R.L. Stine is bringing another one of his classic horror stories to the screen. Tubi has officially announced a live-action movie adaptation of The Babysitter, the author’s four-book series that first hit shelves in 1989. The news dropped during a panel at New York Comic Con on Sunday, October 11, 2026, where Stine appeared alongside Tubi’s Chief Content Officer Adam Lewinson to share the first details with fans.
The film is set to arrive on Tubi in 2027, marking the fourth title in the streamer’s growing partnership with the legendary horror writer. For anyone who grew up reading Stine’s books or watching Goosebumps reruns, this is a project that feels both familiar and fresh.
What Is The Babysitter About
The story follows Jenny, a 16-year-old girl who takes a babysitting job because she desperately needs money for a prestigious writing program. The problem is that a prowler has been terrorizing girls across her town, and Jenny is fully aware of the danger. She takes the job anyway.
Then the threatening phone calls start. A dangerous fugitive turns up in town. Jenny begins to suspect everyone around her as the danger gets closer and closer.
The original 1989 novel ended with a twist that became one of Stine’s most memorable: Jenny discovers the threat is coming from inside the house. That reveal helped cement The Babysitter as a standout title in young adult horror.
The Book Series That Started It All
The Babysitter was published by Scholastic in 1989 and became the first of four books. Three sequels followed:
- The Babysitter II in July 1991
- The Babysitter III in October 1993
- The Babysitter IV in June 1995
The first book introduced Jenny and her terrifying babysitting experience. The second and fourth books followed Jenny as she tried to recover from the first book’s events and later faced her past again. The third installment shifted focus to Debra, Jenny’s cousin, who dealt with a similar kind of terror.
Who Is Making the Movie
Jem Garrard is writing the screenplay and serving as an executive producer. Garrard previously wrote and directed Tubi’s Pumpkinhead films, so the creative team already has a working rhythm with Stine’s material.
Trevor Calverley is directing. Calverley’s previous credits include Slay and Leprechaun Returns.
The film is produced by Blue Ice. Executive producers include Lance Samuels, Joan Waricha, Jane Stine, and Jem Garrard. Producers are Dan Bernard, Yvonne Bernard, Tebogo Maila, Darren Cameron, and Adam Friedlander.
No casting announcements have been made yet. Tubi has not confirmed a specific release date within 2027.
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What Tubi’s Partnership with R.L. Stine Looks Like
The Babysitter is the fourth film in Tubi’s ongoing deal with Stine. The partnership started with R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead, which released on the streamer in October 2025, followed by Pumpkinhead 2 on October 9, 2026.
A third film, Afraid of Clowns, is also set for 2027. That movie is based on Stine’s short story from The Nightmare Hour anthology and stars Frankie Honey, Ava Ferrer, Azriel Dalman, Joe Moore, and Jimbo.
The Babysitter is notable because it is the first Stine adaptation in this partnership that is not based on a short story from the Nightmare Hour or Haunting Hour anthologies. It is a direct book-to-film adaptation of a full novel series.
What Adam Lewinson Said About the Project
Tubi’s Chief Content Officer shared his thoughts on why Stine’s stories keep working for viewers.
“R.L. Stine has an incredible ability to tell stories that are scary, fun and endlessly entertaining, and that combination continues to connect with Tubi viewers,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “With The Babysitter, one of R.L. Stine’s most iconic novels, we’re delivering a fresh, fun thrill ride for longtime fans and a whole new generation.”
That quote sums up the appeal pretty well. Stine’s stories work for teenagers discovering horror for the first time and for adults who remember reading them under the covers with a flashlight.
Why This Story Still Works Today
Babysitting horror has a timeless quality. The setup is simple: a young person alone in a house, responsible for someone else’s child, and something is wrong. The phone rings. The calls are coming from inside. It is a premise that has worked in countless horror films because it taps into a real fear — being alone and vulnerable in an unfamiliar place.
Stine published The Babysitter before Goosebumps made him a household name. The book series ran from 1989 to 1995, a period when Stine was establishing himself as the dominant voice in young adult horror. The original novel’s success helped pave the way for the dozens of books that followed.
A live-action adaptation gives modern audiences a chance to experience that story with a fresh perspective. The film will be available on Tubi, which is a free, ad-supported streaming platform available in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Viewers in India can also access Tubi content through select regional partnerships, though availability varies by territory.
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