Family Guy
Family Guy
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Family Guy

"Don't die laughing. We could get sued."

7.4
Yr 1999
Status Returning Series
Animation Comedy
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Sick, twisted, politically incorrect and Freakin' Sweet animated series featuring the adventures of the dysfunctional Griffin family. Bumbling Peter and long-suffering Lois have three kids. Stewie (a brilliant but sadistic baby bent on killing his mother and taking over the world), Meg (the oldest, and is the most unpopular girl in town) and Chris (the middle kid, he's not very bright but has a passion for movies). The final member of the family is Brian - a talking dog and much more than a pet, he keeps Stewie in check whilst sipping Martinis and sorting through his own life issues.

Status

Latest

  • Family Guy Halloween and holiday specials set for Hulu — July 25, 2026 (deadline.com)
  • Kieran Culkin cast in Hulu Halloween special — July 25, 2026 (deadline.com)
Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 68 /100

Critical response to Family Guy highlights a divide between praise for its outrageous comedy and criticism of its derivative nature. Some reviewers embrace Seth MacFarlane's animated creation as one of the funniest adult cartoons on television, celebrating its quirky character dynamics and constant pop-culture cross-references to literature, musicals, and classic TV shows.

While critics note that there is nothing particularly standout about the show's animation style, MacFarlane's voice work as Peter, Stewie, and Brian receives significant praise. On the other hand, skeptics view the humor as inconsistent, describing the series as a frantic farce that can come across as tiresome, sophomoric, or mean-spirited.

“one of the funniest and most entertaining adult cartoons”

“Although there is nothing particularly memorable about the animation, the selection of voices is praiseworthy. MacFarlane is amazing as Peter, baby Stewie, Brian the Dog”

“Family Guy aims to be outrageous, but the frantic farce veers to the tiresome and mean-spirited.”

“very funny; the quirky scenarios and characters can induce giggles or even guffaws in grown-ups”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Spectrum On Demand
US
ITVX
UK
Disney Plus
CA • UK
Show 9 more
ITVX Premium
UK
FXNow
US
Hulu
US
fuboTV
US
Adult Swim
US
FOX One Amazon Channel
US
YouTube TV
US
Sky Go
UK
FOX One
US
Why fans love it

Family Guy has remained a staple of adult animation since its 1999 premiere by pushing the boundaries of social satire. The series focuses on the daily life of the Griffin family in Rhode Island, blending absurd plotlines with a sharp, cynical take on middle-class existence in New England. It frequently employs parody to mock cultural tropes, maintaining a chaotic energy that sets it apart from traditional sitcoms.

The dynamic between the characters provides the show with its consistent edge. Seth MacFarlane and the rest of the ensemble bring life to archetypes like the inept father and the intellectually superior child. The humor relies on unpredictable, politically incorrect scenarios that often veer into the surreal. By balancing domestic dysfunction with bizarre, high-stakes antics from the youngest member of the household, the show stays grounded in its own irreverent world.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 4
Longest run 456 eps
Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
as Peter Griffin / Brian Griffin / Stewie Griffin / Glenn Quagmire (voice)
456 episodes
Alex Borstein
Alex Borstein
as Lois Griffin / Tricia Takanawa / Loretta Brown / Barbara Pewterschmidt (voice)
456 episodes
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis
as Meg Griffin (voice)
449 episodes
Seth Green
Seth Green
as Chris Griffin (voice)
456 episodes
Arif Zahir
Arif Zahir
as Cleveland Brown (voice)
88 episodes
Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton
as Joe Swanson (voice)
215 episodes
Mike Henry
Mike Henry
as Cleveland Brown (voice)
206 episodes
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore
as Jillian Russell (voice)
11 episodes
Show 67 more
Adam Carolla as Death (voice) 10 episodes Butch Hartman as Various (voice) 8 episodes James Woods as James Woods (voice) 8 episodes Kirker Butler as (voice) 9 episodes Julius Sharpe as (voice) 15 episodes Wally Wingert as Principal Sloan (voice) 41 episodes Lisa Wilhoit as Connie D'Amico (voice) 20 episodes Adam West as Adam West (voice) 92 episodes Tara Strong as (voice) 20 episodes Lori Alan as Diane Simmons / Girl (voice) 50 episodes Jeff Bergman as Fred Flintstone (voice) 14 episodes Max Burkholder as Kid (voice) 18 episodes Phil LaMarr as Ollie Williams (voice) 44 episodes Jerry Lambert as (voice) 8 episodes Patrick Stewart as Baby Susie Swanson (Inner Voice) (voice) 14 episodes Debra Wilson as Whoopi Goldberg (voice) 10 episodes Colin Ford as (voice) 11 episodes Lacey Chabert as Meg Griffin (voice) (uncredited) 18 episodes Judy Greer as Various - Mom (voice) 8 episodes Mae Whitman as (voice) 33 episodes Alexandra Breckenridge as (voice) 41 episodes Chris Sheridan as (voice) 16 episodes Nana Visitor as (voice) 12 episodes Patrick Meighan as (voice) 8 episodes Jonathan Morgan Heit as (voice) 13 episodes Mark Hentemann as (voice) 23 episodes Fred Tatasciore as (voice) 32 episodes Nicole Sullivan as (voice) 29 episodes Jon Daly as (voice) 9 episodes Chris Cox as Assistant Worker (voice) 41 episodes Bryan Cranston as Bert (voice) 9 episodes Carlos Alazraqui as Mr. Weed (voice) 23 episodes Christine Lakin as Joyce Kinney (voice) 27 episodes Alec Sulkin as (voice) 60 episodes John G. Brennan as Mort Goldman (voice) 47 episodes Mike Desilets as (voice) 21 episodes Danny Smith as (voice) 58 episodes Gary Janetti as (voice) 15 episodes Ava Acres as Girl (voice) 8 episodes Ralph Garman as (voice) 88 episodes Issac Ryan Brown as Kid (voice) 12 episodes Carrie Fisher as Angela (voice) 25 episodes Rachael MacFarlane as Rioter (voice) 116 episodes Ignacio Serricchio as (voice) 10 episodes Gary Cole as Principal Shepherd (voice) 95 episodes Kevin Michael Richardson as Jerome (voice) 109 episodes Lucas Grabeel as (voice) 24 episodes Christina Milian as Esther (voice) 9 episodes Chris Parnell as Doug (voice) 23 episodes Scott Grimes as Kevin Swanson (voice) 11 episodes Emily Osment as Ruth (voice) 27 episodes John Viener as Announcer (voice) 105 episodes Dee Bradley Baker as (voice) 31 episodes Damien Fahey as (voice) 47 episodes Steve Callaghan as (voice) 46 episodes H. Jon Benjamin as Carl (voice) 25 episodes Josh Robert Thompson as (voice) 46 episodes Sam Elliott as Wild Wild West (voice) 27 episodes Chris Regan as (voice) 13 episodes Martha MacIsaac as Patty (voice) 13 episodes Artie Johann as (voice) 10 episodes Sanaa Lathan as Donna Tubbs (voice) 34 episodes Jay Pharoah as Brick Baker (voice) 20 episodes Travis Bowe as (voice) 34 episodes Jennifer Tilly as Bonnie Swanson (voice) 91 episodes Peter Macon as Preston Lloyd (voice) 9 episodes Allison Munn as (voice) 10 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Family Guy overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

rhode island middle class satire parody dysfunctional family adult humor social satire boy genius new england adult animation
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
January 31, 1999
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
5,068