The Rifleman (1958) Parents Guide: Is the series OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
The Rifleman is an American Western television program starring Chuck Connors as rancher Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show was filmed in black-and-white, half-hour episodes. "The Rifleman" aired on ABC from September 30, 1958 to April 8, 1963 as a production of Four Star Television. It was one of the first prime time series to have a widowed parent raise a child.
TV-PG • 1958 • 5 seasons
Lucas McCain is an ex-soldier who loses his wife after the birth of one son, Mark. Lucas and Mark move to North Fork and attempt to make a living as farmers. However, outlaws and criminals ride into North Fork regularly, and Lucas' past comes back to haunt...
Cast
Is The Rifleman appropriate for kids?
Lucas McCain is an ex-soldier who loses his wife after the birth of one son, Mark. Lucas and Mark move to North Fork and attempt to make a living as farmers. However, outlaws and criminals ride into North Fork regularly, and Lucas' past comes back to haunt... Read more — free account
Content severity in The Rifleman Sign up for season-by-season breakdown
Sex and nudity in The Rifleman
No explicit sexual content or nudity. Occasional mild romance or courtship references may appear.
Violence and gore in The Rifleman
Frequent western peril with guns, threats, fistfights, chases, injuries, and law-and-order conflict. Violence is dated and generally non-graphic.
Language in The Rifleman
No strong language; mild insults, threats, and tense frontier dialogue may occur.
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Rifleman
Alcohol may appear in saloon or adult settings, but substance use is not usually central to the story.
Mature themes in The Rifleman
Moderate themes of justice, revenge, grief, prejudice, frontier hardship, family loyalty, responsibility, and resolving conflict.
Scary moments in The Rifleman
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Rifleman yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Rifleman appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Rifleman is best for ages 10+. It's rated TV-PG. Lucas McCain is an ex-soldier who loses his wife after the birth of one son, Mark. Lucas and Mark move to North Fork and attempt to make a living as farmers. However, outlaws and criminals ride into North Fork…
What age rating does The Rifleman have?
The Rifleman is rated TV-PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Rifleman about?
Lucas McCain is an ex-soldier who loses his wife after the birth of one son, Mark. Lucas and Mark move to North Fork and attempt to make a living as farmers. However, outlaws and criminals ride into North Fork regularly, and Lucas' past comes back to haunt...
How many seasons does The Rifleman have?
The Rifleman has 5 seasons covered in this parent guide. Sign up to see a season-by-season breakdown.
Is there sex or nudity in The Rifleman?
Our reviewers didn't note meaningful sexual content across The Rifleman.
How violent is The Rifleman?
Violence isn't a standout concern across The Rifleman per our reviewers.
Is the language in The Rifleman appropriate for kids?
Strong language isn't flagged across The Rifleman.
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Rifleman?
Drug, alcohol, and smoking depictions are minimal across The Rifleman.
What mature themes appear in The Rifleman?
Heavy thematic material isn't a defining feature of The Rifleman.
Where can I read the full The Rifleman parent guide?
Create a free Bontent account to unlock season-by-season notes, filter by your kids' ages, and save titles to your watchlist.
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