Parents' Guide to Zero Day

TV Netflix Drama 2025
Zero Day TV show poster: Robert De Niro as George Mullen wears a suit and tie.

Common Sense Media Review

Polly Conway By Polly Conway , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Solid government thriller lets De Niro shine; violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 7+

Based on 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In an alternate timeline, ex-president George Mullen (Robert DeNiro) has his routine: morning pills, a swim, and a run on his picturesque grounds. But on ZERO DAY, everything changes. A cyberattack shuts down all transportation and phones, causing mass destruction and chaos. A man named Felix, leading a group of hackers, is suspected. Now elected the leader of the Zero Day Commission, Mullen relies on an old spy friend, Natan, to give him intel on the situation. He's also supported by right-hand man Roger Clarkson (Jesse Plemons). What do the words "Who Killed Bambi" mean? Is the perpetrator the obvious one: Russia? And is Mullen in control of his senses and memory enough to do this kind of job?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say : Not yet rated

This solid series presents a situation filled with political intrigue, but it's a bit by-the-books. Zero Day starts out as a riveting tale of cyberterror, but it slowly winds down into a somewhat convoluted mystery that takes a while to unravel. It's an interesting twist to see Mullen struggle with his own mind; whether he's dealing with PTSD or a degenerative mental disorder, De Niro gives a subtle but strong performance here.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about thrillers. Why is it fun to watch a mystery unwind?

  • Do you think Mullen is good at his job? Why, or why not? And at what cost?

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

Zero Day TV show poster: Robert De Niro as George Mullen wears a suit and tie.

What to Watch Next

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