How I Met Your Mother (2005)
Kernel Score: 90% · 5,581 ratings
Genres: Comedy
First aired: 2005-09-19
Seasons: 9 · 208 episodes
Is How I Met Your Mother worth watching?
Worth watching. A warm, funny sitcom about five friends and a long love story. The early seasons are very good, and the jokes and catchphrases land. It runs too long, and the ending divides fans.
Watch it if you
- like friend-group sitcoms
- want comfort viewing
- enjoy running gags and flashbacks
Skip it if you
- dislike laugh-track sitcoms
- care a lot about satisfying endings
Best for: Comfort binge
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch How I Met Your Mother
- Stream: Hulu, YouTube TV, USA Network
- Buy: Prime Video, Google Play, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A father recounts to his children - through a series of flashbacks - the journey he and his four best friends took leading up to him meeting their mother.
How I Met Your Mother parents' guide: ages 12+
Parents need to know that How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom about friends navigating dating and relationships, with innuendo typical of the genre.
- Sex, romance & nudity: Some — Frequent romantic and dating storylines with sexual innuendo common to adult sitcoms.
- Language: A little — Occasional mild language typical of a TV-14 comedy.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-14 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Shows like How I Met Your Mother
If you liked How I Met Your Mother, these are the shows we'd watch next.
- Friends (1994) — 92%: The classic friend-group sitcom.
- The Office (2005) — 97%: Beloved workplace comedy with big heart.
- That '70s Show (1998) — 90%: Easygoing group of friends in a hangout sitcom.
- Peep Show (2003) — 88%: Sharper, darker British comedy about flatmates.
- Spaced (1999) — 88%: Quirky British comedy about flatmates and friends.
Cast
- Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby
- Neil Patrick Harris as Barney Stinson
- Jason Segel as Marshall Eriksen
- Alyson Hannigan as Lily Aldrin
- Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky
- Cristin Milioti as Tracy McConnell
How I Met Your Mother FAQ
Is How I Met Your Mother worth watching?
Worth watching. A warm, funny sitcom about five friends and a long love story. The early seasons are very good, and the jokes and catchphrases land. It runs too long, and the ending divides fans.
Where can I watch How I Met Your Mother?
In the US you can stream How I Met Your Mother on Hulu, YouTube TV and USA Network and buy it from Prime Video, Google Play and Fandango At Home.
Is How I Met Your Mother OK for kids?
How I Met Your Mother is rated TV-14. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 12+. Parents need to know that How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom about friends navigating dating and relationships, with innuendo typical of the genre.
What shows are like How I Met Your Mother?
If you liked How I Met Your Mother, try Friends, The Office, That '70s Show and Peep Show.