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Parents' Guide to

America's Most Wanted

By Beth Pratt, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Offers a valuable service, but it's awfully scary.

TV Fox , Lifetime Television Reality TV 1988
America's Most Wanted 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 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

grizmaster1981
grizmaster1981 Adult
January 27, 2012
age 13+

Violent but we need to get these creeps off the streets

We must remember this service has also brought grieving families justice. Sometimes it involves the retelling of violent sexually explicit crime scenes. Sometimes we must rehash this stuff to make it clear that certain mollesters, murderers and other criminals are out there and are a considerable threat.
joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
May 1, 2010
age 14+

14 and up.

America's most wanted is one of my favorite shows and good to watch but parents this show is only for teens they show violent graphic crime scenes that can be seen up close and can be very disturbing at times they also show how children are being rape and being film by showing child pornography some characters use foul language at times and some criminals are seen smoking and drinking.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

AMERICA'S MOST WANTED offers viewers the opportunity to catch criminals, locate missing children, and help federal and state police solve and prevent crimes. It's been on the air since 1988 and continues to enjoy great popularity. Created by host John Walsh, whose young son was kidnapped and murdered in 1981, the program seeks to empower everyday people who want to stop crime.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (2 ):

While the show offers a valuable service (to date nearly 1000 criminals have been caught due to viewer tips), it's too frightening for kids (and some adults). The descriptions, re-enactments, and crime-scene photos are graphic, and the close-up photographs of the criminals are potentially nightmare-inducing. The show instills a fear that the criminal in question could be lurking right outside your door.

Need an example? One episode profiled a man who brutally murdered his wife then went on a crime spree in which he sexually molested several young girls. The whole sordid tale was re-enacted to drive home the horror of these crimes. Bottom line: Kids shouldn't be watching this show. Even adults who tune in may be left feeling unsettled -- and checking to make sure the door is locked.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the value of catching criminals outweighs the fear the show inherently creates. How does the program use the anxiety it evokes to its advantage? Would people be as likely to call in tips if the show's tone wasn't so alarmist? Are the re-creations of the crimes necessary, or do they serve merely to titillate the audience?

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.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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