American Ninja Warrior

Follow competitors as they tackle a series of challenging obstacle courses in both city qualifying and city finals rounds across the country. Those that successfully complete the finals course in their designated region move on to the national finals round in Las Vegas, where they face a stunning four-stage course modeled after the famed Mt. Midoriyama course in Japan. The winner will take home a grand prize of $1 million.

American Ninja Warrior (2009-present) is a United States reality sports competition created for NBC and G4 that has run for eighteen seasons. Hosts Matt Iseman and Akbar Gbaja-Biamila narrate ordinary athletes as they attempt timed runs over escalating obstacle courses, with competitors such as Jessie Graff, Kacy Catanzaro and Zuri Hall returning across seasons as recognizable faces. Each episode is built from city qualifying rounds and city finals, where a competitor who clears the final course in their region advances toward the national finals in Las Vegas. There, a four-stage course modeled on the Japanese Mt. Midoriyama course tests grip, balance, and nerve before a grand prize of $1 million is on the line. The tone is brisk and buoyant, with heavy emphasis on the sweat, suspense, and crowd reactions that accompany each attempt. Its structure is a season-long funnel of elimination rounds rather than a scripted story, so viewers follow individual athletes through successive heats. Fans of Wipeout and The Titan Games will find a similar appetite for physical spectacle, while the Japanese source course adds a tradition of athletic endurance television. Presented as a family-friendly sports competition, it rewards casual watching as much as dedicated fandom.

Audiences rate American Ninja Warrior as mixed, with its athletic obstacle courses and inspiring competitors praised while uneven season quality draws criticism.

• Wipeoutcompetition format with physical obstacle courses and athletic endurance, reality competition
• The Titan Gamesreality competition built on physical challenge courses and national finals
• Survivorlive athletic competition spectacle with a large prize and tough course stages

Release Date

2009-12-12

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

6.8 / 10 (76)

What is American Ninja Warrior about?

Athletes race across escalating obstacle courses in city qualifiers and a Las Vegas national finals for a $1 million prize.

What is American Ninja Warrior like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Ninja Warrior as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as simple.

Is American Ninja Warrior violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in American Ninja Warrior.

What did critics think of American Ninja Warrior?

Audiences rate American Ninja Warrior as mixed, with its athletic obstacle courses and inspiring competitors praised while uneven season quality draws criticism.

Which shows are like American Ninja Warrior?

Shows with a similar feel include Wipeout, The Titan Games, and Survivor.

How long is American Ninja Warrior?

American Ninja Warrior: 18 seasons, 267 episodes.

Is American Ninja Warrior still running?

Yes, American Ninja Warrior is still running.

Where can I watch American Ninja Warrior?

In United States, American Ninja Warrior streams on fuboTV, Peacock Premium, NBC, Peacock Premium Plus, Wonder Project Amazon Channel.