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South Park

South Park

Four boys. One f**ked-up town.

1997–Ongoing20 seasons339 episodes~22 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

Follow the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch South Park?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists South Park streaming on Paramount+ and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Rent / Buy

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Highlights

What stands out about South Park?

South Park earns 13 badges, led by Stood the test of time and Top 5% of shows.

Show 5 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Content
  • Cast

Reception

Is South Park worth watching?

South Park's Midcredits score is the 96th percentile of all shows, from 475K ratings across 5 sources. 91% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

96th percentile

Better received than 96% of shows

97th percentile among Animation94th percentile among 1990s
Acclaim (how much people like it)94th
Approval (how many liked it)95th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

83 /100

94th percentile of all shows

95th percentile among Animation91st percentile among 1990s

Critics 64 · Audience 84

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

91% liked it

95th percentile of all shows

97th percentile among Animation94th percentile among 1990s
91% rated it 7–109% rated it 1–6

Critics 80% · Audience 83%

On Rotten Tomatoes, critics and audiences approve at similar rates.

Reach

How many have seen it

98th percentile

472K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 1990s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 472% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a satirical animated comedy that aggressively skewers everyone and everything.

Fans praised

  • biting satire that spares no target across politics and pop culture
  • bold, no-holds-barred approach to taboo subjects with underlying intelligence
  • quick turnaround allows timely commentary on current events

Detractors panned

  • recent seasons feel like repetitive one-sided political rants
  • over-reliance on Trump jokes has drained the humor

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive85

unique format and fearless boundary-pushing

HumorDivisive80

crude, offensive but often brilliantly funny satire

CharactersDivisive80

memorable, iconic characters like Cartman and Butters

Plot and storyDivisive75

inventive, cohesive stories that weave real-world issues into absurd scenarios

DialogueDivisive75

witty, quotable, and sharp

Atmosphere70

absurd, surreal small-town world-building

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Men

Men scored it 30 points higher than women.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Under-30s vs over-30s 6 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

29 seasons

Season 29 · 2026 · 6 episodes · 7.0 average across 3 rated episodes

  • S29E1

    South American Biker Gangs

    Sep 16, 202622 minTMDB rating 6.6
  • S29E2

    Billionaire Weenietown

    Sep 30, 202622 minTMDB rating 6.8
  • S29E3

    You Like That On Your Face

    Oct 14, 202622 minTMDB rating 7.5Season best
  • S29E4
    S29E4

    Episode 4

    Airs Oct 28, 2026Upcoming
  • S29E5
    S29E5

    Episode 5

    Airs Nov 11, 2026Upcoming
  • S29E6
    S29E6

    Episode 6

    Airs Nov 25, 2026UpcomingFinale

Watch experience

What is South Park like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Ironic, serious and intense — a relentless watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
AbsurdTenseCathartic
Heaviest: throughout
Satirical humor
Register
Satirical · 5% of showsIrreverent · 2% of showsAbsurdist · 6% of shows: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show holds its material at a knowing, ironic distance, using cartoon absurdity to satirize everything from current events to social taboos.
The rideThe series swings wildly between absurd comedy, tense social commentary, and cathartic release, maintaining a high intensity and volatility across its entire run.
StructureEpisodes follow a standard three-act structure with setup, escalation, and resolution.
Episode formatEach episode typically presents a self-contained satirical premise (the 'case'), but later seasons often weave ongoing character arcs and season-long storylines (e.g., Tegridy Farms, the Member Berries).
Season formatWhile the series is continuous, many seasons feature a dominant overarching plot or theme that gives the season its own distinct arc, such as the 'Black Friday' trilogy or the 'Tegridy Farms' era.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves you entertained by the absurdity while still chewing over the show's satirical commentary.
How it ends · evidence
Cyclical ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterInvasion
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% (this title) · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Invasion: An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach typical episode follows the boys facing an absurd external threat or problematic force that invades their town, which they must overcome.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10% (this title): Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% (this title) · Prejudice 2% (this title) · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Society

CommunityPrejudice · 2% of showsIsolation · 3% of shows
Satirizes its theme: Attacks its theme through ridicule.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe show centers on the bonds and conflicts within the small town community of South Park, while constantly interrogating prejudice (racism, homophobia, class bias) and the isolation that comes from being an outsider.
StanceThe show takes a satirical stance toward its primary theme of community, using its ensemble of characters to skewer social norms and hypocrisy.

The world

ContemporarySuburbanRuralInstitutionalStylized realism
Orchestral classicalFolkExperimentalSupportive music · original score · Primus
SettingThe small, quirky mountain town of South Park, Colorado, with its elementary school, local businesses, and surrounding wilderness.
MusicThe theme song is performed by the band Primus, and the score often features classical and folk elements.

Content guide

Is South Park okay for kids?

TV-MA

South Park is rated TV-MA. As of October 5, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (86/100), sexual content at severe (86/100), language at severe (92/100), drug and alcohol content at severe (84/100) and frightening material at intense (76/100). Overall it is heavier than 97% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 42 other countries
  • UK18
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France16
  • Ireland18
  • New Zealand16
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil18
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Austria16
  • Belgium14
  • BG18
  • CLI12
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • Greece16
  • Hungary18
  • IDD
  • IndiaA
  • ItalyVM14
  • LU16
  • MexicoC
  • MY18
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway18
  • PhilippinesSPG
  • Poland16
  • Portugal12
  • PRTV-MA
  • RO15
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • South Africa18
  • Spain18
  • Sweden15
  • Switzerland16
  • Taiwan18+
  • THน 18+
  • Türkiye18+
  • UA16+
  • VITV-MA
Overall
Severe · all five categories
Heavier than 98% of all showsHeavier than 97% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 81%
Sex & Nudity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 97%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 95%
Alcohol & Drugs
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 89%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 77%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Heavy almost across the board: language, violence, sexual content, drug and alcohol content, and frightening material.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does South Park have?

MovieCove's classifier found 14 depicted content warnings in South Park: Gun violence (severe), Addiction or relapse (moderate), Animal cruelty (moderate), Animal death (moderate), Child abuse (moderate), Death of a child (moderate), Sexual harassment or grooming (moderate), Torture (moderate), Domestic violence (mild), Hate-motivated violence (mild), plus 4 withheld here because they would spoil the plot. 2 more are mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory: Drug overdose, plus 1 behind the spoiler gate. Each is backed by a verbatim quote from the parents' guide notes; a missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereGun violence
ModerateAddiction or relapseAnimal crueltyAnimal deathChild abuseDeath of a childSexual harassment or groomingTorture
MildDomestic violenceHate-motivated violence
MentionedDrug overdose

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in South Park?

Cast

At least 3 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 4 award-winning performances in the cast.

Trey Parker
as Stan Marsh
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Animated ProgramTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Matt Stone
as Kyle Broflovski
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
newcomer then · star now
Mona Marshall
as Sheila Broflovski
April Stewart
as Sharon Marsh
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Isaac Hayes
as Chef
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Adrien Beard
as Token Black
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Animated Program
Eliza Schneider
as Liane Cartman
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jennifer Howell
as Bebe Stevens
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming Less Than One Hour)
Jessica Makinson
as Heidi Turner
Mary Kay Bergman
as Liane Cartman
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.

More like this

What are shows like South Park?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like South Park include Big Mouth (2017), The Life & Times of Tim (2008) and Robot Chicken (2005).

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What other shows share a tag with South Park?

474 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: dark comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.