# Common Sense Media API

> Common Sense Media returns age ratings and parents’ guides, available as a workflow and API.

Common Sense Media returns age ratings and parents’ guides for movies, shows, games, books, apps, and podcasts. Get age rating matches a required title, with optional entertainment type and release year.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/common-sense-media
- Handle: `@common-sense-media`
- Category: [Entertainment](https://fous.com/tools/category/entertainment)
- Source website: https://commonsensemedia.org
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Get age rating

Operation `get_age_rating`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Get a Common Sense Media age rating and parents’ guide for a movie, TV show, game, book, app or podcast by title. Unrated content categories and unavailable community age suggestions are returned as null.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `type` | string | no | `"movie"` | Kind of entertainment to match, for example movie; defaults to any. |
| `year` | integer | no | `2015` | Release year to distinguish titles, for example 2024. |
| `title` | string | yes | `"Inside Out 2"` | Name of the movie, show, game, book, app or podcast, for example Inside Out 2. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "title"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "type": {
      "enum": [
        "any",
        "movie",
        "tv",
        "game",
        "book",
        "app",
        "podcast"
      ],
      "type": "string",
      "default": "any",
      "description": "Kind of entertainment to match, for example movie; defaults to any.",
      "examples": [
        "movie",
        "tv",
        "podcast"
      ]
    },
    "year": {
      "type": "integer",
      "maximum": 2100,
      "minimum": 1900,
      "description": "Release year to distinguish titles, for example 2024.",
      "examples": [
        2015
      ]
    },
    "title": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Name of the movie, show, game, book, app or podcast, for example Inside Out 2.",
      "examples": [
        "Inside Out 2",
        "Cinderella",
        "Bluey"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "title": "Inside Out 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "movie",
      "year": 2015,
      "title": "Cinderella"
    },
    {
      "type": "tv",
      "title": "Bluey"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `type` | string | `"movie"` |  |
| `year` | integer or null | `2024` |  |
| `title` | string | `"Inside Out 2"` |  |
| `content` | array |  |  |
| `content[].note` | string or null | `"\"Have courage and be kind\" and \"Just because it's what's done doesn't mean it's what should be done\" are echoed in ` |  |
| `content[].level` | integer or null | `5` |  |
| `content[].category` | string | `"Positive Messages"` |  |
| `verdict` | string or null | `"Growing up is emotional in thoughtful sequel; some peril."` |  |
| `review_link` | string | `"https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/inside-out-2"` |  |
| `quality_rating` | number or null | `4` | Stars out of 5. |
| `recommended_age` | string or null | `"6+"` |  |
| `kids_suggested_age` | string or null | `"7+"` |  |
| `parents_need_to_know` | string or null |  |  |
| `parents_suggested_age` | string or null | `"7+"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "title": "Inside Out 2"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "type": "movie",
  "year": 2024,
  "title": "Inside Out 2",
  "content": [
    {
      "note": "We all have many emotions, and they're all essential to establishing our sense of self. Growing up is often messy and complicated, but it's also beautiful and rewarding. Loving someone unconditionally…",
      "level": 5,
      "category": "Positive Messages"
    },
    {
      "note": "Joy is still determined, positive, and focused on Riley's happiness (and she's better now at appreciating the role/value of the other emotions), and she also shows vulnerability by admitting to being …",
      "level": 4,
      "category": "Role Models"
    },
    {
      "note": "Scenes of suspense and peril when Joy and the other emotions are caught up in storms/avalanches and chased by authorities and fall from heights. They're also captured and briefly locked up in a dark, …",
      "level": 3,
      "category": "Violence and Scariness"
    }
  ],
  "verdict": "Growing up is emotional in thoughtful sequel; some peril.",
  "review_link": "https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/inside-out-2",
  "quality_rating": 4,
  "recommended_age": "6+",
  "kids_suggested_age": "7+",
  "parents_need_to_know": "Parents need to know that Inside Out 2 , the follow-up to Pixar's beloved 2015 film about the emotions of a girl named Riley (voiced by Kensington Tallman ), deals with the complicated life changes th…",
  "parents_suggested_age": "7+"
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@common-sense-media",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_age_rating",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "title": "Inside Out 2"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@common-sense-media\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"get_age_rating\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"title\": \"Inside Out 2\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@common-sense-media",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "get_age_rating",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "title": "Inside Out 2"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/common-sense-media`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `get_age_rating`: Get age rating. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-common-sense-media https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/common-sense-media --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Check age recommendations before choosing entertainment for children.
- Review content notes for a movie or show.
- Compare parent and child age suggestions for a title.
- Find content ratings for a game, book, app, or podcast.

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Common Sense Media tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Common Sense Media account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from commonsensemedia.org when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What age is a movie recommended for?

Get age rating returns the recommended age and parents’ suggested age for a matching title.

### What content should parents know about a title?

Get age rating returns content notes and categories in the parents’ guide.

### How do I distinguish titles with the same name?

Get age rating accepts an optional release year and entertainment type to help match the title.

## Related

- [IMDb API](https://fous.com/tools/imdb.md): IMDb returns movie, TV, person, episode, chart and Parents Guide details, including available weekly rank changes; missing details are null, and unaired or unrated episodes lack ratings.
- [Metacritic API](https://fous.com/tools/metacritic.md): Metacritic provides critic and user scores for games, movies, TV shows, and albums, plus reviews and title details; some albums may match another release, and rankings may omit user scores or dates.
- [Rotten Tomatoes API](https://fous.com/tools/rotten-tomatoes.md): Rotten Tomatoes returns movie and TV details, scores, newest reviews, and listings for theaters, coming soon, or at home; series rating counts may be unavailable.
- [TMDB API](https://fous.com/tools/tmdb.md): TMDB returns movie and TV details, cast, trailers, releases, viewing services, scheduled upcoming movies, and up to 20 homepage trending titles; future episode details depend on published schedules.
- [Letterboxd API](https://fous.com/tools/letterboxd.md): Letterboxd provides films with ratings, cast, location-dependent watch services and popular reviews, plus popularity-ranked lists by time period, genre and decade; some details may be unavailable.
- [The Numbers API](https://fous.com/tools/the-numbers.md): Movie box office, home video sales, budgets, and release details.
- [Netflix API](https://fous.com/tools/netflix.md): Netflix offers weekly global and country Top 10 rankings, all-time popularity rankings based on titles’ first 91 days, and title details with country availability that may lag.
- [Apple Podcasts API](https://fous.com/tools/apple-podcasts.md): Apple Podcasts returns chart listings, relevant show search results, show details with newest available episodes, and country-specific ratings and reviews; results are capped, and older or subscription episodes may be unavailable.
- [All Entertainment tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/entertainment)