Explicitly Christ-centered. The gold standard for Christian entertainment.
Netflix has become the dominant force in streaming entertainment, producing and distributing content across every genre and moral spectrum. The challenge for Christian families is that Netflix content ranges from The Chosen (the most explicitly Christ-centered drama in television history) to Euphoria-level explicit content. There is no single answer to "Is Netflix safe for Christians?" — the platform is a delivery mechanism, and the content must be evaluated title by title. The Godly Score system helps by providing a consistent biblical framework across all content types. For Netflix specifically, it helps to understand the platform's programming philosophy: Netflix funds content based on engagement metrics, not moral criteria. Content that provokes strong emotional reactions — including moral transgression — tends to perform well on engagement metrics, which creates structural pressure toward increasingly worldly content.
The Chosen (available via Netflix in some regions) scores 98/100 — the gold standard for Christian entertainment. Stranger Things scores 42/100 — watchable with discernment for adults, with caution for children. The Crown scores around 50/100 — morally serious, historically grounded, some content warranting caution. Narnia adaptations (where available) score 75+ for their Christian allegorical content. Philippians 4:8 gives us the test: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Applying this filter to Netflix's catalogue significantly narrows the watchable list — but does not eliminate it entirely.
Euphoria scores 8/100 and should be avoided without reservation — graphic sexual content, glamorized drug use, no redemptive arc. Bridgerton scores 14/100 — explicit sexual content, glorifies promiscuity. Sex Education scores 10/100 — the title describes the content accurately. Cuties (2020) was so problematic that it drew widespread condemnation for sexualizing minor children and should never be viewed. Lucifer scores 5/100 — the show literally glamorizes Satan as a sympathetic protagonist. Ephesians 5:3 says "among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality." These titles don't just hint — they celebrate.
Practical recommendations for Christian families: use parental controls to restrict content by rating. Preview shows yourself before watching with family. Use the Godly Score to research specific titles before committing. Maintain ongoing conversation with children about what they're watching and why. Consider auditing your Netflix viewing quarterly — it's easy for worldly content to become normalized through gradual exposure. Romans 12:2 warns against being "conformed to the pattern of this world." The pattern of the world is exactly what Netflix's algorithm is optimized to deliver. Christian viewers must be intentional, not passive.
The Berean standard — "examining the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11) — is the model for Christian theological discernment. No teacher, denomination, or tradition should be accepted without being tested against Scripture. This includes GodlyScore's own assessments: our analysis should prompt you to open your Bible, not replace the need to do so.
When evaluating theological claims, the key questions are: What does Scripture say directly? Where Scripture is silent, what principles does it establish? What has the historic church taught on this question across centuries and traditions? Where do serious evangelical scholars agree, and where do they genuinely disagree? These questions produce more reliable theological discernment than any single source.
For Christians wanting to go deeper on this topic: GotQuestions provides thorough biblical answers to thousands of theological questions with extensive Scripture citation. Gospel Coalition offers longer-form theological analysis from trusted evangelical scholars. Both are recommended starting points for study beyond what GodlyScore's discernment framework provides. See our Christian Theology Guides hub for related theological topics evaluated with the same framework.
GodlyScore evaluates media and public figures across nine biblical signal categories: profanity (Ephesians 4:29), sexual content (1 Corinthians 6:18), violence (Psalm 11:5), LGBT normalization (Romans 1:26-27), spiritual darkness (Ephesians 5:11), glorification of sin (Romans 1:32), deception mechanics (Proverbs 12:22), virtue strength (Philippians 4:8), and redemption arc. The score reflects not just whether content is present but how it's framed. Score: see full guide.
See our Biblical Discernment Guide for the complete methodology. GotQuestions and the Gospel Coalition provide thorough evangelical analysis.