Parents' Guide to

Nitro Circus

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Crazy reality-show stunts could prompt copycat antics.

TV MTV Reality TV 2009
Nitro Circus Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 7 parent reviews

HawkNanny92
HawkNanny92 Adult
October 20, 2014
age 3+

Just crazy people doing crazy stunts

Travis Pastrana is a famous racer... He started nitro circus awhile ago and it's involved into movies, shows and live events. You have skateboarders, moto racers, snowboarders, bmx riders... And random crazy people! They do stunts and crazy things around the world. Sometimes the language is a bit mature but it's rare. The only problem is the stunts, but if you teach your kid right from wrong you won't have any problems. My 3 & 5 yr old nephews watch it, no problem. They do talk about family and dreams a lot too... It's not just all about crazy stunts.
leemail6
leemail6 Parent
January 15, 2011
age 10+

it is ok for miture tweens and exelint for older kids

it was one of the best shows i have ever seen it is a little inappropriate but amazing

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 7 parent reviews

What's the Story?

For Travis Pastrana, being a professional freestyle motocross rider is more than just a job, it's a lifestyle. He makes his living performing incredible flips, jumps, and other tricks on his motorcycle -- and, as NITRO CIRCUS shows, he and his friends spend most of their downtime at his compound practicing more of the same. The series wastes little time on the petty bickering and introspective discussions that are so common on other reality shows; it's all action, lots and lots of amazing/outrageous/dangerous action.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (5 ):

The show stars with a standard disclaimer: The performers are trained athletes, and viewers shouldn't try to imitate them. Pastrana and his friends crash more often than they succeed, but for all the painful-looking spills, there are surprisingly few injuries, and there's plenty of laughter all around. The result is that Nitro Circus makes practicing difficult, dangerous stunts look like a Saturday afternoon party at Pastrana's house ... which seems like exactly the mood that could make young people want to spend their own free time copying them, with potentially disastrous results.

Plus, with little narration or discussion, Nitro Circus seems less like a program and more like a highlight reel. Sure, some of these feats are truly impressive, but they'd have more impact if there was some explanation about why they're so difficult. And many of the tricks are just plain goofy -- rolling off a huge ramp in a wheeled office chair, for example, or doing flips on tricycles. Pastrana and his posse are clearly having plenty of fun filming themselves, but watching Nitro Circus isn't nearly as entertaining as creating it seems to be.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about different kinds of TV stunts. Stunts are a longtime staple of action dramas, but they're generally carefully planned and executed with plenty of safety gear. But shows like this highlight stunts that seen to involve neither planning nor safety. Which looks more exciting? Why? Which seem more "real" or more dangerous?

  • Are stunts more fun to watch if have more potential danger? Why?

  • Does watching this show make you want to try some of the tricks? Do you think that's partly the point, despite the show's disclaimer?

TV Details

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