Fear Factor

Fear Factor is an American stunt/dare game show. The series first aired on NBC from 2001 to 2006, then hosted by Joe Rogan. The show was adapted by Endemol USA from the original Dutch series titled Now or Neverland. For the first five seasons, the contestants consisted regularly of three men and three women pitted against each other in a variety of three stunts for a grand prize, usually $50,000. In the sixth season, the show's format was modified to feature four competing teams of two people who have a pre-existing relationship with one another. Fear Factor was cancelled by NBC in 2006 after six seasons (142 episodes excluding specials with highlights); NBC would briefly revive the series for a nine-episode run in 2011. In 2017, MTV revived the series with Ludacris as its host; this incarnation ran two seasons (thirty-three episodes) before being cancelled in 2018. The show has since spawned many spin-offs, creating its own media franchise. A spin-off series hosted by Johnny Knoxville titled Fear Factor: House of Fear premiered on Fox in January 2026 and featured a new, serialized format including social strategy elements.