The Faith & Entertainment Index
2026 Faith & Entertainment Index
A groundbreaking new study explores how today's TV and film audiences respond to faith on screen.
How can creators tell authentic stories with faith in a way that tangibly fosters engagement?
Why do some stories land better than others?
How the research was conducted
scenes tested from TV & film
interviews
social insights
Watch TV or movies daily
Identify as spiritual, religious or person of faith
NOTE: Religious affiliation was weighted to reflect U.S. population.
Each scene was evaluated against three core pillars:
1. Entertainment Value
Baseline Weight: x1
Measuring appeal, likeability
How much did you like or dislike this scene?”
2. Faith Portrayal
Elevated Weight: x1.5
Authenticity, accuracy, use of totems
How well or poorly do you think faith was portrayed?
To what extent do you agree or disagree that each of the following describes this scene? (average agreement across ALL “totems”)
3. Engagement Impact
Highest Weight: x2
Sentiment, intent to view future content
Overall, did this scene make you think more positively or negatively about faith, or did it have no impact?
How this scene affect your interest in seeing the full show/film/more content like it?
Consumer-defined totems
General Totems
Feels like they’re made for people like me
Is relatable
Is easy to understand
Avoids clichés or overused tropes
Makes you reflect or think differently
Has characters who feel layered and complex
Connects to broader social issues
Shows realistic characters and situations
Uses humor respectfully
Is emotionally moving
Is entertaining
Faith-Specific Totems
Depicts faith authentically
Depicts faith accurately
Shows different perspectives within a faith
Shows characters exploring their faith
Places faith in contemporary or modern settings
Weaves faith naturally into the story or journey
Teaches something new about faith
Challenges common stereotypes about faith
Appeals to people of a different faith
Appeals to people with no faith or spirituality
Avoids offending people of a particular faith
Avoids preachy or heavily faith-based language
Top takeaways from the research
Faith Belongs in Mainstream Stories
92% say faith has a role to play in modern entertainment.
77% believe it can have broad appeal
What Resonates Is Authentic Emotion
6 of the top 10 scenes were emotional, reflective, thought-provoking
Audiences respond to honesty, not messaging
Everyday Moments Make Faith Accessible
Stories grounded in the familiar perform best
Common themes: family, love, respectful humor
Coco (2017), Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Pictures.
The scenes audiences found most impactful
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whitaker
Faith represented: Christianity
Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convincing Mom to Believe in God
Faith represented: Christianity
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
Faith represented: Judaism
Hacksaw Ridge
Plead Guilty
Faith represented: Christianity
Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond Asks God for Strength
Faith represented: Christianity
Nobody Wants This
Noah's Sermon
Faith represented: Judaism
The West Wing
Parable Conversation
Faith represented: Christianity
Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond is Jailed & Speaks in Court
Faith represented: Christianity
Selma
MLK Jr. in Jail
Faith represented: Christianity
God's Not Dead
Sin is Like a Jail Cell
Faith represented: Christianity
Top 10 scenes across 7 stories come from
award-winning, high-grossing titles
2 Golden Globes
5 Emmy awards
10M+ average views globally
#1 Netflix globally
15M+ average views
3 Family Film & TV awards
Kid’s Choice awards
12M+ average views globally
$180M+ gross worldwide
2 Oscars awards
Nominated for an additional 4
26 Emmy
2 Peabody
3 Golden Globe awards
17M+ average views globally
Oscar nomination for Best Picture
Grossed nearly $70M globally
$58M profit
Percent who believe these stories have broad appeal
The story and experience mattered more than a specific faith tradition
Christian
Hacksaw Ridge
Plead Guilty
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whittaker
Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convincing His Mom
Nobody Wants This
Noah’s Sermon
Hacksaw Ridge
I Can’t Touch a Gun
Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond Asks God for Strength
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond Speaks to Court
God’s Not Dead
Sin Is Like a Jail Cell
The West Wing
Parable Conversation
Jewish
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whittaker
Life of Pi
Pi’s Religious Exploration
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
Orange Is the New Black
Cindy Wants to Convert
Conclave
Cardinal Benitez’s Revelation
Midnight Mass
Hassan’s Monologue on Dignity
Nobody Wants This
Noah’s Sermon
Homeland
Saul on Politics & Religion
Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond Asks God for Strength
Orange Is the New Black
Nicky’s Bat Mitzvah
Muslim
King Richard
Family Dinner
Nobody Wants This
Progressive Rabbi Neil
Hacksaw Ridge
Plead Guilty
Life of Pi
Pi’s Search for Religion
Midnight Mass
Hassan’s Monologue on Dignity
Ramy
“Islam Is Like an Orange”
Young Sheldon
Exploring Religion
Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convincing His Mom
Ramy
Ramy’s Family Meets Zainab’s
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whittaker
Atheists/ Agnostics
Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convincing His Mom
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whittaker
Coco
Miguel Into Land of the Dead
The Pitt
Whittaker Finds Dr. Robby
Hacksaw Ridge
Desmond Asks God for Strength
The West Wing
Parable Conversation
Orange Is the New Black
Cindy Wants to Convert
Nobody Wants This
Noah’s Sermon
Coco
Día de los Muertos
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
Are shows/films that explore faith and spiritualitymore appealing?
Are shows/films that explore faith and spiritualitymore appealing?
Selma (2014), Paramount Pictures.
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whitaker
Key Themes
Coping With Tragedy
Professional Endurance
Support and Solidarity
Key Tones
Reflective
Vulnerable
Empathetic
The Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convincing Mom
Key Themes
Doubt and Faith
Parental Guilt/Struggle
Divine Design/Fine-tuning
Key Tones
Emotional
Pensive
Tender
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
Key Themes
Interfaith Romance
Identity & Belonging
Personal Integrity
Key Tones
Emotional
Pensive
Honest
Totem scores & viewers assessment
The Pitt
Dr. Robby Thanks Whitaker
Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convincing His Mom
Nobody Want This
I Love You
Abbott Elementary (2021– ), ABC.
Tools & plot devices that help ground audiences
Family & intergenerational
relationships
Examples
Young Sheldon
Sheldon Convinces Mom to Believe in God
The Big Sick
Family Argument
Love & romance
Examples
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
This Is Us
Hospital Chapel
Respectful humor
Examples
The Big Sick
Hospital Lunch
Broad City
Yom Kippur
Warmth & lightness
Examples
Coco
Miguel Crosses Into the Land of the Dead
Nobody Wants This
Noah’s Sermon
Family & Intergenerational
Young Sheldon
Convincing His Mom
agree depicts faith
through everyday experience
“Although we don’t know what has made mom question her faith, having Sheldon as her son and him telling her she is the best mom for him – it’s that warm feeling inside that the world needs right now.”
Love & Romance
Nobody Wants This
I Love You
agree depicts faith
through everyday experience
“The characters show sincerity and depth in their beliefs. That emotional honesty is what made it stand out as a good portrayal.”
Comedy is the #1 sought out theme by viewers
Of viewers are open to seeing comedy/humor in the TV shows and movies they watch
Of viewers say it is important to them that TV shows and film depicting faith use humor in a respectful way
Top-performing humorous scenes & rate who agree each uses humor respectfully
Ranking #6
Nobody Wants This
Noah's Sermon
“When they threw in the random crypto joke… you can kind of chuckle a little bit… loosen people up and then… they'll be more receptive.”
Ranking #22
Young Sheldon
Exploring Religion
Lower-performing humorous scenes
& rate who agree each uses humor respectfully
Ranking #105
Broad City
Yom Kippur
“It never got past the stereotypical assumptions that are typically associated with various religions.”
Ranking #106
Mo
Nicolas’ Mom’s Prayer
Focus on a small set of proven story moves.
Home Runs
Is entertaining
Respectful humor
Makes you reflect
Is relatable
Accurate depiction
Emotionally moving
Is easy to understand
Authentic depiction
Made for people like me
Weaves naturally
High-Potential, Overlooked
Layered, complex characters
Appeal to people with no faith
Teaches you something new about faith
Appeal to faith of a different faith
Life of Pi (2012), 20th Century Fox.
Faith resonates most when it feels human. Not sermons. Not stereotypes. Real people. Real stakes.
Audiences respond to faith when it shows up in everyday moments—doubt, love, grief, courage.
When belief is woven naturally into honest characters and lived experience, it doesn’t limit who’s watching. It widens the circle.
Done right, faith doesn’t just entertain. It invites reflection. Builds empathy. And connects people across belief lines.
™ is a nonprofit that connects and provides resources to a global, diverse network of media members, content creators, faith leaders, and community members to ensure accurate, balanced representation of all faiths in news and entertainment.
