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Lucifer

Lucifer

It's good to be bad.

2016–2021Ended6 seasons93 episodes~45 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

Bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar abandoned his throne and retired to Los Angeles, where he has teamed up with LAPD detective Chloe Decker to take down criminals. But the longer he's away from the underworld, the greater the threat that the worst of humanity could escape.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Lucifer?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Lucifer streaming on Netflix and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

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Rent / Buy

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Highlights

What stands out about Lucifer?

Lucifer earns 5 badges, led by Universally Loved and Cultural touchstone.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Lucifer worth watching?

Lucifer's Midcredits score is the 92nd percentile of all shows, from 415K ratings across 2 sources. 87% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

92nd percentile

Better received than 92% of shows

92nd percentile among Crime92nd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)92nd
Approval (how many liked it)88th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

82 /100

92nd percentile of all shows

94th percentile among Crime91st percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

87% liked it

88th percentile of all shows

84th percentile among Crime86th percentile among 2010s
87% rated it 7–1013% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

399K ratings across platforms

99th percentile among Crime99th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 11% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A lighthearted supernatural crime dramedy anchored by Tom Ellis's charm.

Fans praised

  • Tom Ellis's charismatic and magnetic performance as Lucifer
  • clever blend of humor, crime procedural, and supernatural mythology
  • strong character development and emotional depth, especially in Netflix seasons

Detractors panned

  • repetitive, formulaic police procedural structure
  • later seasons diluted charm with forced social messaging and weak writing
  • final season undermined character arcs with convoluted time-travel plot

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Tom Ellis carries the show; supporting cast uneven

HumorDivisive75

Sarcastic, cheeky comedy lands; later seasons lost comedic touch

DialogueDivisive70

Witty, clever one-liners and banter, especially between leads

CharactersDivisive65

Main character growth praised; side characters sometimes underdeveloped or inconsistent

OriginalityDivisive65

Fresh take on devil-as-consultant but procedural formula familiar

Plot and storyDivisive50

Early seasons engaging; later seasons repetitive and reliant on filler

PacingDivisive45

Stretched by filler episodes in longer Fox seasons; Netflix seasons tighter but later seasons sluggish

EndingDivisive40

Final season divisive; satisfying closure for some, disappointing for many

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • Critics vs users 3 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

6 seasons

Season 6 · 2021 · 10 episodes · 7.9 average across 10 rated episodes

  • S6E1

    Nothing Ever Changes Around Here

    Sep 10, 202148 minTMDB rating 7.5
  • S6E2

    Buckets of Baggage

    Sep 10, 202155 minTMDB rating 7.5
  • S6E3

    Yabba Dabba Do Me

    Sep 10, 202145 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S6E4

    Pin the Tail on the Daddy

    Sep 10, 202144 minTMDB rating 7.8
  • S6E5

    The Murder of Lucifer Morningstar

    Sep 10, 202147 minTMDB rating 7.9
  • S6E6

    A Lot Dirtier Than That

    Sep 10, 202154 minTMDB rating 7.8

Watch experience

What is Lucifer like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseWarm
Heaviest: late
Register
PlayfulWarmRomantic · 7% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcOne continuous story
ToneThe show balances a playful, self-aware sense of humor with genuine emotional arcs, never undercutting its dramatic stakes but often winking at its own absurdity.
The rideWhile the series has lighter procedural moments, the overarching emotional weight builds toward the finale, making the late season the heaviest stretch.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional case-solving structure with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Episode formatEach episode centers on a supernatural-tinged crime solved by Lucifer and Chloe, while a season-long arc about Lucifer's personal growth and celestial battles unfolds.
Season formatThe series follows a continuous story of Lucifer's redemption, with each season building on the previous ones.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodHopefulBittersweet
Why it leaves you this wayThe series leaves viewers with a sense of warmth and satisfaction, balancing humor and heartfelt moments.
How it ends · evidence
Happy ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Mystery
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% (this title) · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

8% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeEach episode revolves around solving a murder, with Lucifer and Chloe investigating suspects, fitting the mystery archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% (this title) · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Redemption · 3% of showsIdentityFamily bonds
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Cosmic stakes: Consequences reach beyond the world.Dual lead
How it treats its themeLucifer's journey is fundamentally about his search for redemption and purpose, questioning who he is beyond the Devil persona while forging bonds with his celestial and mortal family.
StanceThe series interrogates the nature of good and evil, redemption, and free will through its protagonist's journey, without fully celebrating or mourning his choices.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalDomesticStylized realism
Orchestral modernJazzSupportive music · original score · Marco Beltrami, Dennis Smith, Ben Decter, Jeff Russo
SettingLucifer's nightclub Lux, the precinct, and various divine/demonic realms
MusicThe score blends moody jazz elements with orchestral swells, enhancing both the noir and celestial tones.

Content guide

Is Lucifer okay for kids?

TV-14

Lucifer is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at moderate (50/100), sexual content at moderate (47/100), language at moderate (43/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (68/100) and frightening material at moderate (44/100). Overall it is heavier than 63% of TV-14 shows.

Ratings in 20 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada14+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France10
  • Ireland15
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • Austria16
  • Czechia15+
  • Hungary16
  • IndiaU
  • MexicoB
  • Netherlands12
  • Poland16
  • RO15
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeM18
  • Spain12
  • Switzerland16
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
Heavier than 50% of all showsHeavier than 63% of TV-14 shows
Violence & Gore
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 44%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 71%
Profanity
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 60%
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
heavy for a TV-14 show
heavier than 94%
Frightening / Intense
Moderate
typical for a TV-14 show
heavier than 44%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is drug and alcohol content. Everything else sits at or below what TV-14 shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Lucifer have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Lucifer?

Cast

Tom Ellis
as Lucifer Morningstar
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Lauren German
as Chloe Decker
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Kevin Alejandro
as Dan Espinoza
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
D.B. Woodside
as Amenadiel
Lesley-Ann Brandt
as Mazikeen
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Rachael Harris
as Linda Martin
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Aimee Garcia
as Ella Lopez
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Scarlett Estevez
as Trixie Espinoza
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Tricia Helfer
as Charlotte
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Tom Welling
as Marcus Pierce

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What are shows like Lucifer?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like Lucifer include Ballard (2025), Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020) and Lethal Weapon (2016).

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