Parents' Guide to

American Ninja Warrior

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Super-fit folks conquer big obstacles for money.

TV G4, NBC Reality TV 2009
American Ninja Warrior Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 8 parent reviews

Ava C.
Ava C. Parent of 6 and 9-year-old
July 23, 2022
age 4+

AMAZING TV SHOW!!

So amazing! It is so entertaining for all ages! My kids are so inspired by some of these athletes. Sometimes they have sob stories, but it's OK with me and my family.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Lalalee1
Lalalee1 Adult
September 5, 2021
age 5+

Gender Bias

Great show! Completely unfair when they match boys against girls. The girls loose EVERY TIME unless the girl is 5 ft. taller than her male apponent.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 8 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR, contestants attempt to conquer one of the world's most grueling obstacle courses. Based on the Japanese hit series Sasuke, the stateside version features Warrior hopefuls from across the country competing for one of 100 open slots. Those who make the cut have a chance to vie for $500,000 by facing Mount Midoriyama, a grueling four-stage obstacle course in Las Vegas that requires challengers to be mentally and physically strong, quick, and acrobatic. Hosts Matt Iseman and Olympian Jonny Moseley offer their play-by-play commentary and, along with sideline reporter Angela Sun, give viewers a close-up look at the course and its challengers. Whoever completes the course in the shortest amount of time wins both the cash and the coveted title.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (8):
Kids say (13):

American Ninja Warrior celebrates human strength and agility while entertaining viewers with larger-than-life obstacle courses that few will ever be able actually to complete. Some of the athletes' personal stories and training histories also add interest to the show.



Watching people go through the same obstacle course over and over again gets a little tedious. But folks who are interested in fitness and/or athletic-oriented competitions will definitely enjoy it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what motivates people to participate in extreme sport competitions. Is it just for the money? Or are there other things that inspire them? What motivates audiences to watch?

  • What do participants gain from being on TV? What do you think happens behind the scenes at shows like this? What's not seen?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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