We weren't trying to start a company. We were just trying to watch a movie together.
It started with a simple question: "Can we watch this one?"
Like most parents, we'd spend 20 minutes researching every movie before hitting play. Reading reviews. Checking Common Sense Media. Scrolling through parent guides. And even then, something would slip through—an unexpected scene, a string of language we weren't ready to explain, or violence that was just a bit too much.
The existing solutions felt like compromises. Services that required subscriptions on top of subscriptions. Apps that only worked with physical DVDs. Cloud-based filters that meant sending our viewing habits to yet another company. None of it felt right.
FilterFlix started as a weekend project. A Chrome extension that could actually do what we needed: filter content in real-time, across the streaming services we already pay for, without requiring us to trust a third party with our data.
"What if we could just... fix it ourselves?"
That simple question turned into months of development. Learning about the Family Movie Act. Understanding how content scripts work. Figuring out how to detect and handle scenes across different streaming platforms—each with their own quirks and technical challenges.
The result is something we actually use. Every Friday night. For family movie night, date nights after the kids are asleep, and those random Tuesday evenings when we just want to watch something without worry.
Your viewing habits are yours. FilterFlix processes everything locally—we never see what you watch, when you watch, or what you skip.
We don't tell you what's appropriate for your family. We give you the controls and let you decide. Different families, different standards.
Movie night shouldn't require a spreadsheet. FilterFlix handles the details so you can focus on the popcorn.
One extension. Works on the services you already use. No FilterFlix account required to filter — profiles stay on your device (and optional Chrome sync).
We're still building. Still testing. Still watching movies together and finding edge cases to fix. FilterFlix isn't perfect yet, but it's getting better every week.
Our goal isn't to become a massive company or chase venture capital. We want to build something useful, sustainable, and trustworthy. Something we'd be proud to have our own kids use someday.
If that sounds like something you've been looking for, we'd love to have you join us on this journey.
We read every email. Seriously.
hello@filterflix.app