Hostage Parental Guide: Is the Netflix series suitable for kids?

Netflix's Hostage is one of the most politically charged thrillers of 2025. But if you were planning to watch it with your family, you may want to think again! Matt Charman's five-episode series (featuring Suranne Jones as British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton) immediately throws us into a crisis.

Every episode is packed with power struggles, paranoia, and suspense. The PM's husband is taken hostage, and a visiting French president is targeted.

Parents should be mindful of the series' TV-MA rating, though it's an excellent pick for fans of spy dramas like The Night Manager. Remember: this isn't a popcorn thriller for younger audiences, as ratings place it at 16+ in many countries.

Let's go over the entire thing in detail so you can decide whether this is something you should put off until after the kids have gone to bed!

There's violence in Netflix's Hostage

Hostage's suspense and political charge bring more than jump scares or gore. Assassinations, kidnappings, and planned military actions aren't glossed over. The violence and gore have been rated as moderate but realistic by IMDb users. So expect gunfire, kidnappings, and occasional bloody injuries.

Hostage's setting is just as potent.

With cabinet mutinies, states of emergency, and diplomatic stand-offs, the feeling of danger could be exhausting for some younger viewers.

Four out of five IMDb users agree that the show is mentally heavy, and the heated/scary scenes are also rated as moderate. This might not be the best choice for your teen if they get upset easily or frustrated by drama.

Language and mature themes

Characters often resort to profanity when things get heated, which is why this content has a moderate rating. While there are cheating, scandals, and moral sacrifices, the show's s*x and nudity category is listed as mild, unlike some Netflix dramas.

Again, it's nothing extreme. But the scenes with alcohol and smoking add to its authenticity. The series is more relevant to adults than teenagers due to its mature content and tension, which is the reason for its TV-MA rating.

Parents’ verdict

Hostage is an interesting thriller for adults, but not for kids or tweens, with a plot that develops just as quickly as its politics. Netflix's own warning that this isn't suitable for younger audiences lines up with its international age ratings, which are TV-MA in the US, NC16 in Singapore, and 16+ in Turkey.

Because there is no graphic s*x or gore, viewers who are 16 or older may find it acceptable, but younger impressionable viewers are advised to avoid it.

In other words, this isn't the same kind of rush if your family is into Stranger Things. With its tight plot and subtle performances (Suranne Jones and Lucian Msamati stand out), the show is a fully-realized adult political drama.

Watch Hostage on Netflix.

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