Movie or TV show · High risk
Is The Walking Dead safe for your child?
Age guide
18+
We advise The Walking Dead from age 18 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk).
- 5-8
- The Walking Dead is entirely inappropriate for this age group due to its graphic violence, intense horror, and mature themes of survival and loss.
- 9-12
- The Walking Dead is not suitable for this age range; its depictions of gore, zombie attacks, and psychological trauma are far too intense for pre-teens.
- 13-15
- The Walking Dead is not recommended for this age group; the show's pervasive violence, mature themes, and disturbing imagery exceed typical adolescent readiness for such content.
- 16+
- Older teens may be able to handle the intense violence and mature themes of The Walking Dead, which explores complex human morality, leadership, and survival in a post-apocalyptic world, but parental discussion about the show's graphic nature and psychological impact is still advisable.
The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror television series that follows a group of survivors navigating a world overrun by zombies. The story explores themes of survival, morality, and the complexities of human relationships in extreme situations. As the characters face various threats, both from the undead and other humans, the series delves into the psychological and emotional toll of living in a constant state of danger. The show often features graphic depictions of violence and intense situations, making it a gripping but challenging watch for younger audiences.
- Age guide
- 18+
- Overall risk
- 7/10
- Violence
- 9/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 7/10
- Stranger contact
- 2/10
- Addiction risk
- 8/10
- Language
- 6/10
- Influence
- 8/10
What parents should know
The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror series rated TV-MA, known for its extreme graphic violence, intense psychological drama, and mature themes. It is explicitly not suitable for children or younger teenagers due to its disturbing content, focusing instead on adult audiences capable of processing its dark and often brutal portrayal of humanity's struggle for survival.
What to do about The Walking Dead
Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.
- The age-by-age verdict
What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for The Walking Dead is 18+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact The Walking Dead setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about The Walking Dead without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in The Walking Dead that mean it is time to step in.
The Walking Dead age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is The Walking Dead?
Parentwise puts The Walking Dead at 18+. We advise The Walking Dead from age 18 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). Violence scores 9/10, language 6/10, stranger contact 2/10 and addiction risk 8/10.
Can a 10 year old watch The Walking Dead?
Not by default: we advise The Walking Dead from 18+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The Walking Dead is not suitable for this age range; its depictions of gore, zombie attacks, and psychological trauma are far too intense for pre-teens.
Can a 12 year old watch The Walking Dead?
Not by default: we advise The Walking Dead from 18+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The Walking Dead is not suitable for this age range; its depictions of gore, zombie attacks, and psychological trauma are far too intense for pre-teens.
Can a 13 year old watch The Walking Dead?
Not by default: we advise The Walking Dead from 18+, so at 13 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The Walking Dead is not recommended for this age group; the show's pervasive violence, mature themes, and disturbing imagery exceed typical adolescent readiness for such content.
Is The Walking Dead appropriate for kids?
The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror series rated TV-MA, known for its extreme graphic violence, intense psychological drama, and mature themes. Parentwise rates The Walking Dead overall as high risk (7/10), with stranger contact at 2/10 and addiction risk at 8/10.
Is The Walking Dead family friendly?
The Walking Dead is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. It is explicitly not suitable for children or younger teenagers due to its disturbing content, focusing instead on adult audiences capable of processing its dark and often brutal portrayal of humanity's struggle for survival.
The Walking Dead parents guide: what should a parent know first?
The Walking Dead is a post-apocalyptic horror series rated TV-MA, known for its extreme graphic violence, intense psychological drama, and mature themes. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (2/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (8/10).
Is The Walking Dead safe for kids?
We advise The Walking Dead from age 18 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). It is explicitly not suitable for children or younger teenagers due to its disturbing content, focusing instead on adult audiences capable of processing its dark and often brutal portrayal of humanity's struggle for survival.
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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.