As Halloween approaches, so does a holiday mainstay return for another year of family fun: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. This 1966 Peanuts special has become the classic for Halloween, after Halloween, or any day of the year for that matter.
This year, you can catch this iconic Charlie Brown special only on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ is offering a free trial to those who don't have a subscription, making it possible for viewers to catch the special without paying a thing, at least for the length of the free trial.
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Apple TV+ will also make the special free to stream on the weekend of October 19-20, 2024, for non-subscribers. So if you're having a family movie night or reliving your old childhood memories, you'll find It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Apple TV+ this spooky season.
What is the plot of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown about?
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is a blend of comedy with touching moments in its plot. The storyline follows the Peanuts gang as it always organizes an annual Halloween celebration, and this year would be special for Linus as he awaits the arrival of the Great Pumpkin.
Unlike the others who are more into trick-or-treating and costumes, Linus believes in the Great Pumpkin, a legendary figure that brings children gifts if they watch for him in the most genuinely sincere pumpkin patch.
His belief in the Great Pumpkin puts him through moments of comedy and sympathy, as his friends, especially Sally, question his beliefs. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown faces a series of typical mishaps, such as receiving rocks instead of candies while trick-or-treating.
Finally, Snoopy in his own Red Baron turn of events injects fantasy into the special plot and makes this film a mix of childhood dreams and festive fun. The surviving appeal for the special lies in its themes that are more or less universal; namely, belief, friendship, and the joys of Halloween.
Why was It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown removed from PBS?
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown was once an annual broadcast staple on what is now the CBS side of the CBS/ABC networks, but it's been available since 2020 on a limited basis on all other outlets, including PBS.
But the Peanuts holiday specials are now available only on Apple TV+ and include A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. According to USA Today, Apple locked these specials to just its subscription service, though free viewing windows like the one in October 2024 have been arranged in recent years.
That would, at first glance, prove disappointing to most veteran viewers who were accustomed to receiving the specials free on network television.
However, Apple's takeover might ensure these classics are preserved in top-notch streaming format, remaining more accessible than they had ever been before to a global audience.
Is It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown suitable for kids in 2024?
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is just as fresh and family-friendly today as it was back in 1966. The sweet humor, the lessons taught, and the simple yet recognizable characters make it excellent viewing for children.
Linus's unwavering conviction about the Great Pumpkin is a lesson in perseverance and hope, and the Peanuts gang's friendship is likely to bring relevant situations to life for younger viewers.
According to Today, this special is especially loved because it has mixed moments of laughter with more emotional, heartfelt beats that make the kids and the adults enjoy the special.
Even when something untoward happens to Charlie Brown—like discovering he's brought home rocks instead of candy—the overall tone of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is light and fine for young viewers.
It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown is streaming on Apple TV+, free for viewers who don't subscribe, from October 19-20, 2024, or during the 7-day free trial.
Next: Disclaimer is also streaming on Apple TV, though not for kids!
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