Little Disasters (2025) is a British psychological thriller limited series. It is adapted from Sarah Vaughan’s bestselling novel and produced by Roughcut Television. The six-part series follows four friends and their decade-long friendship —Jess, Liz, Charlotte, and Mel—who met when they were expectant mothers.
Their bond is shattered when Jess (played by Diane Kruger), a seemingly “perfect” stay-at-home mother, rushes her baby daughter to the hospital with a head injury that she cannot fully explain. The drama intensifies because Jess’s close friend, Liz (played by Jo Joyner), happens to be the on-duty A&E (Emergency Room) doctor.
Liz must then make the agonizing decision of whether or not to contact social services, which is her duty as a doctor but a devastating betrayal of her friend. This single phone call sets off a chain of events that ripples through and threatens to destroy not only their families but their entire friendship group as they struggle with the fallout, hidden secrets, and long-held judgments.
The show premiered on Paramount+ in the UK and Ireland on May 22, 2025, and is scheduled to arrive on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, GSA, Italy and Latin America on December 11, 2025.
Little Disasters Age Rating
Little Disasters is rated TV-MA for mature audiences. The TV-MA tag flags content intended for mature audiences, meaning it is unsuitable for viewers under 17. That rating reflects the intense psychological material and adult themes the show explores. It uses adult language, intense psychological drama, and distressing themes tied to child safety and motherhood.
Violence & Peril
Violence is not the show’s primary driver, but peril and medical emergency scenes are central to the plot. The inciting incident is a baby with an unexplained head injury, which leads to tense hospital scenes, investigations by child protection services, and scenes of high emotional threat. Expect distressing, realistic reactions, frantic sequences, and moments designed to unsettle viewers. These scenes are likely intense rather than graphic.
Language
The series contains mature and coarse language in stressful confrontations. Characters under emotional strain use strong profanity at times. Dialogue is written to convey raw adult emotion and moral conflict rather than casual teen chatter. Parents should expect intermittent strong language in scenes of accusation, panic, or argument.
Mature Themes
This is the dominant content area. Little Disasters explores child welfare investigations, accusations of abuse or neglect, postpartum mental health struggles, postpartum OCD and anxiety, marital strain, social judgement, and betrayal among friends. Themes include moral ambiguity, professional duty versus personal loyalty, and the stigma faced by mothers. Smoking or sexual content are not central to the premise; the mature rating arises mainly from the psychological intensity and the child-safety storyline.
Is Little Disasters Suitable for Teens?
Ages 10–12: No. The subject matter involves a baby’s unexplained injury, investigations, and adult moral conflicts. The emotional intensity and scenes in a medical setting are likely very upsetting for preteens.
Ages 13–16: With guidance. Mature teens may follow the plot but could find scenes very distressing. Parents should pre-screen episodes and be ready to discuss postpartum mental health, child protection processes, and the difference between suspicion and proof.
Ages 17+: Probably yes, with context. Older teens can handle mature themes when prepared. This series can open productive conversations about parenting pressure, ethics in healthcare, and how communities judge mothers. However, watch one episode first if your teen is sensitive to child-related distress.
Final recommendation: Little Disasters is best for adults and older teens (17+) after parental preview. The TV-MA rating reflects its emotional intensity and potentially upsetting subject matter.
What Parents Can Do
Preview the show before watching with your teen. Note any scenes you think will be upsetting, especially those involving a child in crisis, and skip or pause as needed.
Prepare a calm discussion: explain the difference between investigation and guilt, and that fictional drama may heighten emotion for storytelling. Use the show to talk about postpartum mental health and how to seek help.
If the series raises distressing feelings, pause and check in. Normalize discussing strong reactions and connect your teen to a trusted adult or professional if worry continues.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Little Disasters?
A: Little Disasters is rated TV-MA for mature audiences due to intense psychological themes, distressing child-safety material, and strong language.
Q: Is Little Disasters appropriate for tweens or young teens?
A: No. The core crisis involves a baby’s injury and the series includes distressing hospital and social services scenes that are unsuitable for younger teens.
Q: Are there violent or scary scenes?
A: The show focuses on emotional peril and tense medical scenes rather than graphic violence. Expect scenes designed to create high anxiety and dread.
Q: How bad is the language?
A: Language includes coarse profanity in moments of crisis. It is used to convey raw adult emotion.
Q: Is sexual content a concern?
A: Sexual content is not central to the premise; the mature tone is driven by child welfare, mental health, and betrayal themes.
Q: Where and when can I watch the series?
A: The show will stream on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, GSA, Italy and Latin America on December 11, 2025.