We live in an era when audiovisual entertainment holds a central place in our daily lives. Streaming platforms, social media, movies, series, documentaries… the offering is immense. As Christians, a legitimate question frequently arises: Can I watch this series or movie? Is it compatible with my faith?

Art and Beauty: A Gift from God

The Church is not against movies or series. On the contrary, it recognizes the power of art as a vehicle for communicating truth, goodness, and beauty. Saint John Paul II, in his Letter to Artists, said: “Art can contribute to people’s inner growth and their openness to the meaning of life and mystery.”

Watching a movie is neither good nor bad in itself; what is essential is the content and how it impacts our hearts and consciences.

Criteria for Discerning What We Watch

The Catholic perspective on audiovisual content is not based on a list of prohibitions, but on a discernment that integrates faith, reason, and moral sensitivity. Some key criteria are:

1. Does it reflect the dignity of the human person?  Does it promote respect for life, authentic love, justice, family, and truth?
2. What values ​​does it convey?  A series may contain violence or conflict, but does it glorify or denounce them? Does it invite reflection or trivialize sin?
3. What image does it present of love and sexuality?  Today’s audiovisual culture often trivializes mutual commitment, marriage, and chastity. As Catholics, we must be attentive to explicit or implicit messages that undermine the value of true love.
4. What effect does it have on me?  Not everything that is technically good or popular is good for me. Saint Paul said: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor 6:12). If a series takes me away from prayer, generates impure thoughts, or makes me lose my peace, maybe it’s not for me.
5. How much time am I spending on it?  Even a “harmless” series can become an idol if it absorbs me and prevents me from fulfilling my duties or spending time with God and others.

Are there reliable Catholic resources for discernment?

Yes. There are serious Catholic initiatives that help evaluate films and series from a Christian perspective. Some of them are:

Decine21.com (with a moral evaluation section)

Aceprensa, Exaudi, which publishes cultural analyses from a Catholic perspective

Blogs and channels like “CinemaNet” or “Argumentos – Fundación López Quintás,” which integrate faith, reason, and culture.

What if I’ve already seen something I shouldn’t have?

The Church never ceases to remind us that conscience can be formed, purified, and strengthened. If we feel we have seen something that has offended God or damaged our soul, we can go to the sacrament of confession and make a firm resolution to better guide our decisions.

This is not about falling into puritanism or living in a bubble, but about exercising our freedom responsibly, illuminated by faith. Jesus does not call us to flee the world, but to be a light in its midst (cf. Mt 5:14).

A redeemed gaze on art and culture

As Christians, we are not called to reject movies and TV series, but to view them with a redeemed gaze: to seek the good, denounce the harmful, and know when to step back if necessary. Sometimes a well-told story can awaken in us a deeper desire for God, while other times it is better to simply say, “This does not edify me.”

Let us ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of discernment, so that our eyes—as Jesus says—may be lamps that illuminate the soul (cf. Lk 11:34).