The Amazing Race 25

Production

The twenty-fifth season of The Amazing Race kicked off in New York City's Times Square on May 31, 2014, with CBS inviting fans to watch the teams depart. Host Phil Keoghan explained that the production team originally wanted to keep filming under wraps but opted for a public start because of social media and fan enthusiasm. The same day, CBS revealed the identities of all the teams. Instead of the usual Express Pass, the team that finished first in the opening leg received a Save, which would protect them from elimination if they came in last on any leg before the ninth.

Since the Save was only presented during a non-elimination leg, it was never actually used. Filming wrapped up in Los Angeles on June 22, 2014. The race covered 26,000 miles and visited the U.S. Virgin Islands, Malta, and the Shetland Islands for the first time. For the first time in the show's history, four teams entered the final leg, but Phil eliminated one team mid-leg, leaving just three to race to the finish.

Results

The season featured eleven teams. Tim & Te Jay placed 2nd, 5th, 8th, 5th, 3rd, and 4th in the first six legs. Shelley & Nici placed 8th, 9th, 4th, 6th, and 4th.

Keith & Whitney placed 9th, 4th, 3rd, and 3rd. Michael & Scott placed 10th and 6th. Dennis & Isabelle placed 7th. Lisa & Michelle were eliminated in the first leg.

The winners were Amy DeJong and Maya Warren. Second place went to Jim and Misti Raman, and third place to Adam Dirks and Bethany Hamilton. The Save was awarded to Misti & Jim for winning the first leg.

Race summary

The race began at Duffy Square in New York City, where teams had to figure out that the finish line from the first season was the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. They then booked flights to Saint Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. From there, they took chartered seaplane flights to Lovango Cay, then traveled by boat to Carval Rock, where they climbed along its length and jumped into the Caribbean Sea to retrieve floating bottles with clues.

They then went by boat to Hans Lollik Island, boarded Blackbeard's Revenge, and rowed to shore. In the first Roadblock, one team member used a liquid compass and directions to find a buried treasure chest on the beach. After the Roadblock, teams returned to Saint Thomas and checked in at Fort Christian. Frank Mesa from season 1 appeared at the starting line to help teams.

Keith, Scott, and Lisa quit the Roadblock; Keith & Whitney and Michael & Scott received four-hour penalties, while Lisa & Michelle were eliminated.

Reception

Critics generally liked The Amazing Race 25. Entertainment Weekly’s Jodi Walker praised it as a solid underdog story. HitFix’s Daniel Fienberg had issues with some structural choices but still gave a positive verdict. Daron Aldridge of Box Office Prophets called it an otherwise enjoyable season with genuinely challenging tasks.

Survivor Oz’s Alex Morella felt it began well, dragged in the middle, but ended strong. In 2016, Rob Has a Podcast correspondents placed it 7th among the first 27 seasons. Game Rant later ranked it 14th-best in 2023, then 17th out of 36 in 2024.

Did You Know?

• The cast included former Survivor: South Pacific contestants Whitney Duncan and Keith Tollefson.
• TNA Wrestling stars Brooke Adams and Robbie Strauss competed on this season.
• In 2024, Bethany Hamilton competed on the twelfth season of The Masked Singer as 'Macaron'.