Is The Americans appropriate for children?

# The Americans - Parental Guide **The Americans** follows two Soviet spies posing as an American couple during the Cold War. Expect frequent strong language, intense violence including graphic scenes, and moderate sexual content. The psychological tension and morally complex characters make it unsuitable for children; it's designed for mature adult audiences.

What age is The Americans suitable for?

Our verdict for The Americans is: Not recommended. See the age grid on this page for specific recommendations by age group.

Is The Americans safe for children? | ScreenWise Parent Guide

Content breakdown

🔫

Violence

Strong

🗣️

Language / Profanity

Strong

🔞

Sexual Content

Moderate

👻

Horror / Scary

Moderate

About this TV show

Type

TV Show

Released

2013

Rating

TV-MA

Genre

Crime, Drama

Synopsis

Set during the Cold War period in the 1980s, The Americans is the story of Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Soviet KGB officers posing as an American married couple in the suburbs of Washington D.C. and their neighbor, Stan Beeman, an FBI Counterintelligence agent.

Cast

Keri Russell

Elizabeth Jennings

Matthew Rhys

Phillip Jennings

Holly Taylor

Paige Jennings

Keidrich Sellati

Henry Jennings

Full cast on IMDb ›

Stimulus level

High stimulus

This adult drama features rapid scene cuts, intense suspenseful music, complex dialogue, and dark themes — completely inappropriate and overstimulating for infants and toddlers.

Stimulus rating reflects pacing, visual complexity, and sensory intensity — factors associated with attention development in children under 3. Learn more

Age suitability

Under 6

Not yet

Ages 6–8

Not recommended

Ages 9–12

Not recommended

Ages 13+

Not recommended

Where to watch

🎬 Find on Amazon

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Parents also checked

Ratings based on MPAA/TV classification and TMDB metadata. Updated March 2026.
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