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MythBusters

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 7, age appropriate for kids over 9; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Team puts urban legends to the scientific test.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Promotes curiosity and an interest in science, but kids will need reminding not to try similar experiments at home.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Explosions and firepower are used in some experiments, but no one is hurt (beyond a few scrapes and small burns here and there), and they all wear protective gear.
  • Sex:

    Very occasional use of the word "sex."
  • Language:

    Infrequent and mostly mild: "hell," "Oh my God," etc. The occasional stronger words are bleeped out.
  • Consumerism:

    Brand names are blurred on all soda and other food and drinks used in experiments.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of MythBusters was written by Emily Ashby

Parents need to know that this intriguing series showcases problem analysis and the scientific approach to proving or disproving a thesis. It comes with repeated disclaimers for good reason, though, as episodes often include explosions, gunfire, and mixtures of volatile substances. Kids may need a reminder to not engage in such activities themselves. The hosts use human skeletons and animal parts in some experiments, which could make squeamish viewers uncomfortable.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how Adam and Jamie devise their test plans. Once they've identified their challenge, what steps do they take to gather supplies and prepare their testing area? What types of experts help them and in what ways? This show offers parents a unique opportunity to show kids the importance of a well-rounded education. What disciplines (math, science, etc.) do the hosts use to set up their experiments? How do you use what you've learned in everyday life?
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More on MythBusters

What’s the Story?

How many balloons would it take to airlift a man? Can a playing card be hurled fast enough to inflict more harm than just a paper cut? And if you eat Pop Rocks and drink soda, will your stomach explode from all that fizz? If you've lost sleep over these questions, MYTHBUSTERS is the show for you. It's hosted by Jamie Hyneman, a model maker and special-effects expert for the movie and TV industries, and Adam Savage, whose handy expertise includes carpentry, welding, and animation. The two devise experiments to prove or disprove urban legends and other esoteric theories. They combine physics, chemistry, biology, and geometry to lay out their experiments, and the steps preceding the test are as fascinating as the test itself. For example, to answer the age-old Pop Rocks question, Jamie and Adam hang a pig's stomach (similar to a human's) in a human skeleton to test its durability against six candy packets and a six-pack of soda consumed simultaneously.

Is It Any Good?

The team makes a good comedic duo; Jamie's dry humor is the perfect complement to Adam's quips and wisecracks. The fun, fact-filled show will answer some of those long-standing "what ifs" that may have been nagging at you, demonstrating how much fun science can be to boot. And when Jamie and Adam call in experts in rocket science, explosives, physiology, and other disciplines for background and guidance, there's even more educational value. Science-minded tweens and teens will find it exceptionally entertaining.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    teriffic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    This a great show that is educational. On the negative side almost all of these experiments use violence. Some occasional unbleeped usage of he** and some even more infrequent bleeped out stronger words (the show bleeps alot more of a curse word than the average show). The "science language" is probably understandable to older kids, but any kid under 7 will be sitting there scratching their head. young tweens+ Note: fans of this show may want to search the show, Dude What Would Happen.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

  3. I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Negative role models

    Mythbusters has a variety of funny stuff, some might be a little inappropriate, a try not a home, kind of thing because they do shouting gunpowder out of a bamboo cannon. I reccommend it for kids that are like about 10+, would be a perfect age cause some moms and dads will think that it is not good messages but all parents out there, if your kids know not to do all the stuff they do like making rats pee on soda cans, stick hands in water, make a candle out of earwax, shoot stuff out of cannons, etc. All those kids, watch it because it is not that inappropriate! By Elli Gret

  4. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Mythbusters

    Very entertaining show! There are so many myths i've had questions about, and this show has answer at least 85% of them already.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Mthbusters!

    Mythbusters is SO Cool!

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