Parents' Guide to

The Amazing Race

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Stressful global race features tense moments, teamwork.

TV CBS, Travel Channel Reality TV 2001
The Amazing Race Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 9+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Obergranch
Obergranch Adult
December 26, 2020
age 16+

Not a Fan For This Season

I have watched The Amazing race since the first season and have really enjoyed them except maybe 3-4 seasons. This is one season I didn’t enjoy. I felt like it was so generic and uninteresting. Same old same old, just mundane. Sorry guys but the characters were uninteresting and the roadblocks all blah.
BuckyD
BuckyD Parent of 5 and 9-year-old
May 16, 2015
age 8+

See a little bit of the world as a family

So, we're probably never going to be able to travel around the world with our kids. It's just not feasible with school and work and cost and such. Watching the amazing race as a family sort of serves as a way to show our kids that the world is bigger than the suburbia they live in, and while we live in a pretty diverse suburbia, there is more diversity out there. The 9 year old girl has watched this show since she was about 5 and loved it, our 5 year old son is bored by it usually. Swear words are bleeped out, there is no real nudity or sexuality to deal with, and aside from poor choices that some teams make during competition there isn't much that is difficult to explain to the kids about human interactions. They're faced with mean and/or self-serving people at school, and BFFs don't always get along in 3rd grade too, so we have a good platform for discussing how to get beyond the issues when people are annoyed with each other or do something to another team to get ahead in the race (e.g. U-turns or not helping out with information). It's just a great lesson in how big and beautiful the world and its people are, without having to be super-wealthy to afford the plane fare.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the wildly popular series THE AMAZING RACE combines the thrill of reality competition with the excitement of travel. Eleven teams of two, which consist of friends, married couples, siblings, parent-child teams, and even social media stars, dash all over the globe in hopes of winning a major cash prize. Hosted and narrated by Phil Keoghan, each episode features each team using their smarts, wits, and various modes of local transportation to help them get to from one far-off destination after another and remain ahead of their competition. Once there, they perform tasks of physical and mental skill to get clues and information that will get them to the next location. During certain legs of the journey, the last teams to arrive at checkpoints are eliminated. From the urban streets of Mexico City to the deserts of Dubai, the contestants do what they can to win while experiencing the wonder and adventure of international travel.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (33):

The fun, fast-paced series allows viewers to see the world through the eyes of the race and learn more about cultures and local customs in places that aren't always well-known vacation destinations. But, like most reality competitions, The Amazing Race has a fair share of petty behavior, thanks to the stresses of the many unusual and sometimes-difficult circumstances the contestants find themselves in. Adding to the tension are the occasional ethical questions raised about the teams helping (or not helping) one another.

The way the individual pairs, who are from all walks of life, support each other throughout the race ranges from heartwarming to frustrating, especially when they begin to take out their stress on each other. Meanwhile, some cast members aren't always respectful of the international communities or their traditional customs. However, these moments are usually quick and usually overshadowed by the excitement of the journey. Overall, it's an entertaining show that offers an amazing look at the world around us and adventures that most people only dream about.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the participants' behavior on The Amazing Race. Does a competitor have a moral obligation to help another struggling team, or is it OK to leave them floundering? Who in this competition seems to be balancing a healthy competitive spirit with good sportsmanship?

  • What are some of the things you should and shouldn't do when traveling in a different country? Should you expect people to understand you or your needs while you're there? Is it ever appropriate to make fun of people's language(s) or customs, even if they're very different from your own?

  • Would you like to join The Amazing Race? Do you think you would do well in these stressful situations? Where would you like to go? Is there anywhere in the world you'd be more hesitant to race through? Why?

  • How do the competitors on The Amazing Race demonstrate courage and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate