American Ninja Warrior: parents' guide
Best for ages 8 and up. Rated TV-PG.
An upbeat obstacle-course competition that works for the whole family. Athletes swing, climb and leap through punishing courses, and most fail with a splash. Falls are frequent and occasionally leave scrapes or a little blood, but nobody is seriously hurt on screen. Contestants share stories about cancer, illness and other hardships, which can be moving. Expect shirtless men, sports bras and occasional mild cursing. The bigger concern for young fans is trying the stunts at home or on playground equipment. Fine for most kids 8 and up.
What's in it
Violence
MildNo fighting. Hard falls into water or onto mats and occasional knocks to the head; one episode shows a little blood on a contestant's head and knee from obstacle scrapes.
Language
MildInfrequent mild words such as 'pissed,' an unfinished 'son of a...' and exclamations using God's name, which is why episodes tend to carry a TV-PG rating.
Sex and nudity
MildNo sexual content. Many men compete or celebrate shirtless, women wear sports bras and short shorts, and one costumed contestant ran in only a mankini and body paint.
Drinking, drugs and smoking
NoneNo drinking or drug use shown; one competitor talks about overcoming a past drinking problem.
Scary or intense scenes
MildTense moments high above the water and some hard falls. Personal stories touch on cancer, serious illness and family members serving in war zones, which can be emotional.
Worth talking about
Many competitors fail on an early obstacle and come back to try again the next year. What keeps someone going after a very public failure?
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Checked October 13th, 2026 against Common Sense Media, Plugged In, Rotten Tomatoes. The age is our judgment, not an official rating, and every family draws its lines differently: read the notes, not just the number. Spotted something we missed? Tell us. How we rate.