Fans of anything from legendary Goosebumps author R.L. Stine will be pleased to know that a new supernatural horror classic in the making, R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, will be premiering on free streaming very soon. The new movie from writer-director Jem Garrard was inspired by the TV series R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour. The Hollywood Reporter announced the Tubi Original movie today (September 23), which follows a family who moves to a new town, where their son Finn disappears. However, only his teenage brother Sam remembers he ever existed, and enlists the help of some new friends to rescue Finn and break a curse before Halloween night ends. Pumpkinhead will debut on Tubi, the entirely free streaming service, on October 17, ambitiously competing with other Halloween-themed releases. Pumpkinhead’s cast includes Bean Reid, Adeline Lo, Kevin McNulty, Bob Frazer, Matty Finochio, and Seth Isaac Johnson. It is produced by director Garrard as well as James Mattagne, Joan Waricha, Harvey Kahn, Yvonne Bernard, Dan Bernard, Allen Lewis, and Rama Diallo. Tubi chief content officer Adam Lewinson said in a statement:
R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is a playful blend of good fun, big scares with an element of adventure that taps into everything audiences love about Halloween and young-adult horror. We’re thrilled to collaborate with the legendary “master of fear,” R.L. Stine, as part of our growing slate of YA storytelling that bridges generations and delivers fresh, genre-driven entertainment.
Stine himself added:
There’s something rotten inside these pumpkins — and it isn’t pumpkin meat! I’m so happy to see one of my most terrifying Halloween stories brought to chilling life in this new movie.

What Pumpkinhead Means For R.L. Stine & Tubi

David Schwimmer’s dismembered head looking surprised in Goosebumps: The Vanishing

It’s clear that R.L. Stine’s legacy continues to be a staple of pop culture, with a varied history of adaptations of his works. Most recently, Disney+ canceled its Goosebumps series after only two seasons, despite its good reviews. On the other hand, R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour ran for four seasons, a total of 76 episodes, being from a completely different era of television. The sheer amount of literature from Stine and the episodic nature of much of it make it best suited for smaller-scale adaptations. Seemingly, the team behind the new Pumpkinhead movie focused on one story they were particularly passionate about and developed it into a feature film that may not be a blockbuster but will be adored by die-hard fans. Also notable is that all of The Haunting Hour is available to stream via Tubi. This release of Pumpkinhead is a significant move for the free streamer and showcases their collaboration with Stine, which could lead to it cementing its own niche in the streaming era.
Our Take On Tubi & R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead Movie

Credit: Image via Tubi

Forget about all the big theatrical releases happening around Halloween this year — this is the perfect selection for a holiday watch party. R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead is coming from one of the biggest icons of the horror genre and a team that is seemingly very dedicated to the material. Adapting such a story with such classic spooky vibes is a fantastic undertaking, and fans will likely flock to Tubi on October 17.