MacGyver (1985)
Kernel Score: 86% · 899 ratings
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Crime
First aired: 1985-09-29
Seasons: 7 · 139 episodes
Where to watch MacGyver
- Stream: Paramount+
- Free with ads: Paramount+
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango At Home
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
He's everyone's favorite action hero... but he's a hero with a difference. Angus MacGyver is a secret agent whose wits are his deadliest weapon. Armed with only a knapsack filled with everyday items he picks up along the way, he improvises his way out of every peril the bad guys throw at him. Making a bomb out of chewing gum? Fixing a speeding car's breaks... while he's riding in it? Using soda pop to cook up tear gas? That's all in a day's adventures for MacGyver. He's part Boy Scout, part genius. And all hero.
MacGyver parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that MacGyver is an action-adventure show about a secret agent who defuses danger with improvised gadgets instead of guns.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Action-adventure peril, chases, and standoffs with bad guys, but the hero relies on non-lethal, non-violent problem-solving.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Shows like MacGyver
If you liked MacGyver, these are the shows we'd watch next.
- Scorpion (2014) — 91%
- The Avengers (1961) — 84%
- Slow Horses (2022) — 89%
- The Count of Monte Cristo (2025) — 86%
- The Night Manager (2016) — 87%
- Spooks (2002) — 85%
- Hawkeye (2021) — 87%
- Watchmen (2019) — 86%
Cast
- Richard Dean Anderson as Angus MacGyver
- Dana Elcar as Pete Thornton
MacGyver FAQ
Is MacGyver good?
MacGyver has an 86% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 899 audience ratings.
Where can I watch MacGyver?
In the US you can stream MacGyver on Paramount+, watch it free with ads on Paramount+ and buy it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.
Is MacGyver OK for kids?
MacGyver is rated TV-PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that MacGyver is an action-adventure show about a secret agent who defuses danger with improvised gadgets instead of guns.
What shows are like MacGyver?
If you liked MacGyver, try Scorpion, The Avengers, Slow Horses and The Count of Monte Cristo.