Parents' Guide to

The Inbetweeners (UK)

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Crass comedy is heavy on drinking, but teen pals feel real.

TV BBC America Comedy 2010
The Inbetweeners (UK) 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 13+

Based on 9 parent reviews

mark.
mark. Adult
February 3, 2022
age 18+

i think 18 because the F-words and sex but its a great UK show.

best comedy around.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
An honest parent
An honest parent Adult
October 8, 2020
age 14+

The best comedy out there, but too crass and sexual for younger viewers

The inbetweeners is an amazing British comedy about a bunch of lads (who are saddos and are supposed to be) trying to get through sixth form. It is a British comedy and really you will only fully appreciate it if you live in the uk. About age ratings, I let my 12-year old watch it because he’s quite mature and school has taught him a lot anyway. But I think most parents wouldn’t be too pleased with their pre-teen watching it. But it should NOT be an 18, not by any stretch of the imagination. There is some very infrequent male nudity, showing someone’s butt or in one scene, their ball sack, but that’s about it. They talk about sex 80% of the time, but there’s more talk than action, there is one sex scene but it’s really awkward and funny, only thing shown is the male’s butt. It is very heavy on the swearing and therefore only suitable for people 14 and up. Either way it’s amazing, just too crass for younger viewers

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Will (Simon Bird) and his three best mates -- Simon (Joe Thomas), Jay (James Buckley), and Neil (Blake Harrison) -- are all students at a British secondary school, but studying is about the last thing on their minds. Instead, they spend most of their energy trying to get liquor and meet girls. Finding booze doesn't seem to present too much difficulty, which adds plenty of drunken silliness to their clumsy efforts at seduction. They aren't the coolest kids in school, nor the best-looking, and they certainly aren't as smooth as they think they are -- they're just average kids trying to muddle their way through school.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9 ):
Kids say (37 ):

On the surface, INBETWEENERS looks like many other sophomoric movies and TV shows about teens trying to get drunk and have sex. And the basic plotline is pretty much the same. But the show's characters give this British comedy a bit more depth. Sure, they swear constantly and can't hold their liquor, but their relationships have more depth than the average teen comedy.

The show's friendships and situations feel real. The guys drink together, tease each other, and endure the slings and arrows of adolescence together. When love knocks them down, they help each other up. Some viewers may be put off by the frequent underage drinking and the profanity -- and both of those things certainly make the series iffy viewing for younger teens. But most of the edgy stuff doesn't seem that gratuitous. This is what many real-life teens do: they drink and swear and awkwardly try to couple up. So don't be surprised if this entertaining comedy leaves you wincing and laughing simultaneously.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about youth culture. Do you think this is an accurate depiction of high school social life? Do teens really drink this much?

  • Do you think underage teens really drink this much? Is it this easy for high school students to get alcohol in the United States? How do you feel about teenage drinking?

  • The show is set in England -- do you think American teens are similar?

TV Details

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