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Should Christians Watch Stranger Things?

Name: GodlyScore Review: Should Christians Watch Stranger Things?
Item: Stranger Things
Rating: 1.9
Author: GodlyScore

Stranger Things became one of Netflix's defining original series, running from 2016 through its massive five-season conclusion in 2025-2026. Set in Hawkins, Indiana, the show follows a group of kids who encounter a terrifying parallel dimension called the Upside Down and the supernatural threats that emerge from it. With its beloved characters and nostalgic 80s setting, it's one of the most culturally significant shows of the streaming era — and one of the most frequently asked about by Christian families.

GODLY

Stranger Things

Caution

★★☆☆☆1.9/5 · GodlyScore 38/100

Dark supernatural themes with demons consistently opposed — graphic violence and ambiguous spiritual framework require discernment.

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What Stranger Things Is

Stranger Things (Netflix, 2016-present) is a science-fiction horror series created by the Duffer Brothers, set in Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s. It follows middle-school friends encountering supernatural threats from the Upside Down — a dark parallel dimension — after their friend Will Byers disappears. A loving homage to 1980s Spielberg, Stephen King, and genre cinema, combining emotional warmth with genuine horror.

Stranger Things is one of Netflix's most successful originals, attracting audiences of all ages including many Christians who love its nostalgia, friendship themes, and adventure storytelling.

Content Concerns — Season by Season Breakdown

Occult and dark spiritual content: The primary concern for Christians is the Upside Down's spiritual framework — a dark parallel dimension with demonic entities (Demogorgons, the Mind Flayer, Vecna) that have genuine spiritual menace. Season 4's Vecna involves possession-style mind control and a darkness that approaches genuine occult territory. The demonic aesthetic becomes more pronounced across seasons.

Violence escalation: Seasons 1-2 are relatively mild. Season 4 introduces genuinely disturbing death sequences — the Vecna kills are viscerally graphic and represent a significant content escalation even for adults.

LGBT content: Season 3 establishes Robin as a lesbian; Season 4 develops her same-sex relationship with positive normalization. The audience is meant to celebrate alongside other characters.

Language and content: Language increases across seasons. Seasons 3-4 include stronger language and some sexual humor between older teen characters.

What Stranger Things Gets Right

Stranger Things excels at depicting genuine friendship, loyalty, and courage against evil — values compatible with Christian formation. The show treats evil as genuinely evil (not glamorized), depicts sacrifice and self-giving love, and shows characters growing in courage across seasons.

Eleven's arc — from laboratory subject to person with genuine identity — is compelling storytelling about personhood and dignity. The core theme of ordinary people standing against extraordinary evil through friendship resonates with Christian narrative imagination.

Age Guidance by Season

Season 1 (2016): 13+ — mild violence, some scares, relatively clean. Season 2 (2017): 13+ — similar. Season 3 (2019): 14+ — more language, Robin's lesbian identity introduced. Season 4 (2022): 15+ — significantly more graphic violence, darker occult content, more intense horror. Watch on Netflix. See our Christian TV Reviews hub and the Plugged In review for detailed season-by-season content breakdown.

Content Breakdown for Christian Viewers

GodlyScore evaluates every show across nine signal categories grounded in Scripture: profanity (Ephesians 4:29), sexual content (1 Corinthians 6:18-20), violence (Psalm 11:5), LGBT normalization (Romans 1:24-27), 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 — depicted critically, neutrally, or as aspirational. Stranger Things scores see full guide.

How to Find Alternatives

See our Christian TV Reviews hub for comparisons. For episode-level content breakdowns, Plugged In and Common Sense Media complement GodlyScore's biblical framework. Age recommendation: older teenagers and adults.

Understanding the Upside Down Through a Biblical Lens

Stranger Things is set in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana, where a group of children encounter a parallel dimension called the Upside Down — a dark mirror of the real world filled with monstrous creatures and a shadowy intelligence. The show features psychic powers, demonic-looking creatures, possession-like control, and occult-adjacent imagery. It's understandable why Christian parents ask whether this crosses into genuinely demonic territory.

The key biblical distinction here is critical. Not all supernatural darkness in fiction is spiritually harmful. C.S. Lewis wrote extensively about demonic forces in The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia — and these works are considered spiritually enriching by most Christians. The question is not "does darkness appear?" but "how is darkness framed?"

Why Stranger Things Falls in the Fantasy Category

In Stranger Things, the dark forces of the Upside Down are consistently portrayed as evil, threatening, and something to be fiercely opposed and ultimately defeated. The Demogorgon, the Mind Flayer, and Vecna are not objects of worship, sources of spiritual power to be harnessed, or figures to admire — they are monsters to be destroyed. The protagonists' entire moral framework is oriented against these forces.

This places Stranger Things in what the Godly Score system calls "fantasy demons opposed" — distinct from content where demonic or occult forces are presented positively. 1 Peter 5:8 describes the devil as a "roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Remarkably, Stranger Things actually presents its supernatural evil in a strikingly similar way — as something to be resisted, not engaged.

The Show's Genuine Virtues

Beyond the supernatural elements, Stranger Things is built on a foundation of genuinely admirable virtues. The core friendships — the bond between Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas — and the sacrificial love of Joyce for her son model values entirely consistent with Christian ethics. Jim Hopper's arc from broken, self-medicating widower to self-sacrificing protector is one of the most compelling redemption arcs in recent television.

John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." This theme runs throughout Stranger Things, culminating in multiple characters willing to sacrifice everything for those they love. The show takes friendship, family, and sacrifice seriously in ways that much prestige television does not.

Where Caution Is Warranted

The Godly Score of 42/100 reflects several genuine concerns. Later seasons include increasingly graphic violence — Season 4 in particular contains extended sequences of brutal death that push well past action-adventure territory. A mild LGBT storyline involving Robin's coming-out and Will's implied orientation begins in Season 3. Some profanity throughout, increasing in later seasons. Romans 14:19 encourages us to pursue "what leads to peace and to mutual edification." For mature Christian adults, Stranger Things can be watched with discernment. For children under 13, parental preview and ongoing conversation is strongly recommended.

The Biblical Framework

Questions about sin fall into two categories: things explicitly called sin in Scripture, and disputable matters (Romans 14-15) where Christians with different convictions should respect each other's consciences. Even when something isn't explicitly sinful: Does this practice reflect Christ's lordship over all of life (Colossians 3:17)? Is it beneficial — not just permissible? (1 Corinthians 10:23). Score: see full guide.

Further Biblical Study

See our Is It a Sin? hub. GotQuestions and the Gospel Coalition provide thorough evangelical analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should Christians watch Stranger Things?

40/100 Caution — varies by season. Strengths: genuine friendship, loyalty, courage against evil. Concerns: occult content escalating each season, graphic violence (especially Season 4), normalized LGBT content (Season 3+). Seasons 1-2 are more accessible for mature teens (13+). Season 4 escalates all concerns significantly. Not appropriate for children under 13.

Is Stranger Things appropriate for Christians?

With discernment by season. Seasons 1-2: more accessible, relatively mild horror, limited content concerns. Season 4: graphically disturbing Vecna kill sequences, more pronounced occult content, darker spiritual atmosphere throughout. Christians who engage horror critically can approach earlier seasons; Season 4 requires more careful evaluation.

Is Stranger Things demonic?

Stranger Things uses demonic aesthetics extensively — a dark spiritual dimension with genuinely menacing entities. The show frames these as science-fiction threats rather than promoting occult practice. The concern is aesthetic normalization of demonic imagery rather than instructional occult content — a meaningful distinction Christians should still weigh seriously.

Is Stranger Things appropriate for kids?

No — Stranger Things is not appropriate for young children. Genuine horror, significant violence, jump scares, and dark spiritual atmosphere designed to frighten. Common Sense Media rates it 14+. Seasons 1-2 are milder but still contain significant horror. Parents of young teenagers should preview before allowing viewing.

Is Stranger Things safe for Christian kids?

It depends on age and maturity. Early seasons (1-2) are closer to PG-13 adventure. Later seasons become significantly more graphic and intense. We recommend parental review before allowing children under 13 to watch, with ongoing discussion about the supernatural themes.

Does Stranger Things promote witchcraft or the occult?

No. Eleven's powers are presented as the result of government experiments, not occult practice. The monsters are portrayed as evil entities to be opposed and defeated, not worshipped or invoked. This is fantasy storytelling in the tradition of C.S. Lewis, not occult promotion.

What is the Upside Down meant to represent?

The creators have described it as a dark mirror of the real world representing hidden evil and the darkness beneath ordinary life. It functions as a sci-fi/horror metaphor rather than a theological statement about the actual spiritual realm.

Is it a sin to watch horror or supernatural content?

The Bible doesn't prohibit fictional portrayals of darkness. The test from Philippians 4:8 is whether what we consume leads us toward what is true, noble, pure, and admirable. Content that depicts evil as evil and good as worth fighting for can be consumed with discernment by mature believers.