Americans Want More Faith in Movies and TV, New Survey Finds

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An overwhelming majority of Americans say they want more movies and television shows that include faith – and even atheists and agnostics say such themes can boost a title’s appeal, according to a new survey.

The Faith and Media Initiative / HarrisX survey found that 92 percent of U.S. entertainment consumers believe faith should play a role in mainstream entertainment, with nearly one-fourth (23 percent) saying it should be central and about half (51 percent) believing it should be present but not the primary focus.

Additionally, more than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent), including 59 percent of atheists and agnostics, say storylines that focus on faith or spirituality have broad appeal.

One goal of the Faith and Media Initiative is to improve the portrayal of faith and spirituality in Hollywood.

“There is a large underserved audience that wants more – they want better, more accurate, more complex depictions of faith and storytelling,” Brooke Zaugg, executive director of the Faith and Media Initiative, said during a webcast explaining the research.

Zaugg referenced a conversation she had with a Netflix representative who was an executive producer on an Oscar-nominated film with faith themes. The filmmaker, Zaugg, said, noted that the faith elements “significantly expanded the audience.”

Studios and filmmakers are open to including more faith, Zaugg said, but they need guidance. The research helps provide that.

The landmark research went beyond simply asking adults for their opinions, instead showing respondents specific scenes from titles such as Young Sheldon, The Pitt, and Nobody Wants This and gauging their reactions.

The study found that exposure to faith-focused scenes has a positive impact on audiences. Before viewing such scenes, 53 percent of respondents said faith-themed shows and films were appealing — a figure that rose to 58 percent afterward, with an even larger increase among atheists and agnostics. Similarly, perceptions of the relatability of faith-filled titles climbed from 53 percent pre-exposure to 61 percent post-exposure, again with significant gains among atheists and agnostics.

The poll included responses from 12,000 U.S. adults who watch movies or TV shows weekly.

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Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Robert Daly

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.