Parents, the review is correct - this series is addictive. My wife and I jokingly call it the "meth of tv shows". We are "catching up" on viewing by watching the DVD sets, and find that we are often watching 4 episodes at a time. The show definitely has a lot of violence and adult-themed situations, where choices have to be made that are not always the safest, but believed to best for all concerned. And because parents have different attitudes towards some of this type of material as it relates to their own children, we would recommend that they watch it themselves first, before making a decision about whether their children should see it.
24
(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Dennis Haysbert, Kiefer Sutherland, Elisha Cuthbert, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jean Smart, Where to watch: Fox, DVD, Online)Ratings at a Glance
| 100% | of parents say it's too violent |
Have you seen it? 
Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Perfect for action lovers, but not for tweens and below
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it
One of the best cop dramas out there!!
- I rate this title off for age 16 and give it
Love It!
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give it
Love It!
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Great! Best thriller tv show ever!
If it was a movie it would be my facorite but it should be for 14 year- olds or older.
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
First, to get what most everybody seems to agree with out of the way: It's incredibly violent, and it's addictive. But is it addictive because we all love to watch people being gruesomely tortured by good guys and bad? I suppose for some, the answer is, sadly, yes. But this is human nature at the low end of the scale, and there's nothing we can realistically do about that. Does it give me pause that 14-year-olds rave, uncritically, that this is the coolest show on TV? Of course -- which is why I gave it a PAUSE rating. Parents need to pause and think about this before letting their kids watch it. And for many parents with absolutist moral inclinations, their decision will be NO. I'm fine with that. What I'm not fine with is dismissing the show as pure pandering low-brow entertainment, because IMO it isn't. Think about this: A lot of people apparently still like to believe that because something isn't openly talked about, it doesn't exist. (Racism, domestic abuse, and homosexuality were all formerly taboo subjects.) There is great hand-wringing and angst these days about the fact that we are even having a discussion in this country about torture. Are we so naive as to think that just because we never talked about this before, that it hasn't been happening here? That morally ambiguous situations have never happened, and that people under the stress of these situations have never chosen to make a morally relativistic decision? 24 has been instumental in focusing the debate we're now having, with serious people in and out of government making regular reference to the so-called "Jack Bauer situation" as one whose moral options are complex and not easily sorted out. This is a good thing, not a bad thing. Be prepared to have a discussion with your teen about Jack's choices -- or if that's too much to expect, at least present and define the moral ambiguity of the situation from an adult perspective. Keep planting the seeds of critical thought and moral introspection. Who knows, maybe some of them will germinate. :-)
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Addictive...
I've watched the show on A&E to catch up. It's a very good show! I can describe the show in one line. Addictive.
- I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
Addictive...But Our Culture Will Suffer
What other reviewers have said is correct: 24 is addictive. I watched religiously for the first two seasons. They do a great job of building up tension. Since then, I've stopped watching. 24 is, quite frankly, a show for misogysts. The violence is incredible. In fact parents, 24 is often cited as the leader in breaking new ground as to what violent acts can be shown on network television. Characters have had drills torn through their bodies, they've had knives shoved through their kneecaps, their fingers broken, the flesh on their backs slowly peeled of with sanding equipment as they scream for mercy and other numerous LENGTHY torture sequences. The producers say they are having are hard time coming up with creative ways to torture people to keep the fans entertained. I'm beginning to wonder if fans of 24 are sexual deviants -- i.e. they derive sexual pleasure from watching torture sequences. But even more troubling is the PHILOSOPHY the show teaches. If the show could be narrowed down to one central theme, it would be that moral relativism wins at the end of the day. The truth is, most of terrorist experts in the show are usually unable to stop the bad guys because they have "bad moral qualms" about torturing them to get information. It takes Jack Bauer, a moral relativist who believes the end always justifies the means, to break the law and torture them into submission every time. So what? It's just a show. Ask military leaders who were recently quoted in a (Washington Post? I can't remember) article saying that they're having trouble convincing their interrogators-in-training that torture is wrong. In fact, many of them cite instances in 24 as examples of why torture should be encouraged. They say the DVD sets are favorites among their recruits.
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
TV's best show
Don't call me on Monday night, leave a voicemail. Yes, 24 is addictive. I like the show because it highlights super hi-tech competency (I'm a techie) and because anyone, even hero Jack, can die at any moment. The terrorists are always scary, but even scarier is when Jack faces corruption on the American side while trying to stop the nuclear nerve gas bomb from wiping out California. What do you do when the President of the U.S. is in cahoots with the terrorists? Take a valium!
- I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
A great, action packed, intelligent terorist drama
I think this is a excellent show. The plots are interesting and you are always on the edge of your seat. It is pretty violent and there is some mild language (@ss, son of a B$#ch). All in all a must watch for anyone 11 or 12 and up.
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
A must see
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
I LOVE 24!
beepbeep......beepbeep....beepbeeb
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Excellent Show
Excellent Series! Refreshing to have a show that actually shows how people can stand-up for the USA and not just tear it down..
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
WWJBD: What would Jack Bauer Do?
Jack Bauer is a man who seems always to be in a moral bind: does he do what is most expedient and best for the immediate circumstance (often breaking the law in the process), or does he stand back and let matters develop, possibly risking many lives in the process? Jack takes the first choice, and while some may argue he is no better than the foes he's fighting, I think it is decisions such as these that people who wear a uniform face more often than anyone cares to acknowledge. This is Hollywood, and Jack's decision always work out for the greater good, but often at a price he suffers when he, his family or friends are involved. While some kids may like the frequent gun play or car chases, the stories are definitely not for the young. Violence against men and women is often potrayed (i.e.: good guys and bad are shown being tortured). Terrorist activities that affect whole cities are the benchmark of the story lines. Watch one episode, and you'll be hooked; the writing is that compelling.
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
addicting
its the best tv show ever. i watch 3 0r 4 episodes a night on dvd and its just so awesome. i havent seen every season yet but im hoping 2
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Tweens and UP!
Although it has a lot of violence, 24, teaches about maturity and how to confront the real world
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Great show
This is the best tv show ever. This does have nonstop violence some more gory than others.
- I rate this title off for age 15 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens
great
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
If you love action or drama - 24 is for you!
I started watching 24 and I was hooked after the first episode. Every episode is PACKED with action - there is not one scene with suspense and action. That being said, the violence is intense, but if you can handle it, you will love 24.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
love it
this show is the BEST.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
ONE OF THE BEST SHOWS EVER
this is a scary show if your kids are under 11. but i think it is one of the best shows. if your kids get scared easily this is not a good show for them.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Jack Bauer!!!
This is an excellent show I recommend for anyone who can handle the violence, which mostly is minimal. The plot of the show is centered around agent Jack Bauer and how he, along with the rest of the US agencies and agents, stops various terror threats in 24 hours. It's very addictive and is extremely suspensful. The best season is season 4. But watch all others as well! FIVE STARS WELL DESERVED FOR EVERY SEASON!!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
best tv show ever a must watch for 11+
best show ever!!!!!!!!!!!!. very intense. plenty of violence but still appropriate. some language but worse is used at school. if i was gay i would say i *heart* Jack Bauer but im not so just watch the show!!!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
great show
i first saw 24 when i was 9 at a friends house (his family is obsessed with it) and i thought the story was awesome. but only being 9, some parts made my gut wrench, for instance in season 2 Jack is being tortured and litterally the scene is no stop screaming amid where is the chip!! now im 13 though and i watch it regularly, definetly 12+
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
violent
but not insanley
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
I LOVE 24!
I am 14 and this is my favorite show ever!! i love jack bauer!!!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
OMG! This Hooks you!
I think its a very interesting and gripping storyline with great 4 screen splits and is very gripping. Its a must watch for 10+. And see the reviews by us kids! All 5 stars! What are you waiting for! Buy the DVDs now!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Best!
This show may not be exactly a "Family show", but you will love it. It has a heroic main character and absolutely great story. Every episode leaves you hanging, and you love it. This migh not be acceptable for kids under 10 years of age,due to extremely strong and brutal violence, torture scenes, etc., but many kids and teens, including myself, will love every second of every minute of every episode and will want to watch one after another season.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
AWESOME!!!
this show is amazing. but you should know it is argueably the most violent show on tv.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Greates Show Ever
I love this show. It is so addictive, I think I'd cry if I missed an episode. The real time consept draws you in deeper into the story and helps you relate with the characters better. Throughout it's five and a half season, I have both laughed and cried numerous times. 24 is unique in so many ways besides it's real time concept. It faces real life issues, not only terrorism but racism and torture. I highly recomend ths show to every one. Trust me, you won't regret watching it.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Best TV show... ever
A must-see. Seeing just one episode will get you hooked.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Gimme More 24!
As a movie person, there are only a few shows that I like a lot-- 24 is one of them. With excellent writing and realistic situations, 24 is one of the best tv shows ever. Each season is filled with plenty of twists (always be on the lookout for someone working from the inside), and the tension mounts with each episode and leaves you with the (sometimes) chilling sound of the seconds ticking by. The violence isn't as bad as other people make it sound; most episodes don't get that violent until the season starts to heighten. Plus, the atmosphere in which the show takes place can add to the overall feel of the violence. If you're uncertain about these claims, watch it yourself, because you may disagree with my claims, but i can guarantee you you'll be tuning in each week despite yourself.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
Great show to watch!!
I started watching this show with my parents when I was thirteen.I dont think kids that are under thirteen should watch this show. Twelve maybye.It has a lot of violence but usually not a WHOLE lot of blood. This show is addicting. Once you start watching its hard to stop. I think this is a good show that all adults and kids over thirteen should watch!
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
