Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Book character's bad behavior dominates cartoon series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Horrid Henry
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 61 parent reviews
Parents say the show portrays poor parenting and abusive behavior towards the main character, which many believe is detrimental for children to watch. While some viewers find humor in the antics of the protagonist, a significant number express concern that the series promotes negative values and potentially harmful behavior in kids, leading to disrespectful attitudes and actions among impressionable viewers.
- abusive parenting
- negative influence
- poor behavior
- humor appeal
- mixed reactions
- not for young kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 79 kid reviews
Kids say that the show offers a mix of humor and problematic behaviors, making it entertaining yet controversial. While some appreciate its unique storytelling and relatable characters, many warn that it may encourage negative behavior in younger viewers, suggesting it is more appropriate for older children who can understand the difference between fiction and reality.
- bad behavior
- age recommendation
- humorous yet problematic
- neglectful parenting
- relatable characters
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
HORRID HENRY is the story of Henry (voiced by Lizzie Waterworth), a scowling, mischievous boy who pulls pranks on his classmates; makes fun of his younger brother, Peter (Emma Tate); and wages friendly war on his teachers and peers. He's never met a job he didn't love to hate, whether it's doing his homework or attending a family member's wedding, and he'll do anything to get out of situations that displease him. Often that means inventing creative ways to get around what's expected of him, but he figures anything's better than doing something you don't want to do. And when things get really bad, watch out: No one has a temper quite like Henry's ... except maybe his inner monsters.
Is It Any Good?
If Dennis the Menace set the bar for comical misbehaving, then Horrid Henry smashed it to smithereens and littered his neighbor's yard with it. From a parent's standpoint, there's not much that's appealing about Henry himself. He's whiny, selfish, disrespectful, and argumentative, and he puts others out for his own gain. In fact, the only quality of the show less likable than Henry himself is his parents' blissful oblivion to his antics.
That said, Horrid Henry has won a following among young fans for obvious reason: Despite his faults, Henry is a highly entertaining character, particularly for grade-schoolers who will appreciate his laundry list of complaints and the show's occasional gross-out humor. His behavior is shocking at times, but it does speak to the undeniable fact that kids aren't always even-tempered and compliant. Henry's escapades will find a more receptive audience in kids than they will in parents, of course, so unless your kids are particularly susceptible to mimicking what they see on TV, they'll probably just laugh along at the implausibility of Henry's over-the-top antics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Henry's behavior would play out in the real world. Kids: What repercussions would you face if you acted like him? How would your family and friends react?
Is it important to have good manners? How does having them affect how others respond to you? Are you ever bothered by things that your friends say or do? How do you handle situations like that?
Is this show trying to make a statement about Henry's behavior, or is its intention just to have fun? Do you often find lessons in the shows you watch? Do any stand out as very positive?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 31, 2006
- Cast : Emma Tate , Joanna Ruiz , Lizzie Waterworth
- Networks : Hulu , Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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