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Adventure Time

Adventure Time

They’re not righteous, they’re wrongteous!

2010–2018Ended11 seasons289 episodes~23 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

Young Finn and his shape-shifting dog buddy, Jake, go on a series of surreal adventures as they journey through the postapocalyptic Land of Ooo.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Adventure Time?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Adventure Time streaming on HBO Max and Hulu and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Highlights

What stands out about Adventure Time?

Adventure Time earns 9 badges, led by Modern classic and Top 5% of shows.

Show 1 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is Adventure Time worth watching?

Adventure Time's Midcredits score is the 98th percentile of all shows, from 141K ratings across 2 sources. 91% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

98th percentile

Better received than 98% of shows

98th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)98th
Approval (how many liked it)95th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

86 /100

98th percentile of all shows

98th percentile among Animation98th percentile among 2010s

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 2010s
91% rated it 7–109% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

137K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Animation99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 31% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Adventure Time is a bizarre, surreal show that starts silly and later explores darker, more complex themes.

Fans praised

  • surprisingly mature and deep themes beneath silly surface
  • complex character development and tragic backstories (Ice King, Marceline, PB)
  • imaginative world-building and rich lore in the Land of Ooo

Detractors panned

  • pointless randomness and juvenile humor
  • inconsistent quality with many boring or filler episodes
  • ugly simplistic animation and unlikable characters

What stands out

OriginalityDivisive90

wildly inventive and breaks cartoon conventions

CharactersDivisive88

deeply developed with tragic backstories and arcs

AtmosphereDivisive85

immersive post-apocalyptic fantasy world

Emotional impactDivisive82

surprisingly poignant moments on grief and loss

DialogueDivisive72

clever, witty one-liners and adult humor

HumorDivisive70

surreal and often absurd, with adult undertones

Plot and storyDivisive65

inconsistent early episodes, later seasons build cohesive lore

PacingDivisive55

early seasons meander, later seasons improve but have filler

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Users

Users scored it 19 points higher than critics.

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

  • Women vs men even
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 4 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

10 seasons

Season 10 · 2017 · 13 episodes · 7.3 average across 13 rated episodes

  • S10E1

    The Wild Hunt

    Sep 17, 201711 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S10E2

    Always BMO Closing

    Sep 17, 201711 minTMDB rating 6.9
  • S10E3

    Son of Rap Bear

    Sep 17, 201711 minTMDB rating 6.2
  • S10E4

    Bonnibel Bubblegum

    Sep 17, 201711 minTMDB rating 8.2Season best
  • S10E5

    Seventeen

    Dec 17, 201711 minTMDB rating 7.6
  • S10E6

    Ring of Fire

    Dec 17, 201711 minTMDB rating 6.6

Watch experience

What is Adventure Time like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulAbsurdMelancholicContemplative
Heaviest: late
Absurdist humor: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.
Register
PlayfulAbsurdist · 6% of shows: Deliberately illogical; embraces nonsense.Warm
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 with an irreverent, playful tone that never undercuts genuine emotion, balancing absurd humor with heartfelt sincerity.
The rideThe series is predominantly lighthearted and silly, but later seasons increasingly explore bittersweet and emotional themes, with the finale hitting a poignant note.
StructureMost episodes follow a standard three-act structure within the 11-minute runtime, with a setup, conflict, and resolution.
Episode formatMost episodes are a self-contained adventure (the 'case'), but the show gradually builds serialized arcs around Finn's maturity, relationship changes, and the history of Ooo.
Season formatEach season has its own thematic focus and storylines (e.g., Finn getting a crush, the Ice King's origin, the Lich threat), with the core cast persisting throughout.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves you entertained by its whimsy, but also uplifted by its heartfelt portrayal of friendship and growth.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet 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).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · 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% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% (this title) · 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%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

6% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode follows Finn and Jake on a surreal expedition into the unknown reaches of Ooo, often with a mission to save someone or retrieve something.

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 showsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% (this title) · 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%: Community 25% (this title) · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · 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%

Bonds

FriendshipComing of age · 9% of showsCommunity: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe series is fundamentally about Finn and Jake's unwavering friendship, set against Finn's journey from boyhood to young adulthood within the weird, supportive community of Ooo.
StanceThe show celebrates friendship and community, presenting them as the ultimate source of meaning and strength even in a weird and broken world.

The world

Far futureWildernessDomesticRuralFantasy
Orchestral modernFolkElectronicSupportive music · original score · Tim Kiefer
Settingthe post-apocalyptic Land of Ooo, a whimsical medieval-fantasy wilderness
MusicThe score mixes orchestral themes with quirky electronic and folk elements, and many episodes feature original songs that go from silly to deeply heartfelt.

Content guide

Is Adventure Time okay for kids?

TV-PG

Adventure Time is rated TV-PG. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (53/100), sexual content at mild (30/100), language at mild (24/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (15/100) and frightening material at intense (62/100). Overall it is heavier than 76% of TV-PG shows.

Ratings in 32 other countries
  • UKPG
  • CanadaC8
  • AustraliaPG
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • New ZealandPG
  • South Korea7
  • Brazil10
  • Austria10
  • Belgium9
  • Czechia12+
  • Denmark11
  • Hungary12
  • IndiaU/A 7+
  • ItalyT
  • LTN-7
  • MexicoAA
  • MYU
  • Netherlands6
  • Norway12
  • PhilippinesG
  • Poland12
  • PortugalNR
  • PRTV-PG
  • ROAP
  • Russia12+
  • SingaporePG
  • South Africa13
  • Spain7
  • Switzerland12
  • Türkiye13+
  • VITV-PG
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 34% of all showsHeavier than 76% of TV-PG shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate
heavy for a TV-PG show
heavier than 77%
Sex & Nudity
Mild · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 52%
Profanity
Mild
typical for a TV-PG show
heavier than 35%
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
light for a TV-PG show
heavier than 24%
Frightening / Intense
Intense
heavy for a TV-PG show
heavier than 85%

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

The reason to think twice is 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 Adventure Time have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Adventure Time?

Cast

At least 2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; 1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor; Pendleton Ward won the Emmy for this show.

John DiMaggio
as Jake
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Jeremy Shada
as Finn
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Tom Kenny
as Ice King
Established: A standing when this show came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Hynden Walch
as Princess Bubblegum
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Niki Yang
as BMO
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Pendleton Ward
as Lumpy Space Princess
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Short Form Animated Program
Dee Bradley Baker
as Cinnamon Bun
Maria Bamford
as Additional Voices
Steve Little
as Peppermint Butler
Olivia Olson
as Marceline
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

More like this

What are shows like Adventure Time?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Adventure Time include The Ren & Stimpy Show (1991), The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (2008) and Johnny Test (2005).

Like this, but

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What other shows share a tag with Adventure Time?

123 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: post apocalyptic. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.