Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Chernobyl

By Marty Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Drama based on Russian disaster is brutal but relevant.

TV HBO Drama 2019
Chernobyl Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Elena S.
Elena S. Adult
April 10, 2020
age 15+

Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant show. With great dialogue and amazing acting, Chernobyl tells the story of the men and women involved in the disaster in an engaging way. There are some great role models in this show. Experts in the field, both male and female fight for what they know is right and ultimately save the lives of thousands. Most characters do however engage in the social norms of the time including drinking and smoking. Things that may be disturbing include a suicide (not shown on screen) and scenes that show the effects of radiation poisoning, which are quite uncomfortable to watch. There is also a scene of male nudity (not sexual), and some characters swear frequently. Overall, a brilliant show which tells the story of the Ukrainian disaster. Some parts of the story are changed for dramatic effect, but the show's creator sets the story straight in a podcast available for free on many platforms including Spotify (it is called the Chernobyl Podcast).
Martin N.
Martin N. Parent of 13-year-old
November 23, 2019
age 18+

very good story

tells the story of Chernobyl not for weak stomachs contains baad language
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In 1986, a large nuclear explosion took place at the CHERNOBYL power plant in the Soviet Union. This series recounts the historical event, beginning with the immediate reactions by those in the plant and the surrounding areas and telescoping out to see how the disaster was dealt with by scientists and government agents, as well as how it affected the general population of Russia. Jared Harris (The Terror) plays a nuclear expert brought in to assess the situation, assisted and hindered by officials (Stellan Skarsgard) and other scientists (Emily Watson).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (31 ):

This is a taut, disciplined miniseries where nearly every decision made by its characters is meaningful and suspenseful, and the magnitude of the real-life events is always looming. With historical dramas, it's always important to ask: Why are we seeing this now? With Chernobyl, it's not difficult to see parallels between the show and modern American life: Scientists attempt to deal with a monumental environmental disaster that could kill millions of people, and at every step they encounter roadblocks stemming from the egos of the men in charge. That said, shows that are "capital-I Important" are not often this dramatically satisfying.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the history of Chernobyl. When did the events dramatized on this show take place? Why do you think they're important or relevant today?

  • Once the disaster has happened, what are the different ways the characters deal with the nuclear explosion? What methods are effective? Which are harmful?

  • What are the obstacles in the way of the Russian government attending to the nuclear disaster? How do individuals work to surmount those obstacles? How do characters work together or against one another?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

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