Parents' Guide to The Boys

TV Prime Video Drama 2019
The Boys TV poster: Superheroes gather behind Homelander, who has a halo behind him

Common Sense Media Review

Martin Brown By Martin Brown , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 17+

Violence, language, sex in subversive superhero drama.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 17+?

Any Positive Content?

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  • 1:08
  • The Boys: Homelander (Antony Starr) poses with some fans
  • The Boys: Starlight (Erin Moriarty) looks nervous as she joins The Seven, women styling her hair and clothing for her
  • The Boys: Butcher (Karl Urban) shows Hughie (Jack Quaid) around a crowded restaurant/lounge

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 54 parent reviews

Parents say this TV show balances entertainment with a very mature theme, offering a mix of humor, violence, and commentary on the darker side of superhero culture. Although some viewers believe it is appropriate for older teens, a consensus suggests it is meant for an adult audience due to its extreme content, including graphic violence, sexuality, and strong language.adult themesextreme contentnot for kidsmature audiencedark humor
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age 15+

Based on 107 kid reviews

Kids say that while the show has a compelling narrative and strong character development, it is heavily laden with graphic violence, sexual content, and profanity, making it inappropriate for younger viewers. Many reviews agree that it's best suited for mature teens, with a recommendation for parental supervision due to its explicit themes, but it also has a split audience, as some find the shocking elements entertaining and integral to the overall experience.graphic contentmature themesparental guidancecompelling narrativeage suitability
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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?

Our review:
Parents say ( 54 ):
Kids say ( 107 ):

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

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

The Boys TV poster: Superheroes gather behind Homelander, who has a halo behind him

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