Shark Tank – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Shark Tank

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2009

74%

WISE Score

Aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to wealthy investors who decide whether to fund their dreams or crush them on national TV.

Shark Tank

show

TV-PG, 2009

74%

WISE Score

Aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to wealthy investors who decide whether to fund their dreams or crush them on national TV.

Jump to

Also rated on

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Shark Tank is one of those rare shows that's actually educational without being preachy or boring. Your teen will learn more about business, negotiation, and financial literacy from a few episodes than from most high school economics classes.

That said, it's not perfect. The Sharks can be brutal (Kevin O'Leary literally calls himself 'Mr. Wonderful' while destroying people's dreams), and the show definitely pushes a very capitalist, hustle-focused worldview. After you've seen a few seasons, the formula gets old—another kitchen gadget, another sob story, another 'I'm out.'

But for families interested in entrepreneurship or financial literacy, this is solid co-viewing material that actually sparks good conversations about money, risk, and what makes a viable business. Just don't let your 10-year-old think they need to start a company tomorrow.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13+ who have the maturity to understand business concepts and handle competitive rejection. Younger kids will be bored by the financial talk, while teens and adults can genuinely learn practical skills. This isn't just kid content—plenty of adults watch for the business education and entertainment.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models entrepreneurship, negotiation, and business thinking. While competitive, the tone is generally respectful and professional. Entrepreneurs share personal stories of perseverance. However, the rejection and sometimes harsh feedback can be emotionally intense, and the show's capitalist-driven framework may not model cooperation or kindness as primary values. The pacing is engaging but can be repetitive across episodes.

Imaginative

Showcases creative problem-solving and innovative product ideas, which can inspire entrepreneurial thinking. However, it's a reality competition format that doesn't invite direct creative participation or exploration. The show presents business concepts but doesn't deeply encourage viewers to build or create themselves—it's more observational than participatory.

Safe

Very safe content with no violence, gore, sexual content, or trigger warnings. Common Sense Media rates it 13+, likely due to business concepts and competitive tension rather than inappropriate content. The main safety consideration is emotional intensity when entrepreneurs are rejected or deals fall through, but this is predictable and not shocking. No surprise harmful content.

Enriching

Strong educational value around business fundamentals, valuation, equity, negotiation, and pitch skills. Viewers learn real-world financial literacy and entrepreneurial concepts. The show provides insight into how businesses work and what investors look for. However, entertainment value can be formulaic after many episodes, and it primarily teaches business skills rather than broader life lessons or empathy development.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuine educational value for financial literacy, valuation, equity, and business fundamentals that teens rarely get in school
Showcases diverse entrepreneurs with inspiring personal stories of perseverance and problem-solving
Models professional negotiation skills and critical thinking about business viability
Can spark conversations about money, risk, investment, and what makes a good business idea
Actually entertaining enough that teens will watch it voluntarily, unlike most educational content

⚠

What to Watch For

Rejection and criticism can be harsh—some Sharks are blunt to the point of being mean, which might sting for sensitive viewers
The show glorifies hustle culture and capitalism without much nuance about work-life balance or ethical business practices
After a few seasons, the format becomes extremely predictable and repetitive—how many kitchen gadgets can one family watch?
May inspire unrealistic expectations about entrepreneurship or make kids think they need to be business moguls to be successful

Conversation Starters

"If you had $10,000 to invest in one of those businesses, which would you pick and why?"
"That entrepreneur got pretty emotional when they were rejected. How do you think they felt, and how would you handle that kind of criticism?"
"Do you think the Sharks were fair in their valuation? What would you have offered?"
"If you could pitch a business idea to the Sharks, what problem would you try to solve?"
"Which Shark would you want as a business partner and why? Who seems the toughest to work with?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic