Criminal Minds

TV review by Elliot Panek, Common Sense Media
Criminal Minds Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Entertaining crime drama's violence is too grim for kids.

CBS Drama 2005
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Parents say

age 14+

Based on 43 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 187 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Criminal Minds is a long-running series crime procedural full of brutal, realistic depictions of violence, including torture, shootings, horrific murders, and bloody casualties. The themes range from sex crimes and mental illness to plane crashes and capital punishment. Words such as "damn," "hell," and "ass" are frequent, and there's some social drinking. On occasion, criminal behavior is connected to drugs. Aside from the gruesome crimes, the team of detectives treat each other like family and sometimes add some light humor to bleak plot lines.

Community Reviews

biggestfanofthis
biggestfanofthis Adult
August 14, 2021
age 12+

LOVE THIS SHOW! Common Sense Media is wayyyy off

I love Criminal Minds and just finished the series for the 2nd time! I think a mature 10 year old could handle it but its totally fine for a 12 year old. There are a few bad scenes, but nowadays tweens have seen it all. I love this show, no doubt! It's fine for tweens and teens.
1 person found this helpful.
jcattelaine84
jcattelaine84 Adult
November 28, 2020
age 15+

Criminal Minds: Is it Appropriate?

First of all, I'd like to say that this is probably my favorite show. It is captivating and the acting is very good, and it is so interesting! But, it is definitely a mature show. Viewers are exposed to lots of gore, blood, and disturbing body parts and dead bodies in crimes. Rape and sexual assault are major themes in episodes, as well as sexual sadism. Many crimes are targeted against young women (especially traditionally pretty ones), which may cause young women to feel paranoid and nervous about everyone (it really just depends on the person). One of my favorite parts of the show is the psychology of criminals, especially murderers and serial killers, which is sometimes disturbing. Mental illness and drugs causing violence is also a theme. Ultimately, I would not expose a child under 13 or 14 to this amount of violence, but you really should make your decision based on the maturity of your child. I would say that 13, 14, or 15 would be a reasonable age for most children. I hope that this helped your decision!

This title has:

Great role models
Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
See all 43 parent reviews

What's the Story?

CRIMINAL MINDS follows a team of FBI psychological profilers as they track down mentally disturbed serial killers. Led by agents such as Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin), Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), and, later, David Rossi (Joe Mantegna), the profilers use some traditional methods, such as interviewing suspects, as well as advanced forensic techniques. However, the hallmark of this group is its encyclopedic knowledge of the human mind and patterns of behavior. Through hard work, the use of new technology, and plenty of lateral thinking, they are able to read the minds of the killers and predict their next moves.

Is It Any Good?

Like most good crime dramas, the long-runningbseries offers detective stories full of interesting details and lots of suspense. Despite the lack of originality and endless violent moments, it has garnered over a decade of loyal fans. It's inspired some spin-offs, too: Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.

Over the years characters played by actors such as Jeanne Tripplehorn, A.J. Cook, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Damon Gupton, Emily Prentiss, and Aisha Tyler have come and (sometimes) gone. But the show's longevity is due to the compelling narratives and has become a pop culture favorite thanks to its insertion of notable quotes that summarize the significance of each episode. If you crave this sort of entertainment, Criminal Minds is worth tuning into.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the amount of violence in crime dramas. How realistic are these program's story lines? Is violence exaggerated for the sake of dramatic tension, or is it merely reflective of the world we live in? What draws viewers into plots that are essentially designed to disturb them?

  • How does Criminal Minds compare with other crime dramas on television? Does it do anything differently to distinguish itself from similar shows? How do the characters demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

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