Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Darker and still violent, this Ben 10 not for the sensitive.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 26 kid reviews
Kids say that the show is entertaining with good animation and a blend of action, humor, and character development, though some find it a bit darker and more mature than previous series. However, there are mixed opinions, as some viewers criticize it for being repetitive and lacking the charm of earlier iterations, while others appreciate its appeal to older audiences despite concerns about violence and some mature content.
- entertaining animation
- darker themes
- character development
- mixed reviews
- aimed at older audiences
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
BEN 10: ULTIMATE ALIEN picks up where Alien Force left off, with now-16-year-old Ben Tennyson (voiced by Yuri Lowenthal) still taking on a host of alien intruders to Earth. His enemies have gotten stronger and more elusive, but Ben's acquired a revamped Omnitrix called an "Ultimatrix," which puts more variety and power at his fingertips. With his friends Gwen (Ashley Johnson) and Kevin (Greg Cipes) at his side, Ben also faces the daunting task of handling his newfound fame after his long-kept identity is revealed.
Is It Any Good?
Kids who have followed Ben's journey from the original show won't notice many changes besides his age in this latest incarnation of the series. He's still a morphing master, now drawing on an even more extensive wealth of alien forms and honed skills to wage war against the imposing creatures. In addition he sports slick new rides for both road and air travel, which is sure to impress gadget-loving tween boys.
That said, this grown-up Ben has more on his plate than just blasting aliens now that the whole world knows who he is, and it makes for some uncomfortable times when his efforts to help people are misinterpreted as menacing and dangerous. There's a noticeable change in his demeanor, which is more brooding and reflective than jovial, and by association, the show seems slightly darker than in the past. Then, of course, there's the frequent battles between the good guys and the bad, which might frighten kids and sends iffy messages about nonviolent methods of resolving conflict.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fantasy. What is fantasy? What aspects of this show are rooted in fantasy? How much of it is realistic? Is fantasy appropriate for everyone? How can you tell the difference? Do you like shows that have a lot of fantasy? Why or why not?
Tweens: Do you believe in the existence of aliens? What evidence exists to support the theory that they exist? Do you think we'll ever know for sure if they do?
What did you think of the violence portrayed in this show? Was there too much violence? How does it compare to other cartoons you've seen? Is violence more upsetting when it's in a live-action show than in a cartoon? Why or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 23, 2010
- Cast : Ashley Johnson , Greg Cipes , Yuri Lowenthal
- Network : Cartoon Network
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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
Suggest an 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.
See how we rate