Parents' Guide to Hazbin Hotel

Hazbin Hotel TV show poster: featuring a group of animated characters in shades of red, pink, and black

Common Sense Media Review

Jenny Nixon By Jenny Nixon , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Rampant sex, profanity, violence in animation set in hell.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 101 parent reviews

Parents say the show showcases engaging storytelling and vibrant animation, but opinions are divided over its suitability for younger audiences. While some believe it can be appropriate for mature viewers aged 12 and up, many warn that its explicit language, sexual content, and graphic themes make it unsuitable for anyone under 14 or even 17, emphasizing the importance of parent supervision when allowing teens to watch.

  • appropriateness concerns
  • graphic content warnings
  • diverse representation
  • parental supervision needed
  • mixed audience reception
Summarized with AI

age 14+

Based on 273 kid reviews

Kids say that while the show features a mix of humor, colorful animation, and engaging music, it also contains mature themes such as frequent swearing, sexual content, and substance abuse, making it more suitable for older teens and adults. Although some viewers feel the show provides important lessons about redemption and acceptance, many recommend it only for those aged 13 and older, emphasizing the need for parental discretion based on the child's maturity level.

  • mature content
  • humor and music
  • parental discretion
  • suitable for teens
  • themes of redemption
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

HAZBIN HOTEL is an animated series that takes place in hell, where there's a bit of an overcrowding problem. Concerned that hell will gain too much power from an ever-swelling population, their numbers are kept under control through visiting angels who swoop down to execute large groups of sinners. The princess of hell -- Lucifer's daughter, Charlotte "Charlie" Morningstar (Erika Henningson) -- is convinced there's a better, less violent way to maintain balance. She opens a halfway house of sorts where her subjects can learn about concepts like trust and forgiveness, hopefully culminating in their redemption and ascent to heaven. Also, there are musical numbers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 101 ):
Kids say ( 273 ):

The problem with this series isn't the rampant sex, profanity, or violence -- it's the way it leans on being "outrageous" rather than developing a cohesive point of view or sense of humor. Hazbin Hotel isn't a terrible concept, but neither is it particularly original. The series' enthusiasm for being offensive just doesn't feel groundbreaking in a post-South Park world. Viewers who love the spooky-kooky films of Tim Burton will probably dig the stylized animation, which uses a limited color palette of reds, pinks, and black. The voice acting is quite good, with Keith David (who voiced Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog) and Bruce Roman (voicing Angel Dust, the hotel's resident sex-worker demon) being standouts. If the show uses future seasons to hone its worldview and ease up on the lazy, repetitive use of shock value, it would be a huge improvement.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why so many forms of media focus on the fight between good and evil. Can you think of any examples of this phenomenon?

  • What benefits does the medium of animation offer storytellers as opposed to live action? How do you think the series might be perceived differently if it were not a cartoon?

TV Details

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Hazbin Hotel TV show poster: featuring a group of animated characters in shades of red, pink, and black

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