Most R.L. Stine adaptations stand alone, so start anywhere. The ones that connect: Goosebumps (2015) then Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), and the Fear Street trilogy in order, 1994, 1978 and 1666, all released in 2021, with Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) set in the same town.
- Titles
- 18
- Films
- 13
- Series
- 5
- Watch time
- 98 hours
- Box office
- $252 million
- Avg IMDb
- 6.1
R.L. Stine movies in release order
Here is every R.L. Stine title in the order it came out, 1995 to 2025: 13 films and 5 series. Optional entries are marked; you can skip them on a first watch.
| # | Title | Year | Type | Runtime | IMDb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goosebumps | 1995 | Series | 26h 22m | 7.6 |
| 2 | The Nightmare Room optional | 2001 | Series | 4h 33m | 7.1 |
| 3 | When Good Ghouls Go Bad optional | 2001 | Film | 1h 33m | 6.2 |
| 4 | The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It optional | 2007 | Film | 1h 27m | 5.8 |
| 5 | Mostly Ghostly optional | 2008 | Film | 1h 33m | 5 |
| 6 | R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour | 2010 | Series | 31h 40m | 7.8 |
| 7 | Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? optional | 2014 | Film | 1h 31m | 4.7 |
| 8 | Goosebumps | 2015 | Film | 1h 43m | 6.3 |
| 9 | Eye Candy optional | 2015 | Series | 7h 30m | 7.1 |
| 10 | R.L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls optional | 2015 | Film | 1h 25m | |
| 11 | Mostly Ghostly 3: One Night in Doom House optional | 2016 | Film | 1h 29m | |
| 12 | Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween | 2018 | Film | 1h 30m | 5.6 |
| 13 | Fear Street: 1994 | 2021 | Film | 1h 48m | 6.2 |
| 14 | Fear Street: 1978 | 2021 | Film | 1h 51m | 6.7 |
| 15 | Fear Street: 1666 | 2021 | Film | 1h 55m | 6.6 |
| 16 | Goosebumps | 2023 | Series | 6h 51m | 6.7 |
| 17 | Zombie Town optional | 2023 | Film | 1h 33m | 3.8 |
| 18 | Fear Street: Prom Queen | 2025 | Film | 1h 30m | 5.1 |
Release or chronological: which order is best?
For R.L. Stine, release order and story order are the same thing: every series picks up after the one before it. There is no prequel to slot in early and no flashback to reshuffle, so the list above is the only order you need.
Where to start
Start with Goosebumps and go in release order, skipping the 9 optional titles on the first pass.
The essentials are 9 titles and about 75 hours, 23% less than the full run.
The three highest rated: R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (7.8), Goosebumps (7.6), and The Nightmare Room (7.1).
Every R.L. Stine movie, explained
One entry per title in release order: what it is about, why it matters to the bigger story, who is in it and how it did.
No. 01 · 1995 · Series · 26h 22m
Goosebumps
Anything can turn spooky in this horror anthology series based on the best-selling books by master of kid horror, R.L. Stine. In every episode, see what happens when regular kids find themselves in scary situations, and how they work to confront and overcome their fears.
Why it matters: The original anthology series; each episode adapts a book.
- Starring
- Scott Wickware, R.L. Stine, and Kathryn Short
- Creator
- R.L. Stine
- Scores
- IMDb 7.6
- Episodes
- 74 across 4 seasons
No. 02 · 2001 · Series · 4h 33m · optional
The Nightmare Room
The Nightmare Room is an American children's anthology horror series that aired on Kids' WB. The series was based on the short-lived book series The Nightmare Room children's books created by Goosebumps author, R.L. Stine. The Nightmare Room originally aired from August 31, 2001, to March 16, 2002, in the United States. It was rated TV-Y7 for fantasy violence and scenes deemed too scary or disturbing for younger viewers in the United States. Reruns of the series started airing on Chiller on January 7, 2013.
Why it matters: A one-season anthology from 2001.
- Starring
- James Avery, Michael Galeota, and Brandon Quinn
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1
- Episodes
- 13
No. 03 · 2001 · Film · 1h 33m · optional
When Good Ghouls Go Bad
In October of 1981, Curtis Danko, the creepy kid from the small town of Walker Falls, was killed in a mysterious accident. He left behind a warning to the town: "If you ever have another Halloween again, I will return and destroy you all!" Curtis was buried in a locked crypt, along with a sculpture so evil, that unearthly fates were said to await anyone who looked at it. Now, 20 years later, the Walker men have returned to Walker Falls. They start a chain of events that unleashes an army of zombies on the town. Has Curtis Danko risen from the grave to exact his revenge? And will the people of Walker Falls make it through the night?
Why it matters: A Halloween TV movie with Christopher Lloyd.
- Starring
- Christopher Lloyd, Joe Pichler, and Tom Amandes
- Director
- Patrick Read Johnson
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2
No. 04 · 2007 · Film · 1h 27m · optional
The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It
Cassie, a 13 year old Gothic girl, is trying to fit in at her new school. To entertain herself, she plays a series of pranks on the popular kids and her younger brother, Max. When she goes to a Halloween store looking for new tricks, she finds a little book called "The Evil Thing"
Why it matters: The movie that led to The Haunting Hour series.
- Starring
- Emily Osment, Brittany Curran, and Alex Winzenread
- Director
- Alex Zamm
- Scores
- IMDb 5.8
No. 05 · 2008 · Film · 1h 33m · optional
Mostly Ghostly
Based on the successful book series by R.L. Stine, this spooky tale finds 11-year-old Max making a deal with the ghosts who haunt his home. If Max helps them find what was responsible for their parents' disappearance, they'll help him transform from a social nobody to the most popular kid in school.
Why it matters: The first of three family films about a boy and two ghosts.
- Starring
- Madison Pettis, Sterling Beaumon, and Luke Benward
- Director
- Rich Correll
- Scores
- IMDb 5
No. 06 · 2010 · Series · 31h 40m
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour is a Canadian/American original anthology horror-fantasy series, with episodes each half an hour long. The series is based on The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It Movie, and the books The Haunting Hour and Nightmare Hour anthology by R. L. Stine.
Why it matters: Four seasons of stand-alone episodes; often scarier than Goosebumps.
- Starring
- Dan Payne, Jeny Cassady, and Geoff Redknap
- Creator
- R.L. Stine
- Scores
- IMDb 7.8
- Episodes
- 76 across 4 seasons
No. 07 · 2014 · Film · 1h 31m · optional
Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend?
Bella Thorne, Madison Pettis and Ryan Ochoa lead an ensemble cast in this spook-tacular adventure with new ghosts, new thrills, and the return of some old friends. Max (Ochoa) only has eyes for Cammy (Thorne), the smart, popular redhead at school. When Max finally scores a date with Cammy on Halloween, Phears, an evil ghost with plans on taking over the world, unleashes his ghouls and things go haywire. With the help of his ghostly pals, Tara and Nicky, can Max thwart Phears' evil plot, help reunite his ghost friends with their long-lost parents and still make his date with Cammy on Halloween? R.L. Stine's Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? is a frightful family delight!
Why it matters: The second Mostly Ghostly film.
- Starring
- Ryan Ochoa, Roshon Fegan, and Madison Pettis
- Director
- Peter Hewitt
- Scores
- IMDb 4.7
No. 08 · 2015 · Film · 1h 43m
Goosebumps
After moving to a small town, Zach Cooper finds a silver lining when he meets next door neighbor Hannah, the daughter of bestselling Goosebumps series author R.L. Stine. When Zach unintentionally unleashes real monsters from their manuscripts and they begin to terrorize the town, it’s suddenly up to Stine, Zach and Hannah to get all of them back in the books where they belong.
Why it matters: Jack Black as Stine, with every monster loose at once; the place to start.
- Starring
- Dylan Minnette, Jack Black, and Odeya Rush
- Director
- Rob Letterman
- Box office
- $159 million on a $58 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 6.3 · Rotten Tomatoes 78%
No. 09 · 2015 · Series · 7h 30m · optional
Eye Candy
Tech genius Lindy, convinced by her roommate to begin online dating, begins to suspect that one of her mysterious suitors may be a deadly cyber stalker. When her friends at the elusive cyber-police uncover a potential serial killer in Manhattan, all signs point to one of Lindy’s dates. Teaming up with this band of hackers Lindy works to solve the murders while unleashing her own style of justice on the streets of New York City.
Why it matters: A one-season MTV thriller based on his adult novel.
- Starring
- Victoria Justice, Casey Deidrick, and Kiersey Clemons
- Creator
- Christian Taylor
- Scores
- IMDb 7.1
- Episodes
- 10
No. 10 · 2015 · Film · 1h 25m · optional
R.L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls
Teenage friends must resist the spell of an evil showman staging a house of horrors show in their small town.
Why it matters: A stand-alone Halloween film.
- Starring
- Dove Cameron, Braeden Lemasters, and Katherine McNamara
- Director
- Peter DeLuise
No. 11 · 2016 · Film · 1h 29m · optional
Mostly Ghostly 3: One Night in Doom House
Just one enchanted jewel stands between earth and an army of evil spirits led by the devious ghoul, Phears. With the help of his new girlfriend and ghost pals, Max Doyle races to find the crystal and save the world.
Why it matters: The third Mostly Ghostly film.
- Starring
- Corey Fogelmanis, Blake Michael, and Sophie Reynolds
- Director
- Ron Oliver
No. 12 · 2018 · Film · 1h 30m
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Be careful what you wish for. With their after school junk business, best friends Sonny and Sam hope to find treasure in other people’s trash. But when cleaning out the old Stine house, they open a locked book that frees a supernatural nightmare – Slappy! Now, with the help of Sonny’s sister Sarah, they’re in a race against time to get the sinister dummy and all the creatures he’s brought to life back into the pages before he unleashes total pandemonium!
Why it matters: Slappy returns; follows the 2015 film.
- Starring
- Jeremy Ray Taylor, Madison Iseman, and Caleel Harris
- Director
- Ari Sandel
- Box office
- $93 million on a $35 million budget
- Scores
- IMDb 5.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 48%
No. 13 · 2021 · Film · 1h 48m
Fear Street: 1994
After a series of brutal slayings, a teen and her friends take on an evil force that's plagued their notorious town for centuries.
Why it matters: Part one of the trilogy; watch the three in order.
- Starring
- Kiana Madeira, Olivia Scott Welch, and Benjamin Flores Jr.
- Director
- Leigh Janiak
- Scores
- IMDb 6.2 · Rotten Tomatoes 84%
No. 14 · 2021 · Film · 1h 51m
Fear Street: 1978
In 1978, two rival groups at Camp Nightwing must band together to solve a terrifying mystery when horrors from their towns' history come alive.
Why it matters: Part two, at Camp Nightwing.
- Starring
- Sadie Sink, Emily Rudd, and Ryan Simpkins
- Director
- Leigh Janiak
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 88%
No. 15 · 2021 · Film · 1h 55m
Fear Street: 1666
In 1666, a colonial town is gripped by a hysterical witch-hunt that has deadly consequences for centuries to come, and it's up to teenagers in 1994 to finally put an end to their town's curse, before it's too late.
Why it matters: Part three; the origin of the curse and the finale.
- Starring
- Kiana Madeira, Benjamin Flores Jr., and Olivia Scott Welch
- Director
- Leigh Janiak
- Scores
- IMDb 6.6 · Rotten Tomatoes 89%
No. 16 · 2023 · Series · 6h 51m
Goosebumps
A group of five high schoolers embark on a shadowy and twisted journey to investigate the tragic passing three decades earlier of a teen named Harold Biddle – while also unearthing dark secrets from their parents' past.
Why it matters: A serialized series; season two is The Vanishing.
- Starring
- Zack Morris, Isa Briones, and Miles McKenna
- Creator
- Rob Letterman and Nicholas Stoller
- Scores
- IMDb 6.7 · Rotten Tomatoes 75%
- Episodes
- 10
No. 17 · 2023 · Film · 1h 33m · optional
Zombie Town
Amy and Mike unearth a centuries-old curse when they decide to watch an exclusive film reel. The duo must track down an infamous filmmaker and navigate a town of hungry zombies to save the world.
Why it matters: A stand-alone film from his 2012 book.
- Starring
- Chevy Chase, Dan Aykroyd, and Henry Czerny
- Director
- Peter Lepeniotis
- Scores
- IMDb 3.8 · Rotten Tomatoes 44%
No. 18 · 2025 · Film · 1h 30m
Fear Street: Prom Queen
Who will be voted queen at Shadyside High's 1988 prom? For underdog Lori, competition is cutthroat even before someone starts killing off the candidates.
Why it matters: A stand-alone Shadyside slasher set in 1988.
- Starring
- India Fowler, Suzanna Son, and Fina Strazza
- Director
- Matt Palmer
- Scores
- IMDb 5.1 · Rotten Tomatoes 28%
R.L. Stine box office and budgets
The 2 R.L. Stine films with reported numbers have grossed $252 million worldwide on about $93 million in combined budgets, roughly 2.7 times what they cost. The biggest is Goosebumps at $159 million, 63% of the franchise's total on its own, followed by Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween ($93 million).
The best and worst rated R.L. Stine movies
Across 16 rated titles, R.L. Stine averages 6.1 on IMDb. The top of the list is R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour at 7.8, then Goosebumps (7.6) and The Nightmare Room (7.1). At the bottom: Zombie Town (3.8) and Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (4.7). Money and quality don't line up perfectly: the highest grosser, Goosebumps, is only the 8th best rated.
- R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour7.8
- Goosebumps7.6
- The Nightmare Room7.1
- Eye Candy7.1
- Fear Street: 19786.7 · RT 88%
- Goosebumps6.7 · RT 75%
- Fear Street: 16666.6 · RT 89%
- Goosebumps6.3 · RT 78%
- When Good Ghouls Go Bad6.2
- Fear Street: 19946.2 · RT 84%
Who appears in the most R.L. Stine movies
Kiana Madeira leads with 3 appearances as Deena and Sarah Fier, ahead of Olivia Scott Welch (3) and Benjamin Flores Jr. (3). Counted from each title's top-billed cast.
| Actor | Role | Titles | First and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiana Madeira | Deena / Sarah Fier | 3 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Olivia Scott Welch | Samantha Fraser / Sam Fraser | 3 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Benjamin Flores Jr. | Josh / Henry | 3 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Joe Pichler | Gary / Danny Walker | 2 | The Nightmare Room (2001) to When Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001) |
| Madison Pettis | Tara Roland / Tara | 2 | Mostly Ghostly (2008) to Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (2014) |
| Karin Konoval | Old Gresilda / Ms. Sarkosian | 2 | R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2010) to R.L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls (2015) |
| Julia Rehwald | Kate / Lizzie | 2 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Fred Hechinger | Simon / Isaac | 2 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Darrell Britt-Gibson | Martin | 2 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Ashley Zukerman | Nick Goode / Solomon Goode | 2 | Fear Street: 1994 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Sadie Sink | Ziggy Berman / Constance | 2 | Fear Street: 1978 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
| Matthew Zuk | Mayor Will Goode / Elijah Goode | 2 | Fear Street: 1978 (2021) to Fear Street: 1666 (2021) |
R.L. Stine directors and creators
14 filmmakers have directed or created R.L. Stine; Leigh Janiak has the most, with 3.
- Leigh JaniakFear Street: 1994 (2021), Fear Street: 1978 (2021), and Fear Street: 1666 (2021)
- R.L. StineGoosebumps (1995) and R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2010)
- Rob LettermanGoosebumps (2015) and Goosebumps (2023)
- Patrick Read JohnsonWhen Good Ghouls Go Bad (2001)
- Alex ZammThe Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It (2007)
- Rich CorrellMostly Ghostly (2008)
- Peter HewittMostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend? (2014)
- Christian TaylorEye Candy (2015)
- Peter DeLuiseR.L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls (2015)
- Ron OliverMostly Ghostly 3: One Night in Doom House (2016)
- Ari SandelGoosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018)
- Nicholas StollerGoosebumps (2023)
- Peter LepeniotisZombie Town (2023)
- Matt PalmerFear Street: Prom Queen (2025)
How long it takes to watch every R.L. Stine movie
All 18 titles add up to 98 hours: 21 hours of film and 77 hours of series, counting every episode. That is about 49 two-hour evenings, or 10 days of ten-hour binges. The essentials cut it to 75 hours. The longest film is Fear Street: 1666 at 1h 55m.
The 4 best rated films: Fear Street: 1978, Fear Street: 1666, Goosebumps, and When Good Ghouls Go Bad.
Everything takes about 3 months; the essentials about 3 months.
Track what you've watched on the timeline and it counts the hours left.
Which R.L. Stine movies can you skip?
9 titles can go without losing the main story. They are side stories, spin-offs or entries the later films ignore. Dropping them saves 23 hours.
- The Nightmare Room2001 · Series · 4h 33m · optionalA one-season anthology from 2001.
- When Good Ghouls Go Bad2001 · Film · 1h 33m · optionalA Halloween TV movie with Christopher Lloyd.
- The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It2007 · Film · 1h 27m · optionalThe movie that led to The Haunting Hour series.
- Mostly Ghostly2008 · Film · 1h 33m · optionalThe first of three family films about a boy and two ghosts.
- Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend?2014 · Film · 1h 31m · optionalThe second Mostly Ghostly film.
- Eye Candy2015 · Series · 7h 30m · optionalA one-season MTV thriller based on his adult novel.
- R.L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls2015 · Film · 1h 25m · optionalA stand-alone Halloween film.
- Mostly Ghostly 3: One Night in Doom House2016 · Film · 1h 29m · optionalThe third Mostly Ghostly film.
- Zombie Town2023 · Film · 1h 33m · optionalA stand-alone film from his 2012 book.
Common questions
What order should I watch the R.L. Stine movies in?
Most R.L. Stine adaptations stand alone, so start anywhere. The ones that connect: Goosebumps (2015) then Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), and the Fear Street trilogy in order, 1994, 1978 and 1666, all released in 2021, with Fear Street: Prom Queen (2025) set in the same town.
How many R.L. Stine movies and shows are there?
There are 18 titles in the R.L. Stine franchise: 13 films and 5 series, released from 1995 to 2025.
How long does it take to watch all the R.L. Stine movies?
About 98 hours for all 18 titles, counting every episode. The essentials only (9 titles) take about 75 hours.
What is the first R.L. Stine title in chronological order?
Goosebumps, set in A new scare every episode. In release order the first is Goosebumps (1995).
Which R.L. Stine titles can I skip?
The Nightmare Room, When Good Ghouls Go Bad, The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It, Mostly Ghostly, Mostly Ghostly: Have You Met My Ghoulfriend?, Eye Candy, R.L. Stine's Monsterville: The Cabinet of Souls, Mostly Ghostly 3: One Night in Doom House, and Zombie Town. They are spin-offs, side stories or non-canon entries; the main story holds without them.
What is the best R.L. Stine movie?
By IMDb score, R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2010) at 7.8, followed by Goosebumps at 7.6.
What is the highest-grossing R.L. Stine movie?
Goosebumps (2015), with $159 million worldwide. R.L. Stine films have made $252 million in total.
Who has appeared in the most R.L. Stine movies?
Kiana Madeira, in 3 of them as Deena.
What is the longest R.L. Stine movie?
Fear Street: 1666, at 1h 55m.
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