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20 Binge-worthy Documentaries About Notorious Cults

From the bizarre tragedy of Heaven鈥檚 Gate and the Charles Manson murders to the criminal tyrannies of Warren Jeffs and Bikram Choudhury, the last decades have unleashed some riveting, often unsettling cult sagas that still reverberate through history.

These cults, upon being exposed, more often than not have become subject to examination. This is because, beyond the gruesome tales, there is a lot to be curious about regarding these cults, their members, leaders, and even operations.

This is where filmmakers step in, looking to answer the questions that arise. What was so special about cult leaders such as Charles Manson and Keith Raniere? Why were people willingly joining these cults? How did it all come to an end? Among other questions.

Through documentaries, filmmakers are able to scratch this undeniable itch for their audience. Therefore, this article will look to highlight some of the best documentaries on cults for you to binge-watch. From high-profile series like The Vow detailing celebrity-infused NXIVM to 2010鈥檚 Sons of Perdition.

1. Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults (2021)

The 4-part docuseries Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults premiered on HBO Max in late 2021, delivering an unsettling portrait of the infamous UFO religion behind the 1997 mass suicide of 39 members.

Blending interviews, archive footage, and cinematic reenactments, it traces how founders Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles shaped Heaven鈥檚 Gate from Christian roots into a science fiction-inspired theology about ascending to an extraterrestrial paradise.

Filmmaker Clay Tweel takes viewers inside the increasingly paranoid and authoritarian mindset that drove Applewhite and his indoctrinated followers to carry out ritual sacrifices of their earthly 鈥渧ehicles鈥� in hopes of catching an alien spacecraft trailing the Hale-Bopp comet.

An even-handed analysis of how countercultural disappointment morphed into techno-religious nihilism.

2. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)

Directed by Alex Gibney and airing on HBO in 2015, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief mined interviews with eight former high-ranking Scientologists.

The film used these interviews to deliver a scathing examination of the controversial church鈥檚 inner workings and aggressive reputation management under leader David Miscavige.

Spanning L. Ron Hubbard鈥檚 fantastical life journey and founding myths to Miscavige ushering Tom Cruise deeper inside celebrity Scientology.

This eye-opening documentary uses anecdotes, insider accounts, and archival materials to build a case around the organization鈥檚 alleged authoritarian control, compromised ethics, and extreme indoctrination methods that kept devoted members imprisoned by belief.

3. Wild Wild Country (2018)

Wild Wild Country, a six-part Netflix documentary series released in 2018, takes viewers on an enthralling journey into the world of the Rajneeshpuram commune. The Rajneeshpuram commune was a utopian society led by the enigmatic Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, also known as Osho.

The series chronicles the commune’s establishment in a remote Oregon town, its rapid growth and transformation into a self-sufficient city, and its eventual clash with local authorities.

Told through the perspectives of former commune members, journalists, and law enforcement officials, Wild Wild Country masterfully blends archival footage, interviews, and reenactments to paint a vivid picture of Rajneeshpuram’s rise and fall.

The series delves into the commune’s unconventional practices, including free love, sexual liberation, and meditation techniques, while also exploring the underlying tensions that led to conflicts with the surrounding community.

4. Holy Hell (2016)

Holy Hell is a 2016 documentary film presenting a chilling firsthand account of life inside the Buddhafield community. That is the Los Angeles-based spiritual group led by the charismatic but manipulative guru Michel de Salzmann, also known as Da Free John.

The film follows the experiences of a former member, filmmaker Will Allen, who spent 22 years in the community, rising to become a high-ranking leader before eventually escaping.

Through Allen’s intimate and often heartbreaking narrative, Holy Hell exposes the dark underbelly of Buddhafield, revealing a culture of control, emotional abuse, and physical violence.

The film utilizes a combination of Allen’s personal footage, interviews with other former members, and surveillance recordings to document the community’s inner workings and the devastating impact it had on its members’ lives.

5. Sons of Perdition (2010)

Sons of Perdition stands out as a captivating exploration of the FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), a breakaway Mormon sect led by Warren Jeffs.

Released in 2010, the film delves into the cult’s patriarchal society, its arranged marriages, and the systematic abuse of its members.

Sons of Perdition is told from the perspective of former FLDS members, who share their harrowing experiences of life within the cult. The film uses a combination of interviews, home videos, and archival footage to paint a vivid picture of the FLDS’s oppressive control over its members.

It also examines the legal challenges faced by authorities in investigating and prosecuting the cult’s leaders. Sons of Perdition is a disturbing yet essential documentary that exposes the dark realities of life within a cult.

6. Waco: The Rules of Engagement (2007)

In the 2007 documentary Waco: The Rules of Engagement, filmmaker Dan Rather delves into the harrowing events of the 1993 standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidians, a religious sect led by David Koresh.

The film examines the FBI’s handling of the siege, which resulted in the deaths of 76 people, including Koresh and 19 children. Rather’s documentary raises critical questions about the agency’s tactics and the use of force in the incident.

The film interweaves interviews with FBI agents, government officials, journalists, and survivors of the Waco tragedy. It also includes extensive archival footage, including news reports, surveillance videos, and courtroom testimony.

7. Jonestown: The Women Behind the Massacre (2018)

Documentaries about notorious cults often focus on the charismatic leaders who manipulate and control their followers. However, Jonestown: The Women Behind the Massacre, released in 2018, takes a different approach, exploring the experiences of the women who were deeply involved in the Peoples Temple cult.

Through interviews with survivors, the film sheds light on the motivations and vulnerabilities that led these women to join the cult and ultimately follow Jim Jones’ deadly commands. The film uses a combination of archival footage, interviews with survivors, and experts to create a compelling and disturbing portrait of Jonestown.

It delves into the cult’s utopian ideals, its oppressive control over its members, women more so, and the tragic events that led to the mass suicide of over 900 people.

8. The Vow (2013)

In 2013, the HBO documentary series The Vow captivated audiences with its in-depth exploration of NXIVM, a self-help organization that turned into a sex cult under the leadership of Keith Raniere.

The series follows the story of Sarah Edmondson, a high-ranking NXIVM member who eventually became a whistleblower and helped bring down the cult. Through Edmondson’s eyes, viewers get a glimpse into the world of NXIVM, where members are subjected to intense psychological manipulation and physical abuse.

With two seasons, the series features interviews with other former members, experts, and law enforcement officials, providing a comprehensive overview of the cult’s activities and its devastating impact on its followers.

9. Children of God (1994)

In the 1960s, a young man named David Berg founded the Children of God, a religious cult that attracted thousands of followers with its message of free love and communal living.

However, beneath the veneer of peace and harmony, Berg’s teachings took a dark turn, preaching child obedience and sexual exploitation.

The 1994 documentary Children of God delves into the disturbing history of this cult, exploring its rise and fall through the eyes of former members and survivors.

The documentary features candid interviews with former Children of God members, including survivors of child abuse and sexual exploitation.

These personal accounts provide a chilling insight into the cult’s inner workings and the psychological impact it had on its members.

Archival footage and photographs further document the cult’s activities, from its early days of hippie communes to its later years marked by violence and isolation.

10. The Family (2019)

The captivating 2019 documentary series The Family delves into the dark and twisted world of the aforementioned Children of God, a cult founded by David Berg, also known as “Moses David.”

Through a combination of archival footage, interviews with former members, and chilling personal accounts, the series unravels the cult’s history, from its early days as a hippie commune to its descent into LSD use, violence, and sexual abuse.

The Family unravels the cult’s complex dynamics, examining the psychological manipulation tactics employed by Berg and the cult’s patriarchal structure that enabled his reign of terror.

The series sheds light on the devastating impact the cult had on its members, particularly the children who were indoctrinated from birth. It is a harrowing but essential exploration of the dangers of unchecked power and the vulnerability of individuals seeking belonging and acceptance.

11. Kumare (2011)

In the intriguing 2011 documentary Kumare, filmmaker Vikram Kumar embarks on a daring social experiment to explore the nature of religious devotion and belief. Setting aside his own Hindu upbringing, Kumar adopts the persona of a spiritual guru, “Sri Kumare,” attracting a dedicated following of eager devotees.

Over the course of five years, he meticulously crafts his persona, delivering profound teachings, conducting elaborate rituals, and even establishing a thriving ashram.

Kumare masterfully blends cin茅ma v茅rit茅 footage with insightful commentary, offering a unique perspective on the dynamics of cult formation and the power of charismatic leadership.

The documentary challenges viewers to confront their own preconceived notions about faith and belief, raising questions about the boundaries between genuine spirituality and manipulation.

While Kumare is not about a dangerous cult like most on this list, it shows what it takes to form a cult. Making it all the more terrifying considering how simple it shows the process is.

12. Prophet’s Prey (2015)

In 2015, the documentary Prophet’s Prey took viewers inside the world of Warren Jeffs, the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS).

The documentary tells the story of Jeffs and his followers, who believed that he was God’s prophet on Earth. Jeffs was eventually convicted of child sexual assault and sentenced to life in prison.

Prophet’s Prey is told from the perspective of the victims of Jeffs’s crimes. The documentary includes interviews with former FLDS members, as well as law enforcement officials who investigated the case.

The documentary also uses footage from inside the FLDS compound, which gives viewers a rare glimpse into the secretive world of this cult.

13. The Source Family (2012)

In 2012, the documentary The Source Family was released. The documentary tells the story of Father Yod, the leader of The Source Family, and his followers.

Father Yod was a charismatic leader who convinced his followers to live in a commune in Los Angeles, California. The Source Family was a controversial group that was known for its free-spirited lifestyle and its use of psychedelic drugs.

The documentary is told from the perspective of the people who lived in The Source Family compound. It includes interviews with former Source Family members, as well as footage from inside the commune. The documentary also includes interviews with experts on cults and alternative lifestyles.

14. Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006)

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The documentary Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple was released in 2019. It tells the story of Jim Jones, the leader of the Peoples Temple, and the 909 people who died in Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978.

Jones was a charismatic leader who convinced his followers to move to Jonestown, where he promised them a utopian society. However, Jones was also a paranoid leader who became increasingly abusive toward his followers.

On November 18, 1978, Jones ordered his followers to drink poison, resulting in the deaths of 909 people, including Jones himself.

Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple is told from the perspective of the people who lived through the events in Jonestown.

The documentary includes interviews with former Peoples Temple members, as well as footage from inside Jonestown. It also includes interviews with experts on cults and deprogramming.

15. Manson (1973)

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Manson (1973) is a documentary film about the Manson Family, a cult led by Charles Manson that committed several high-profile murders in the late 1960s.

The film was directed by Charles Manson Jr., the son of Charles Manson, and it features interviews with several members of the Manson Family as well as archival footage of the murders and the trials.

Manson is told from the perspective of the Manson Family, exploring the murders they committed, and the motivations of the cult members.

It also examines the role of the media in the Manson Family story, and it argues that the media coverage of the murders helped to create the cult’s mystique.

16. The Way Down (2021)

The Way Down (2021) is a documentary miniseries about the NXIVM cult, a sex cult founded by Keith Raniere. The miniseries features interviews with former members of NXIVM, as well as undercover footage of the cult’s activities.

The miniseries is told from the perspective of the former members of NXIVM, and it explores the ways in which Raniere manipulated and abused his followers. It also examines the role of secrecy and shame in the cult’s dynamics.

17. The Deep End (2022)

The disturbing 2022 Netflix documentary series The Deep End is a thriller investigation unveiling the tragic crimes behind Teal Swan. Teal Swan was an alluring New Age influencer and self-help YouTube guru with a devoted yet controversial following.

Unfolding through host Dakota Johnson鈥檚 underwhelmed narration and inconclusive reporting built on anonymous hearsay, the ill-conceived expos茅 fails to dig deeper than salacious accusations that Swans enabled member suicides.

However, rather than concrete evidence scrutinizing Swan鈥檚 unorthodox methods that blend old religious concepts with pop psychology, The Deep End comes off as an aimless takedown reliant on speculation but lacking the receipts and victim interviews to substantiate its ominous framing of her alleged Svengali charisma over susceptible seekers.

18. My Scientology Movie (2015)

Director John Dower takes an unconventional approach to unpacking Scientology鈥檚 mystique in the provocative documentary My Scientology Movie from 2015.

Unable to directly profile famously litigious leader David Miscavige, Dower enlists ex-Scientology executive Marty Rathbun to coach actors auditioning for scenes recreating the Church鈥檚 most notorious allegations.

From ego explosions to coerced abortions. The resulting dramatic interpretations, real surveillance and confrontations after Scientology stalks their filming offers an artistically insightful examination of claims former Scientologists level at the self-help organization turned global religion.

19. Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator (2018)

The eye-opening Netflix documentary Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator from 2018 offers a disturbing look at hot yoga pioneer Bikram Choudhury whose global fitness empire crumbled under multiple rape allegations.

The documentary tracks the glittery rise and sordid fall of the self-styled guru behind the intense, trademarked practice performed in 105-degree rooms.

Directors Chapman Way and Eva Orner interview many awestruck students who embraced Choudhury鈥檚 swaggering bravado only to later accuse him of targeting vulnerable female devotees.

Combining unsettling cinematic portraits and insider testimonies about his alleged predatory grooming habits and inflated ego, the film exposes how Choudhury exploited his celebrity status as a yoga innovator to mask years spent allegedly assaulting followers bound by his tyrannical authority.

20. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey

The shocking Netflix documentary series Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2021) dissects the criminal rise and fall of Warren Jeffs – the tyrannical leader behind the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints polygamist sect.

Filmmaker Rachel Dretzin gives voice to Jeffs鈥檚 traumatized ex-followers, illuminating his brute domination over thousands of adherents, split-apart families, and forced child marriages.

Via disturbing footage of his preaching, Dretzin indicts Jeffs as a religious gangster and exposes the threat posed by insulated extremist groups wielding faith as a weapon.

From insider personal narratives to journalistic exposes stylistic reenactments to archival footage artfully edited into psychological profiles, these cutting-edge documentaries masterfully tell captivating stories. These documentaries offer a glimpse into the lives of individuals who have been drawn into these groups, often with devastating consequences.

From the controversial practices of Scientology to the shocking downfall of Bikram Choudhury, these documentaries expose the inner workings of these organizations and the profound impact they have on their members.