Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violence, language, sex in subversive superhero drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Boys
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 44 parent reviews
Parents say that while the show offers thrilling content and a unique take on heroes, it is filled with extreme violence, graphic sexual content, and strong language, making it inappropriate for young viewers. Some reviewers remarked on its entertainment value and intriguing themes of consumerism and fame in the superhero genre but strongly advised against letting children under 14 or 16 watch it without supervision.
- mature content
- inappropriate for kids
- strong language
- extreme violence
- unique themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 96 kid reviews
Kids say this show is a darkly comedic take on the superhero genre with a heavy emphasis on graphic violence, explicit sexual content, and strong language, making it unsuitable for younger viewers. While some praise its complex characters and engaging storylines, many warn that the extreme gore and mature themes could be disturbing and inappropriate for anyone under the age of 15 or 16.
- graphic violence
- explicit content
- strong language
- unsuitable for children
- complex characters
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the world of THE BOYS, superheroes lead celebrity-style lives, complete with corporate sponsorship and movie franchises of their own. At the top of their game are high-profile supergroup The Seven, whose reputations are closely managed by Vought International. They're worshipped the world over, but what the public doesn't know is that behind the scenes their behavior is far from heroic. From remorseless mass murder to sexual assault, the likes of Homelander (Antony Starr), The Deep (Chace Crawford), and A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) aren't the heroes they say they are. But there are a few people out there who know their secret. Led by The Butcher (Karl Urban), they come together to form vigilante group The Boys, and dedicate their lives to exposing the truth and fighting The Seven's violence and corruption.
Is It Any Good?
Adapted from a popular comic book series, this irreverent show flips the concept of superheroes on its head and has proven a hit with critics and audiences alike. The Boys asks the question: If superheroes were luminaries who lived outside of society's typical behavioral norms, wouldn't that inevitably lead to exploiting their power for something other than the greater good? It's the kind of exploration that dates back to the 1980s and '90s, when comic book writers like Alan Moore and Frank Miller began to use their work to investigate some of the moral questions that the very idea of superheroes might bring up. It's only fitting that, many years into the MCU era, superhero movies and TV series would begin to ask these types of questions about the relationship between power and corruption. Garth Ennis's comic The Boys may not be as famous as Moore's Watchmen, but the series covers similar thematic ground by effectively pulling the rug out from under everything we've come to expect from superhero shows in spectacularly entertaining, if frequently shocking, fashion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about superheroes and how The Boys turns the typical notion of a superhero on its head. What do we generally expect from superheroes and their behavior? How do the superheroes on The Boys behave differently?
How does The Boys blur the line between "good guys" and "bad guys"? What does it say about appearances and reputations compared to actual behavior behind the scenes? What do you think the show is saying about celebrity culture and power?
Do you consider any of the characters in the series role models? What are some of the positive character strengths of people like Starlight and Hughie? What darker sides to themselves do they wrestle with?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 26, 2019
- Cast : Jack Quaid , Erin Moriarty , Karl Urban , Antony Starr
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Superheroes
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : April 8, 2026
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