Raunchy but sweet animated comedy has sex jokes galore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Sex, Romance & Nudity
a lot
Very frank and nearly constant sexual talk and images from middle school and high school characters, who discuss body parts, different types of sex, different expressions of sexuality, masturbation, and various aspects of puberty. Scenes variously imagine sex-obsessed scenarios like a passel of giant basketball-playing penises, and a boy swimming with his own sperm. Expect plenty of cartoon nudity, kissing, sex, and sexual language, as well as a surprisingly realistic look at puberty and sexual development. You can also expect off-the-wall subplots like a character who's having an "affair" with anthropomorphized pillows...of both genders (which turns into a surprisingly thoughtful look at bisexuality).
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Cursing and strong language is frequent: "f--k," "f---ing," "s--t," "bulls--t," "p---y," "c--ts," "ass," "damn," "hell," "jerk off," "sucks," "d--ks," "balls," "jizz"; characters tell each other to "shut up" or "shut your face," and refer to masturbation, menstruation, oral sex, and other sex acts in very graphic terms.
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Cartoonish and mostly mild/jokey: two friends push each other when one is upset; a boy discusses "curbing" (making a rival bite a curb and then stomping on his face).
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Some drug references in jokes, like when a character refers to a friend who died of a heroin overdose. One adult asks others to go out for drinks. In season 3, a subplot concerns a big standardized test that students take illicit Adderall for.
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The characters in this frank comedy are primarily preoccupied with puberty, sex, and getting older -- they discuss topics like what an "official" kiss is (resolved: it involves tongue), what sex is and isn't, why some penises are bigger than others. It's very frank, but also realistic -- and a surprising amount of correct information and empathetic reassurance is given out.
Positive Role Models
some
Many characters appear to be stereotypes -- a sassy smart girl, a boy with stereotypical gay mannerisms and intonation, a clumsy teacher -- but are soon revealed to be relatable and valued (even if frequently mocked). Still, it takes some perspective to understand that gags involving words like "fairy" or a mother wanting to be pregnant with her son again aren't just dirty jokes -- there's usually a prejudice-skewering point to them. As the first season moves on, and in later seasons, female puberty and sexuality is given almost equal representation with teen male sexuality, with a "hormone monstress" to join Andrew and Nick's "hormone monster." Parents are present, even if one set says things like "shut your face" and another set overshares graphically and has a vivid sex life that makes their children uncomfortable. Most characters on the show are heterosexual, but in later seasons, a gay character gets a more prominent role and has his first relationship, characters come out as bi- and pansexual, and parents divorce after the mother begins having an affair with another woman. As the show progresses, characters also grow in maturity, with concerns branching out from puberty and sex to other aspects of adult life, including emotional ones.
Diverse Representations
some
In its earlier seasons the show is less diverse -- the main characters are primarily White (the exception is Missy, who's Black and Jewish), as are the creators and voice actors. It does depict the experiences of both boys and girls. As the show goes on, new characters are introduced who add racial diversity (more Black characters, an Asian American girl, e.g.). In 2020 original Missy voice actor Jenny Slate stepped away from the show so that a Black actor (Ayo Edebiri) could voice the role. There are also more varied sexualities and genders explored as the series evolves and matures along with its characters.
Parents need to know that Big Mouth is an animated comedy series that focuses on a group of teens who are obsessed with sex. They talk constantly about bodies, body parts, different types of sex, masturbation, orgasms, and many other sex-related topics. Expect cartoon nudity -- including male full-frontal -- kissing, and sex, as well as a realistic and sympathetic look at sexual development. There's frequent cursing and language, too, with plenty of sexual words: "f--k," "s--t," "p---y," "c--t," "ass," "damn," "hell," "jerk off," "sucks," "d--ks," "balls," and "jizz." Characters tell each other to "shut up" and engage in mild fights where they push each other. A set of married parents overshares graphically, talking about their own sex life, sexual history, and desires in a way that embarrasses their son deeply. Some jokes talk about drugs and alcohol: A character refers to a friend who died of a heroin overdose. While this show is about young teens, it's pretty mature and pretty raunchy -- older teens who are post-puberty may be a better audience, or parents may want to watch first and make sure the material is appropriate. In later seasons of the show, characters stay sex-obsessed -- with episodes revolving around sex toys, sexual identity, masturbation, and other sexual topics -- but also tackle other aspects of adulthood: depression, the perils of social media, and the stress of trying to live up to one's obligations and the expectations of others.
This show is officially rated 17+. This is for legal reasons. I'm very convinced that it is a healthy and great show for any kid who has hit puberty and does not live a completely sheltered life (some 11 year olds are not ready for it yet, but some are &that's why I recommended 11). If you are a die-hard religious nut then avoid this at all costs, but otherwise this show will bring you back to remembering your middle school years, and I firmly believe it's a healthy show for anybody who is and/or has gone through this. Please note that there is little or no "actual sex" between the characters (animated) on this show (contrary to what other reviews will lead you to believe), however, just like most young teenagers are always thinking about, the shows is loaded with "sexual situations", and/or "wishful thinking!". It brushes on drug use (and how things never actually turn out good in the end), takes many situations way out of proportion (as most teens do), and it's a cartoon so they go places (figuratively) that are beyond reality. If you start watching in the middle, you will likely be shell shocked at the intensity of the show and the situations they cover, but if you start from the beginning (season 1 episode 1) then it will all fall into place and make sense. If your kid is going to middle school and/or has started puberty and/or has an older sibling/friends (neighborhood kids) then this show will make allot of sense to them, and is a healthy way to learn about the things that rarely get discussed between kids and adults. Also, keep in mind there's alot of detailed nudity as well as explicit language in the show. The nudity is half educational, half comedic, and all within a realm of reality, and the language is likely not any more than tweens/teens hear or use when not in front of adults anyway. My 11 year old daughter has been binging it since we found it and loves it, and she said she definitely relates to it with what she goes through in school. My son (now 15) enjoyed watching too.
This show is super graphic and full of raunchy jokes. It’s entertaining but definitely not for all audiences. Even adults might fine it a little much. Also, the kids are supposed to be in 7/8th grade!? Would make more sense of they were supposed to be in high school or college!
What's the Story?
Everybody goes through puberty. But there's never been an animated comedy specifically about it before. BIG MOUTH takes a deep dive into sex in the teenage years, complete with disobedient body parts, confusing instruction from adults, and highly disorienting messages from hormones -- who, in this show, takes the form of a giant, pushy Hormone Monster (voiced by co-creator, executive producer, and star Nick Kroll) who gives really bad advice to best friends Nick (Kroll) and Andrew (John Mulaney). Romantic complications soon ensue between Nick, Andrew, and classmates Missy (Jenny Slater) and Jessi (Jessi Klein) as they all slowly grope their way to adulthood. It's good that Nick and Andrew have each other -- because they'd be totally lost otherwise.
This animated comedy gets some important things right: Sex can be scary, other people are complicated, and there are a lot of laughs to be mined from growing up. That it's a bit too raunchy and frank to allow parents to be comfortable showing it to -- or watching it with -- the very teens the show intimately understands is ironic, but these teens could do worse than watching a show that talks frankly about feeling weird about your body, normalizing these complex topics in a surprisingly sweet way. The great thing about Big Mouth is that it has bawdy jokes aplenty, and moments where characters genuinely connect (particularly as seasons move on and the characters mature, both as characters and in their relationships with each other).
You may wince along with Nick when his parents discuss their sexual compatibility in graphic terms, but we've seen scenes like this before. What's rarer, and far better, are moments when characters talk to each other like real, unguarded people. One episode revolves around Nick getting a good look at Andrew's penis, which he views as more impressive than his own. Threatened, he snubs his friend until Andrew begs to know "Why are you being so mean to me? What did I do?" Nick admits exactly what's wrong -- and with the embarrassing confession on the table, all the two good friends can do is laugh at themselves, and each other. "It's embarrassing," says Nick, rueful. "Everything's embarrassing," counters Andrew. It is. But it's a little less so when a show like this makes you feel so normal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about animated comedies like Big Mouth. What kinds of things can an animated series offer viewers that a live-action series can't? Do you think animated comedies rely on more risqué behavior to please their audiences?
How does Big Mouth use humor? Do you find it funny? What makes sensitive topics, such as sex or love, ripe for comedy? Can it ever go too far?
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
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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.
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
