Honestly, the internet is a weird place for reviews right now. If you've spent any time looking up the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating, you’ve probably seen a massive tug-of-war between nostalgic 90s kids and a brand-new generation of horror fans. It's messy. Disney+ took a big swing with this second season of the rebooted anthology, and the numbers reflect a very specific kind of audience tension.
The show isn't just a "kids' show" anymore. Not really.
When the first season of the Goosebumps reboot landed in 2023, it tried to bridge the gap between R.L. Stine’s campy book roots and a more modern, serialized drama vibe. It worked well enough to get a second go-round. But The Vanishing—which stars David Schwimmer—is a completely different beast. It’s an anthology. New cast, new setting, new stakes. Because of that, the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating has been fluctuating wildly on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb as people figure out if they actually like this darker, more mature tone.
Breaking Down the Numbers: What the Critics Say
Let’s look at the hard data first. As of early 2025, the critical consensus for Goosebumps: The Vanishing has been surprisingly steady, even if the fan scores are all over the place. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season debuted with a critical score in the mid-70s. That’s "Fresh" territory, which is a relief for Disney and Sony Pictures Television. Critics are mostly praising the performance of David Schwimmer as Anthony Brewer. He’s playing a guy obsessed with a botanical mystery, and he brings a certain frantic energy that feels worlds away from Friends.
But here is the kicker.
The audience score—the part of the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating that actually moves the needle for most viewers—often dips into the 50% or 60% range depending on the week. Why the disconnect? It usually comes down to "The Stine Factor." If you grew up watching the 1990s TV show with the barking dog in the intro, you might find this version too "CW-lite." It's heavy on teenage angst and relationship drama. Some viewers find that annoying. Others find it necessary to make the horror feel grounded.
Metacritic is even harsher. The Metascore typically hovers around a 60, which basically means "mixed or average reviews." This tells us that while the production quality is high (the cinematography is genuinely moody and beautiful), the writing doesn't always reinvent the wheel. It’s solid genre television, but it isn’t breaking the mold of the prestige horror boom we've seen lately.
Why David Schwimmer Changed the Vibe
Schwimmer’s presence is a huge variable in the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating. If you don't buy him as a struggling, slightly unhinged father and botanist, the whole season falls apart. The story follows twins Cece and Devin who get sent to spend the summer with their dad in Brooklyn. They discover a mystery involving kids who went missing in the 90s.
It’s personal. It’s claustrophobic.
The show uses Stay Out of the Basement as its primary inspiration, which is arguably one of Stine’s most unsettling books. By centering the rating around a veteran actor like Schwimmer, the show creators clearly aimed for a more "elevated horror" feel. This helped the rating among older viewers who might have skipped a show led entirely by unknown teenagers. However, for the younger demographic, Schwimmer is "that guy from the memes," and that meta-awareness can sometimes pull people out of the immersion.
The Rating for Parents: Is It Too Scary?
If you’re a parent checking the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating for "appropriateness," the TV-PG or TV-14 tag is there for a reason. This isn't the 1995 episode with the cheap rubber masks. The visual effects in The Vanishing are visceral. We’re talking body horror elements—vines under skin, unsettling transformations, and a psychological weight that the original series never touched.
Common Sense Media and similar parent-review hubs suggest that while there isn't much gore, the "creep factor" is high.
It's spooky.
It’s definitely not for toddlers.
Most experts suggest 10 to 12 years old as the sweet spot.
The rating suffers slightly in this category because some parents feel it’s too intense for the Goosebumps brand, while teenagers might feel it’s still "too Disney." It’s a difficult middle ground to walk. If the show feels too safe, the rating drops among horror buffs. If it’s too scary, the parents complain.
A Quick Look at Episode Quality
Not every episode is a winner. In an eight-episode arc, you usually get:
- Two incredible opening episodes that set the hook.
- A mid-season slump where the teen romance takes over.
- A high-octane finale that tries to tie up ten different loose ends.
The Goosebumps The Vanishing rating often takes a hit during episodes 4 and 5. This is where the "serialized" nature of the show drags. Unlike the original 90s show where every 22 minutes was a new story, The Vanishing asks you to stay invested in one mystery for several hours. If you aren't vibing with the Brewer family secrets by episode 3, you’re probably going to rate it lower.
Comparing Season 1 and Season 2
It’s impossible to talk about the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating without looking back at the 2023 season. Season 1 (the Justin Long era) had a 76% on Rotten Tomatoes. The Vanishing is tracking almost identically. This consistency is actually a good sign for the franchise. It suggests that Disney has found a formula that works, even if it hasn't become a "cultural phenomenon" like Stranger Things.
The shift to an anthology format was a smart move. It allows the show to shed baggage. You don't need to have seen the first season to jump into The Vanishing. This accessibility usually helps the rating because it invites new viewers without making them feel like they have homework to do.
What People Are Actually Complaining About
If you dig into the 1-star reviews, you see a pattern. It’s rarely about the acting. It’s almost always about the pacing. "Too much talking, not enough monsters," is a common refrain. People come to Goosebumps for the creatures. They want the Slappys, the Haunted Masks, and the Werewolves of Fever Swamp.
The Vanishing takes a slower approach. It’s a mystery first and a monster show second.
Another sticking point is the "Disney-fication" of the dialogue. Sometimes the teens talk in a way that feels like a 45-year-old writer trying to sound "Gen Z." It’s cringey. It happens. When a scene feels forced, the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok tends to tank for a few days as people post clips of the awkward dialogue.
The "Book Accuracy" Debate
Hardcore R.L. Stine fans are a tough crowd. They want the books translated literally to the screen. The Vanishing takes massive liberties. While it uses the Stay Out of the Basement premise, it weaves in elements from other books like The Haunted Car and Monster Blood in ways that are subtle—sometimes too subtle.
For some, this is a brilliant reimagining. For others, it’s a betrayal of the source material. This philosophical divide is the primary reason the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating isn’t a perfect 10/10. You can’t please everyone when you’re messing with a 30-year-old beloved IP.
Actionable Insights for Viewers
If you’re on the fence about whether to contribute to the viewership numbers or if you're just wondering if it's worth your time, here is the move.
Don't binge it all at once. Because the show leans heavily into mystery and atmosphere, watching it in one sitting can make the teenage subplots feel more repetitive than they actually are. Watch it two episodes at a time. It lets the horror elements breathe.
Ignore the nostalgia bait. If you go into this expecting the 1990s show, you will hate it. You will give it a 1-star rating. Instead, look at it as a "Junior American Horror Story." When you judge it on those merits—as a localized, creepy mystery set in Brooklyn—the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating suddenly feels a lot higher.
Pay attention to the background. One thing the creators did exceptionally well this season is environmental storytelling. There are hints about the "vanishing" kids hidden in the set design of Anthony’s basement and the local neighborhood. Engaging with the show as a detective makes the slower pacing much more rewarding.
Ultimately, the Goosebumps The Vanishing rating tells a story of a franchise in transition. It’s moving away from the "spook of the week" and trying to become something more substantial. Whether it succeeds depends entirely on your patience for slow-burn family drama mixed with your plant-based nightmares. It’s a solid 7/10 for most—good enough to watch on a rainy weekend, but maybe not a masterpiece that will redefine the genre.
Check the ratings on IMDb after you finish the finale. You’ll notice that the final episode usually gets a massive spike in score, suggesting that while the journey has some bumps, the destination is actually pretty satisfying for most fans.