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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →If you miss the spooky-kid energy of Goosebumps, the closest new R.L. Stine-connected substitute is already available: R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, a standalone young-adult horror movie that premiered exclusively on Tubi on October 17, 2025. It is not a continuation of Disney+ and Hulu’s Goosebumps series, and it is considerably darker than the original children’s franchise. Tubi currently lists it as a 2025, 91-minute, TV-14 film.
The headline’s “finally arrives” framing is now out of date. R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead has already been streaming since October 17, 2025, when Tubi announced its exclusive premiere. Viewers in the United States can currently find the film on Tubi’s official title page, although streaming availability can change by territory and date.
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What is R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead about?
The film follows Sam, a teenager whose brother Finn suddenly disappears. The frightening part is not only that Finn is gone: everyone around Sam, including Sam’s mother, behaves as though Finn never existed.
Sam refuses to accept that explanation. With help from Becka, a friend who believes something is wrong, and Rusty, an eccentric local outcast, Sam investigates the disappearance. Their search leads to a harvest curse, an ominous scarecrow-and-pumpkin mythology, and the possibility that Finn can still be saved—but only if the curse is stopped before he is lost permanently.
#1 Best Overall
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That setup places the movie firmly in familiar R.L. Stine territory: an ordinary Halloween environment becomes threatening, adults dismiss what a young protagonist is seeing, and a supernatural secret gradually turns a local legend into a personal crisis. The story is designed as a compact feature rather than an extended mystery spread across a television season.
Why Pumpkinhead feels like a Goosebumps replacement
“Replacement” is a useful viewing recommendation, not an official franchise description. Both properties are youth-oriented horror associated with R.L. Stine, but they are not the same series or format.
| Goosebumps | R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead |
|---|---|
| Best known as a children’s horror book and television franchise | A standalone young-adult horror feature |
| The Disney+/Hulu adaptation was serialized live-action television | A 91-minute movie designed to tell one complete story |
| Often calibrated for younger viewers | Rated TV-14 by Tubi, with darker supernatural danger and slasher-style elements |
| Draws from the wider Goosebumps book universe | Connected to Stine’s other horror anthology material, not a direct Goosebumps adaptation |
So the most accurate recommendation is this: Pumpkinhead is a new Stine-flavored alternative for fans who want Halloween atmosphere, missing-child mystery, and supernatural scares in a single sitting. It does not replace the original Goosebumps franchise, and it does not continue the Disney+ series.
The Stine connection: The Haunting Hour, not a Goosebumps book
Tubi describes the movie as inspired by R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour short-story material. Secondary catalog information also connects the “Pumpkinhead” story to Stine’s Nightmare Hour anthology, a collection of ten horror stories that includes a story titled “Pumpkinhead.”
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThat distinction matters. The film should not be described as a direct adaptation of a Goosebumps novel, and R.L. Stine should not be credited as the screenplay writer. Tubi lists Jem Garrard as the film’s writer and director. The most defensible description is a new screen story inspired by Stine’s broader short-form horror world.
Readers who want to investigate the literary connection can look for R.L. Stine’s Nightmare Hour book. Edition availability can vary, so check that a listing is the anthology containing “Pumpkinhead” before buying.
Where to watch it
In the United States, Tubi is the confirmed streaming home. Tubi’s current listing identifies the movie as:
- Title: R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead
- Release year: 2025
- Runtime: 1 hour, 31 minutes
- Rating: TV-14
- Audio and accessibility: English subtitles and audio description are listed
You can watch R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead on Tubi. The service’s catalog and geographic availability may change, so viewers outside the U.S. should search their local Tubi catalog or regional streaming guide rather than assuming the U.S. listing applies everywhere.
Is it appropriate for children?
Not automatically. Tubi’s TV-14 rating makes this a teen-horror recommendation, not a universal all-ages substitute for the original Goosebumps television series.
Parent-facing content information describes slasher-style scares, supernatural danger, chases, and language. The film’s missing-child premise and threatening curse may also be intense for younger viewers, even if they are already comfortable with lighter monster stories. Parents should preview the movie or review its content for their particular child before treating it as family Halloween viewing.
A practical rule of thumb is:
- Younger children: Choose a more clearly child-focused Goosebumps episode or book.
- Older tweens: Consider the TV-14 rating, the child’s tolerance for peril, and the film’s darker tone.
- Teens and adults: The movie is a reasonable fit for viewers seeking a short, seasonal supernatural horror story rather than a long series.
Cast and production
The principal cast listed by Tubi includes Bean Reid, Adeline Lo, Matty Finochio, Troy James, Kevin McNulty, Bob Frazer, Seth Isaac Johnson, and Kendra Anderson.
Jem Garrard wrote and directed the film. Front Street Pictures served as the production partner. Tubi’s announcement credits James Mattagne, Joan Waricha, Harvey Kahn, Yvonne Bernard, Dan Bernard, Jem Garrard, Allen Lewis, and Rama Diallo as executive producers.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDo not confuse it with the 1988 movie Pumpkinhead
The title creates an easy trap. R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is not the same film as the unrelated 1988 horror movie Pumpkinhead.
The older film is a separate, R-rated horror property with a different story, tone, and franchise identity. Tubi lists the 1988 movie separately from the 2025 R.L. Stine film. Search for the full title—R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead—to avoid selecting the wrong movie.
Is it worth watching if you are waiting for more Goosebumps?
That depends on what you want from the comparison.
Watch it if you want:
- A complete supernatural story that fits into one evening.
- A Halloween-centered setting with a curse, folklore, and a threatening creature.
- A young protagonist investigating a mystery while adults deny that anything is wrong.
- A darker teen-oriented interpretation of the kind of twisty horror associated with Stine.
Lower your expectations if you want:
- A direct adaptation of a familiar Goosebumps book.
- The same rating and tone as the original children’s television franchise.
- A continuation of the Disney+/Hulu Goosebumps storyline.
- A major critical event: Rotten Tomatoes currently lists a 45% Tomatometer score from six critic reviews, so the available reception is mixed rather than overwhelmingly positive.
The strongest case for the film is not that it is “the next Goosebumps” or a superior replacement. It is that Tubi has produced a concise, Stine-connected Halloween movie for viewers who want a fresh teen supernatural scare without committing to another serialized show.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Will there be a sequel?
A sequel has been reported under the title R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead 2 as part of Tubi’s Terror on Tubi programming, with an October 2026 premiere reported and Jem Garrard expected to return as writer-director. Reports say the story will follow a new protagonist, Evan, who discovers a forbidden spellbook that revives the Redhaven curse.
However, as of August 12, 2026, the exact October premiere date and complete final cast have not been established by the available reporting. Those details should be treated as provisional until Tubi publishes a formal schedule and cast announcement. The reported sequel nevertheless suggests that Tubi sees the first film as the possible beginning of a Stine-branded horror line rather than an isolated experiment.
Rank #3
- From legendary frightmaster Stephen King and 3-time Oscar-nominated director Frank Darabont* (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) comes "one of the scariest King films since Stanley Kubrick's The Shining" (Tasha Robinson, The Onion A.V. Club). After a mysterious mist envelopes a small New England town, a group of locals trapped in a supermarket must battle a siege of otherworldly
More Stine reading after the movie
If the film sends you back to Stine’s books, classic Goosebumps novels remain the more age-flexible route for younger readers. Just match the book and its intensity to the reader: the movie’s TV-14 rating does not mean every Stine book has the same level of horror, and the film itself is not a substitute for the original novels.
The verdict
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is the closest new Stine-branded answer for Goosebumps fans who want a Halloween horror story now—but “answer” is more accurate than “replacement.” It is a standalone 91-minute feature, it draws from The Haunting Hour/Nightmare Hour-connected material rather than a Goosebumps book, and its TV-14 rating makes it better suited to teens than small children.
For viewers in the U.S., the practical takeaway is simple: the film is already on Tubi. Go in expecting a compact, darker young-adult scare with a missing-brother mystery and a harvest curse—not a new season of Goosebumps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead a new Goosebumps series?
No. It is a standalone 2025 horror movie inspired by R.L. Stine’s broader horror material. It is not a continuation of the Disney+/Hulu Goosebumps series or a direct adaptation of a Goosebumps novel.
Where can I watch R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead?
Tubi currently lists the film in the United States. Availability can vary by country and may change over time.
What is the age rating for R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead?
Tubi lists it as TV-14. It includes darker supernatural peril, chases, slasher-style scares, and language, so it should not automatically be treated as children’s viewing.
Is R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead connected to the 1988 film Pumpkinhead?
No. The 2025 R.L. Stine movie and the 1988 R-rated horror film are unrelated productions with different stories and franchise identities.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is already streaming on Tubi in the U.S. It is a Stine-connected, Halloween-themed teen horror movie—not a new Goosebumps season, not a direct Goosebumps adaptation, and not suitable for every child. For older viewers who want a short supernatural mystery, it is a legitimate new alternative.
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