Viewers want more accurate portrayals of faith on screen

It’s not always easy to talk about religion on TV. And yet, it’s a theme that viewers are interested in.

According to the latest HarrisX study, 80% of viewers think it’s important to have more accurate portrayals of faith on screen.

Whether in films or series, clichés remain common. In the Netflix’s teen Spanish drama Elite, the scene where Nadia’s character removes her hijab sparked heated discussions on social networks back in 2019. HarrisX’s “Global Faith and Entertainment Study” reveals that audiences are demanding more accurate representations of faith in movies and series.

Globally 63% of those interviewed for this international survey believe that entertainment media perpetuates religious stereotypes. This is shared by audiences of diverse religious convictions, with Buddhists (63%) being the most critical.

Eighty percent of those surveyed highlighted the importance of an improvement in on-screen representation of faith, in the interests of greater accuracy.

This call for authenticity is particularly strong in Brazil (94%), Nigeria (93%), India (91%), Mexico (82%) and the US (82%).

About 68% of those surveyed want diverse perspectives on various faiths, a desire that is more pronounced in Brazil (91%), Nigeria (84%) and India (83%).

Nearly six out of 10 viewers (59%) claim to have learned something new about a faith, thanks to a film or series. This finding is shared by countries categorised as having high proportions of faithful residents (73%).

According to the report’s findings, viewers are looking for a better understanding of people whose beliefs differ from their own.

“Respondents in all countries agree that accurate portrayal of religion is crucial to foster global understanding,” the report outlines. –