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R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is no longer an upcoming release: the Tubi Original premiered in the United States on October 17, 2025, and remains listed on Tubi as a free-with-ads movie as of the latest availability check. The 91-minute, TV-14 horror film follows a teenager investigating why everyone—including her own family—acts as though her missing brother never existed.
What is R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead about?
The film centers on Sam, a teenager who has recently moved to Redhaven. When her brother Finn disappears, Sam discovers something deeply disturbing: the people around her behave as though Finn was never part of the family at all.
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Refusing to accept that reality, Sam teams up with Becka and Rusty to investigate the disappearance. Their search leads to a harvest curse that must be stopped before Halloween ends.
That premise gives R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead a supernatural mystery structure rather than the straightforward monster-movie setup some viewers might expect from the title. The story is designed as seasonal young-adult horror, with the mystery of Finn’s disappearance driving the film.
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When did R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead release?
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead premiered exclusively on Tubi on October 17, 2025. Tubi announced the film on September 23, 2025, ahead of its Halloween-season debut.
Because that date has passed, current coverage should describe the movie as streaming or already released, not as an upcoming October 17 premiere. The original release date may still appear in older listings and announcements, but it is historical information now.
How to watch it
In the United States, the movie is currently listed on Tubi, where it is available to stream free with advertising. Viewers generally need to use Tubi’s website or supported app and should expect commercial breaks rather than a subscription-free, ad-free presentation.
Streaming catalogs can change. Availability may also differ outside the United States, so readers in other territories should search their local Tubi catalog rather than assume that the U.S. listing applies everywhere. Tubi’s current title page identifies the movie as a 2025 horror film with a 91-minute runtime and a TV-14 rating.
Rank #2
- Media Format: Blu-ray
- Studio: Universal Studios
- Country of Origin: USA
- Number of discs: 1
Cast and creative team
The film was written and directed by Jem Garrard. Its listed cast includes:
- Bean Reid as Sam
- Seth Isaac Johnson as Finn
- Adeline Lo as Becka
- Matty Finochio
- Troy James
- Kevin McNulty as Farmer Palmer
- Bob Frazer as Sheriff
- Kendra Anderson
The central performance and character setup place the movie firmly in the teen-supernatural-mystery lane: Sam is not simply running from a creature, but trying to prove that a person everyone else has erased ever existed.
Is this connected to R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour?
Yes, but the wording matters. Tubi describes the movie as a new young-adult horror title inspired by an R.L. Stine short story associated with The Haunting Hour. It should therefore be described as an adaptation inspired by Stine’s short-story material—not automatically as a direct adaptation of a standalone R.L. Stine novel.
That connection also helps explain the film’s intended audience and tone. It belongs to the accessible, spooky side of Stine-style horror: eerie supernatural ideas, a Halloween setting, and a young protagonist facing a frightening mystery. The available material does not establish that the film shares continuity with other Stine adaptations or that it is part of the Goosebumps franchise.
Rank #3
Do not confuse it with the 1988 Pumpkinhead
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is not the same property as the 1988 horror film Pumpkinhead.
The 1988 movie is associated with a vengeful demon and its own horror-film franchise. The Tubi release is a separate R.L. Stine-inspired young-adult story about Sam, Finn, a harvest curse, and a town that appears to have forgotten a missing boy. The shared word “Pumpkinhead” does not indicate a remake, sequel, or continuity connection.
What does TV-14 mean for families?
Tubi lists the movie as TV-14. That makes it more appropriate for many teenagers than for younger children, but the rating is not a guarantee that every child or family will find the material comfortable.
Reviews and promotional positioning characterize the movie as accessible or gateway horror rather than extreme adult horror. Even so, parents and caregivers should make their own decision based on a child’s sensitivity to supernatural threats, disappearances, curses, and frightening imagery. “R.L. Stine” does not mean that a title is automatically suitable for all children.
Rank #4
Who is it for?
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is a reasonable choice for viewers looking for:
- A Halloween-season horror movie that runs about an hour and a half
- Teen-centered supernatural mystery rather than graphic adult horror
- An accessible introduction to darker or spooky genre stories
- A free-with-ads streaming option in the United States
- R.L. Stine-inspired material with a Haunting Hour connection
It may be less satisfying for viewers seeking an intense creature feature, an adaptation of the 1988 Pumpkinhead, or extreme horror. The film’s strongest appeal is its combination of a missing-person mystery, Halloween atmosphere, and approachable supernatural scares.
What to read after watching
Viewers who enjoy the movie’s accessible Halloween-horror approach can continue with R.L. Stine books, including Goosebumps titles and other teen-oriented supernatural stories. Those books are related by author and audience, not necessarily by the film’s plot or continuity. Readers should check the age guidance for each title, since Stine’s catalog spans different intensity levels and age groups.
There is no confirmed evidence here of a dedicated R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead novel, official film tie-in book, or physical edition of the movie. The safest recommendation is therefore a broader Stine or accessible young-adult horror reading list rather than presenting another book as the film’s source text.
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Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead |
| Type | Tubi Original horror movie |
| U.S. premiere | October 17, 2025 |
| Current U.S. platform | Tubi, free with ads |
| Runtime | 91 minutes |
| Rating | TV-14 |
| Writer and director | Jem Garrard |
| Source connection | Inspired by an R.L. Stine short story associated with The Haunting Hour |
| Setting and premise | Sam investigates her brother Finn’s disappearance while a harvest curse threatens Redhaven |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead still coming out?
No. The movie premiered on Tubi in the United States on October 17, 2025. It is currently listed on Tubi, although streaming availability can change.
Best Value
- Factory sealed DVD
Where can I watch R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead?
The movie is currently listed on Tubi in the United States as a free-with-ads title. Availability and catalog listings may differ in other countries.
Is this the same as the 1988 movie Pumpkinhead?
No. The R.L. Stine film is a separate Tubi Original about a teenager investigating her brother’s disappearance and a harvest curse. It is not a remake or sequel to the 1988 horror movie.
Is R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead based on a book?
Tubi describes it as inspired by an R.L. Stine short story associated with The Haunting Hour. The available research does not establish that it is a direct adaptation of a standalone Stine novel.
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Tubi rates it TV-14. It is positioned as accessible young-adult or gateway horror, but parents should decide whether its supernatural threats, disappearances, and curse storyline are suitable for their children.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line: R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is a completed 2025 Tubi Original, not an upcoming 2026 release. It premiered on October 17, 2025, and remains listed as a free-with-ads movie in the United States. Its best audience is viewers seeking approachable Halloween-season, young-adult supernatural horror—not fans expecting the unrelated 1988 Pumpkinhead franchise.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
