Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, drinking and sex jokes in zany, diverse animation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Futurama
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 52 parent reviews
Parents say the show features a mix of comedy and adult themes, sparking debate about its appropriateness for younger viewers; while some find it suitable for ages 10 and up, others express concerns over swearing and sexual content. Many reviews highlight its clever humor and engaging characters but compare it unfavorably to similar works by the same creator, noting it is less family-friendly than "The Simpsons."
- adult themes
- clever humor
- character engagement
- age suitability
- parental guidance
Summarized with AI
Based on 279 kid reviews
Kids say the show is highly entertaining and funny, with a mix of humor that includes references to mature themes such as sex, drugs, and mild violence. While many find it appropriate for older children around 11 or 12 years old, several reviews note that its content can be edgy or inappropriate for younger audiences, especially due to its frequent use of profanity and adult humor.
- humor appeal
- mature themes
- inappropriate for younger
- age recommendation
- edgy content
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
FUTURAMA's premise goes like this: Philip Fry (voiced by Billy West) is a 20th-century pizza boy who makes a delivery to a cryogenic institute, gets frozen, and wakes up in the year 3001. Fry immediately falls in with his distant nephew, Professor Farnsworth (West again); one-eyed ship captain, Leela (Katey Sagal); and their intergalactic delivery crew. He ends up living with kleptomaniac robot Bender (John Di Maggio) and patching together a rag-tag family.
Is It Any Good?
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, is also the mind behind this series, so you never really know where this show is going, but you can expect a great ride. Though his involvement with Futurama wasn't as consistent as it was with The Simpsons, Groening's influence is undeniably felt. Bart and Marge fans will enjoy seeing characters with familiar features; also familiar are the quick wit and unique plot lines.
The characters have a lot of personality, which can make watching this series very entertaining. Jokes are funny, ironies are ironic, and all of the details offer bonus laughs––even book covers, signs, newspaper headlines, and other bits of media featured in the background carry witticisms. But parents should watch out: Anything and everything can happen, and the series' unpredictable nature results in a broad range of potential red flags.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the diverse characters in Futurama. What qualities make female leads Leela and Amy memorable? How are other characters unique? How do their differences help them solve problems and work together?
Can robots conceivably be part of human society? Why, or why not?
Compare this show to its TV "cousin," The Simpsons. How are the two alike? How are they different? Do you prefer one over the other?
How do the characters in Futurama demonstrate perseverance? Why is this an important character strength?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 28, 1999
- Cast : Billy West , Katey Sagal , Phil LaMarr
- Network : Comedy Central
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Adventures , Aliens , Family Stories , Fantasy ( Time Travel ) , Friendship , Robots , Space , STEM ( Science )
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : July 31, 2026
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
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