Monster High: The Movie
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Monster High: The Movie
Monster High: The Movie is a live-action musical fantasy film based on the popular Mattel doll franchise. It follows Clawdeen Wolf, a half-human, half-werewolf, as she enrolls in Monster High, a hidden academy for monsters. Clawdeen attempts to conceal her human half, fearing rejection, while navigating new friendships with Frankie Stein and Draculaura and uncovering a plot that threatens the school. The movie explores themes of self-acceptance, belonging, and friendship through catchy musical numbers and a vibrant monster-filled setting. It aims to deliver positive messages about embracing individuality and diversity, appealing to a target audience of children and pre-teens who enjoy fantasy and musical genres.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The movie features explicit LGBTQ+ representation through a main character and the expressed intent of the director. Frankie Stein is identified as a nonbinary character, using they/them pronouns. The film's director, Todd Holland, openly identifies as a gay man and emphasizes that inclusion and 'queer storylines' are central to his work and the movie's message of facing the fear of living honestly.
Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot) is a prominent character who uses they/them pronouns, and this nonbinary identity is noted as a 'sexual reference' in parental guides. The film's director, Todd Holland, a gay man, explicitly states that for him, 'inclusion is not just a passion... it's my world,' and that many storylines, even if not explicitly queer, are 'essentially queer storylines' because that's what he knows. GLAAD also lists 'Monster High: The Movie' in its section on LGBTQ Youth media.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft and occult themes are central and pervasive, directly engaged in by main characters. Draculaura is depicted as actively practicing witchcraft and expressing a deep love for it, despite it being forbidden at Monster High. Other characters participate in gathering spell ingredients and using magical potions.
Anti-Christian Themes
The film's foundational premise, revolving around a school for monsters and the explicit celebration of supernatural beings (including 'horned and devil-like' figures), fundamentally clashes with traditional Christian worldviews. The central role of witchcraft and magic, openly embraced by main characters, is a significant concern, reinforced by the director's intent to convey 'queer storylines' and themes of radical acceptance that may challenge certain religious doctrines.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Ages 10+ with significant parental guidance. While the film promotes positive messages of acceptance and friendship, the pervasive and central depiction of witchcraft, explicit LGBTQ+ representation, and instances of fantasy violence and scary imagery warrant discussion and guidance for younger or more sensitive viewers, particularly within a Christian worldview.
Good to Know
The film maintains a TV-PG rating, with external reviewers consistently recommending parental guidance for children under 8 due to fantasy and scary content. The messaging promotes themes of friendship, self-acceptance, and embracing diversity, which can be positive discussion points for families, but these are intertwined with significant supernatural and LGBTQ+ elements.
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