (2015)
While Stine is best known for his children’s literature, he did write a few books aimed at teen/adult readers. In 2015, one of his rare books for adult readers, Eye Candy, received a TV adaptation. The series follows Lindy (Victoria Justice), a brilliant, beautiful, and intimidating woman whose foray into online dating puts her on the tracks of a potential cyber stalker. Although it only ran for one season, Eye Candy earned positive reviews from critics and audiences who praised Justice’s performance, along with the show’s high stakes, exploration of grief, and mildly frightening premise, perfect for teen viewers.
Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls (2015)
Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls is a horror comedy based on Stine’s 2012 novel of the same name. In the film, Beth (Dove Cameron) and her friends are excited when the Halloween festival and haunted carnival arrive in their small town. However, they quickly realize there’s something sinister about prominent carnival entertainer Dr. Hysteria (Andrew Kavadas). Monsterville: Cabinet of Souls is a fun Halloween movie showcasing many young Disney and Nickelodeon stars. It’s silly, funny, and creepy enough to make it a classic for spooky season.
Goosebumps (2015)
Twenty years after the original Goosebumps show, Stine’s beloved series received a film adaptation. The film sees Jack Black portray a fictional version of Stine, who teams up with his teenage neighbor, Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette), to save his town when the monsters from his books come to life. Goosebumps is filled with nostalgia, strong visual effects, and an enjoyable performance from Black. While aimed at children, adults will find it entertaining, too. The film is especially a must-see for fans of the books and the original TV show.
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
Following Goosebumps’ success, Sony greenlit a sequel, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. In the sequel, Black returns as Stine, who once again finds himself fighting his monsters after siblings Sarah (Madison Iseman) and Sonny (Jeremy Ray Taylor) accidentally unleash them by opening Stine’s unfinished manuscript. While Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween largely follows the first film’s template, it still offers another fun, nostalgic Halloween romp for families. It’s funny and clever, and it will easily instill a love of horror in young viewers with its creative and eerie monsters.
Fear Street Trilogy (2021)
Netflix released the Fear Street trilogy in July 2021, making it quite the summer horror movie event. Since Stine’s Fear Street books were geared more toward teenagers than children, the Fear Street movies are also for teens and adults and are proper horror films. The trilogy follows Deena (Kiana Madeira) and her friends after a massacre in their hometown of Shadyside, which leads them to search their town’s grisly past for answers about the supposed Shadyside curse. The Fear Street trilogy is one of the most creative and well-crafted Stine adaptations, blending the nostalgia of ‘90s horror slashers with an imaginative and complex lore.
Just Beyond (2021)
Based on Stine’s graphic novel series of the same name, Just Beyond is a horror anthology series created for Disney+. From alternate worlds to brainwashing schools to teen witch life, each of the eight episodes sees young characters navigating spooky, unsettling, supernatural, and weird circumstances. Just Beyond is light on scares, but big on creativity and imagination. The Twilight Zone-esque stories are intriguing and strange, with a very subtle eeriness to them, that will dazzle young viewers.
Goosebumps (2023 - present)
In 2003, Stine’s Goosebumps series received another TV adaptation. Unlike the original series, Goosebumps is a serialized anthology that tells a new story every season rather than every episode. The first season focuses on a group of teens who investigate the mysterious death of a teenage boy three decades earlier, while Season 2 follows siblings Cece (Jayden Bartels) and Devin (Sam McCarthy), who discover a haunted house on vacation. Goosebumps is a refreshing adaptation of Stine’s work, honoring his spooky source material while effectively transforming it into a serialized format. A little more mature than the original series, it finds the perfect balance between appealing to younger and older audiences.
Zombie Town (2023)
Based on Stine’s 2000 novel of the same name, Zombie Town is a horror comedy about two teenagers who unwittingly turn their fellow town residents into zombies after watching a zombie movie from a reclusive filmmaker. The film brings the zombie subgenre to children with a fun, entertaining, and surprisingly sophisticated story. Zombie Town is a clever and witty movie that pokes a little fun at the zombie genre. In addition to the satire and nostalgia, older viewers will also appreciate the presence of Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Henry Czerny, and Scott Thompson.
Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
Following the success of the Fear Street trilogy, the franchise expanded with another film installment: Fear Street: Prom Queen. Based on Stine’s novel The Prom Queen, the movie follows Lori Granger (India Fowler), a high school outcast who suddenly finds herself in the running for prom queen. However, the triumphant moment turns dark when her competitors begin disappearing. Fear Street: Prom Queen maintains the nostalgic, horror slasher aspects of the original series while leaning more heavily into the teen drama aspects. The prom drama with a slasher twist is the perfect film for teens to watch during prom season.
Where To Watch R. L. Stine’s Movies And TV Shows Online
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