Anne Hamilton-Byrne, Not Rated Stanley Clayton, 85 min Warren Jeffs, John Dower Documentary. Documentary, Biography, History, When Warren Jeffs rose to Prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints, he took control of a religion with a history of polygamous and underage marriage. Stars: 119 min Don Bolles, | James Buddy Day Helen Mirren, Bruce Barlow, The Vow, HBO's sweeping, 9-episode look into Keith Raniere's organization, introduced a whole new audience to the group that stole people's lives, minds, and savings accounts, and Starz's new series Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult expands on that. | Stars: It’s set up in the woods or on an island or somewhere else that’s hard to reach. | | Stars: Andrew Chatwin, Votes: Documentary. By the time the sun went down on the cult retreat’s finale, followers were screaming for help and hallucinating. Director: Tim Wolochatiuk Debbie Padilla, Director: These documentaries about cults cover many different topics and types of cults. Philip Toelkes, Amy Berg | NXIVM, a so-called "sex cult" disguised as a "self-empowerment group," has been in the news for years. Stars: Cults encourage their members to drop out of society completely, to cut off ties with loved ones and change their personality traits and habits. | | Director: William Gazecki Becky Fischer, A reassessment of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Branch Davidian religious sect dead. If cult documentaries are what you’re looking for, then Netflix’s newest cult addition – Wild Wild Country – needs to move to the top of your queue. The real-life story of the Peoples Temple cult led by Reverend Jim Jones and the events involving its move to Guyana and its eventual mass suicide. | | 165 min An incendiary, heartbreaking investigation into one of Australia's most notorious cults, and the scars its survivors still bear today. Stars: Stars: Spanky Taylor, Director: 85 min A film about cults and the the indomitable human soul. Director: | Stars: | Kelly Franz, Documentary, Crime, 'Inside the MANSON Gang' The incredible behind the scenes, exclusive footage and true story of the most notorious white gang in American history, and the Trial of the 20th Century. Jack Harwell, Directors: | In 1981, the followers of Indian spiritual guru—and alleged “sex cult” leader—Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh purchased a 64,000 acre ranch in the middle of Oregon. Search. There are many films about or concerning religious cults, their leaders and more often than not – their demise as a group. To see what we mean, take a gander at the documentaries and docu-series below. Rebecca Moore, RAJNEESH MOVEMENT, “WILD WILD COUNTRY” Netflix’s six-part series chronicles the rise and fall… Dan Gifford, Evangeline Griego 87 min Often, the rise of strict religions comes with a body count. Vincent Bugliosi, Stars: Nikolas Schreck Documentary, Biography, Part documentary, part expose, this film follows one-time child evangelist Marjoe Gortner on the "church tent" Revivalist circuit, commenting on the showmanship of Evangelism and "the ... See full summary », Directors: Stars: Maria Demopoulos, Has a number of insightful interviews with many family members most notably Squeaky and Sandy (Blue and Red). In fact, Allen benefitted in quite a few ways from joining Buddhafield, though he almost paid with his independence. Sharmagne Leland-St. John, TV-PG Director: Documentary, Crime. 403 min Patricia Krenwinkel, Documentary. A documentary looking at the inner-workings of the Church of Scientology. 89 min | K. Ryan Jones As leader of a cult in a remote corner of New ... See full summary », Director: Marty Rathbun, | Clive Doyle, Documentary. Michelle Benward, 51 min We also investigate various religious sects, including an Indian cult that worships their leader as a god and Dukhobors in Georgia living much like their ancestors did centuries ago. John Smithson Tom Cruise, | Nothing in this Oscar-winning docuseries, executive produced by the Duplass brothers, is exactly what it seems. Dan Grove, PG-13 ‘The People’s Temple of the Disciples of Christ’, commonly known as the Peoples Temple, is a religious cult founded by Jim Jones in 1955 in America. Charles Manson, | This series is actually the story of two very unlike communities — the people of Rajneeshpuram and Wasco County, Ore… Lou Engle, Though it’s not technically about a cult, Witches explores what happens to a group of people when their new ideals override their shared humanity. Witch trials are a common subject in creepy pop culture, but Witches: A Century of Murder makes the subject feel freshly disturbing, by setting it outside the American colonies and in rural Britain. A documentary on kids who attend a summer camp hoping to become the next Billy Graham. | Brent Jeffs, Stars: | Documentary, Short, Crime, Life After Manson is an intimate portrait of one of the world's most infamous crimes and notorious killers. Browse List Top 100. Star: | Buddhafield was (and technically still is, since the active members moved to Hawaii) a cult that shirks that stereotype. | Charles Manson, 9 Best Serial Killer Documentaries on Netflix Right Now, Ranked. Documentary. | | 71 min The shocking story of Rev. Cult leader Jim Jones leads his followers to a mass-suicide. | Alex Gibney Article now available on Filmhounds on the link below: Documentaries To Watch If You’re Interested In… Cults Bobby Beausoleil, From there, cults, both secular and religious, get creative. He had become a paranoid drug addict; and the documentary displays all footages and facts on how he led over 900 members of his religious cult group to a settlement in Guyana called Jonestown, where he masterminded a mass suicide in November 1978. Like Holy Hell, this documentary tells a specific and personal story, as the filmmaker Ricardo Adler analyzes his spirituality and speaks with a Rabbi after a brutal divorce. Jason Beghe, The Catholic Church covering up cases of pedophilia in its leadership is such a well-publicized horror story that it’s difficult to imagine a time when people didn’t make pedo-priest jokes. Hridayananda Das Goswami, However, a stranger and more personal-feeling documentary is available to stream. Cults have made headlines around the world for many years and continue to fascinate in documentaries and popular podcasts. Vernon Gosney, | 4. Timothy Findley, | Mary Brunner, Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults is a four-part documentary series about the strange UFO-based religious movement that led to a tragic mass suicide.The series talks with former members and loved ones and includes never-before-seen footage and first-person accounts. Marcy, TV-G | This article, originally published on August 22, 2017, has been updated. Documentary, The film examines the modern-day phenomenon of religious "intentional communities," or as they are often called, "cults." Zeena Schreck, | Miriam Padilla, TV-MA Ricky Rodriguez, No, HBO’s incredible Scientology documentary, Going Clear, is not available on Netflix. The documentary was detested by the victims’ families because it showed Ray in his own dark moments, but it’s worth watching just to experience how far astray people can be led when the man leading them is likable. For those who foster a curiosity about these groups, here are 10 documentaries — including HBO's recent docuseries The Vow — that get to the bottom of life inside a cult. From Scientology to Kabbalah to Rajneeshpuram, there seems to be a documentary or docu-series for every religious extremist group. Nadine Mundo, Not Rated | Gross: Documentary. 70 min Deprogrammed chronicles Ted 'Black Lightning' Patrick's rise as the notorious 'Father of Deprogramming'. Documentary, In 1970, 1,500 hippies and their guru Stephen Gaskin founded a commune in rural Tennessee. That film, Holy Hell, is available on Netflix, and it’s a sensitive (yet disturbing) look at how cults never appear sinister right away. Directors: Documentary, Award winning filmmaker, Ondi Timoner, follows four families as they leave an abusive church in South Carolina and realize they have been in a cult. | Robert Hendrickson Director: Stars: Journalist Elizabeth Vargas, alongside former members of controversial organizations, goes on a search to uncover how these sects use their influence to prey upon people's desperation to create powerful and often destructive belief systems. Sam Brower, Robert Stone There is also a history of Manson... See full summary », Directors: Maura Schmierer, Not Rated | Indian-American-Swiss co-cultist Ma Anand Sheela proves to be a more formidable power in the cult over time, and she was instrumental to the 1984 Rajneeshee bioterror attack. 90 min Peter Bate A free selection of #documentaries focused on religious #cults. Elena Michaels, 63 min Tell us what you think about this feature. Russ Little, Director: | 12,018 | Jennilyn Merten In a short time, ... See full summary », Director: Daniel Garcia, Documentary, Michael Travesser says he's the Messiah and that God has told him the world will end with an apocalyptic event at midnight on 31 October 2007. Deloy Bateman, | Religion Sort by: The Dead Sea Scrolls. The documentary is one of many titles in the fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries. Email Subscribe. From one side there was a story of villains and child abuse and a cult. | The stereotypical cult exists somewhere on the literal edge of society. His ... See full summary », Director: Eventually, three people died from heatstroke, and eighteen more were hospitalized. | Vote up your favorite cult documentaries below or add one that you found interesting that isn't already on the list. Directors: | Louis Theroux, ... A family describes their time within a religious cult, one that perpetuated pedophilia, sexual abuse, and prostitution. Claire Headley, Not Rated Ted Biggs, | | There are many reasons a New Yorker might leave the Hasidic community: they might want to go to college, or they discover they’re gay. Joaquin Sullivan, Liz Shaw, 136 min William A. Graham How far would you go to feel like you belong? TV-MA 83 min Star: Stars: Yet, this is a fascinating expose on the hypocrisy and hubris surrounding a cult and one of the better documentaries about cults. | This 2017 docuseries leaves viewers grasping at straws for a possible solution to Sister Cesnik’s murder, which remains unsolved. Many cults involve drug use, but even the ones that don’t, according to Deprogrammed use a type of psychological intoxication, born from a charismatic leader and a cult’s developing hive mind. | “Wild Wild Country” is earning strong buzz on Netflix for investigating the rise and fall of a spiritual cult that made headlines in Oregon throughout the 1980s. Documentary, The events of the night of August 9th, 1969 changed the face of the '60s. His followers had each paid $10,000 to attend. Sandra Good, R | Gross: Aum Shinrikyo, the Buddhist sect led by Shoko Asahara and responsible for the 1995 Sarin gas attack on a Tokyo subway, becomes the subject of this documentary. Documentary. Laurence Merrick It’s safe to say that cults are having a bit of a moment in popular culture right now. Director: 47 min Star: Ted Patrick, TV-14 Documentary, Biography, Drama. Stars: Hiroshi Araki, Not Rated Powers Boothe, However, if you’re feeling curious about how religious people cope with sexual urges, and their intense drive for intimacy, The Lost Key is a fascinating look into one man’s life. Sally Howell Sylvia Padilla, Lynette Fromme, Netflix released a new documentary on the secretive religious group ‘The Family.’ Despite its flaws, it’s a must see. $0.01M, R Documentary. Paz de la Huerta, Votes: | Jane Stork, PG-13 Mary Kahn, From the filmmakers behind Jesus Camp (unfortunately not available on Netflix anymore), One of Us examines religious faith and orthodoxy with an impressively delicate touch. This series is actually the story of two very unlike communities — the people of Rajneeshpuram and Wasco County, Oregon — as they rub up against each other on barren American land. October 2020. More so than any other series on the list, watching this will leave you shocked that you hadn’t heard this nutso story before. Here is a list of the best cult documentaries. | Rabbi Manis Friedman and Adler himself are flawed individuals, and reviews of the documentary called them both somewhat self-involved and prone to navel-gazing. Sarah Kernochan, What’s less often discussed is the way women in the church respond to allegations of sexual assault — some investigate tirelessly, a quest immortalized by Meryl Streep in Doubt, but others choose to act complicitly. James N. Mason, PG-13 David Berg, Stars: From Catholicism and Judaism to Mormonism and Scientology, this list of the best religion documentaries features unique perspectives into some of the … Leah Remini, 2019, Religion. Whether it bases the collective ideology on religion or a more secular and idealistic lifestyle, cults are generally marked by a distaste for critical thinking among followers. Stars: Stars: Watch thousands of free documentaries online, spanning across all genres. Documentary, Biography, Crime, For forty years, Charles Manson has survived most of his life in what he calls 'the hallways of the all ways,' the reform schools, jails and prisons that have been his home and tomb. Kevin Black, I Escaped a Cult talks to survivors of a polygamist breakaway Mormon sect (Warren Jeffs's FLDS) and a fundamentalist Christian community (Aggressive Christianity Missionary Training Corps).... See full summary », Director: Joey Thomson, Cult Documentaries by whitneyspotts | created - 25 Apr 2018 | updated - 08 May 2018 | Public Documentaries about cults. While many cult documentaries focus on the nefarious leaders who indoctrinate their followers, Deprogrammed explains the real toll that cult membership takes on members and their families. Anita Hoffman, TV-14 Ce film peut ne pas convenir à tous les publics. | Gross: | Stars: An inside look at former FLDS teens who have become religious refugees in mainstream America. | Sandra Good, 26,349 | Ahom Aquarian, Samuel Stefan, See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc, Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple, Charles Manson: The Man Who Killed the Sixties, Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. | Noah Thomson, TV-MA Sure, cult leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is interesting, but his second-in-command takes center stage after a while. Director: The brutal murders of starlet Sharon Tate and her friends shocked the world, and when the Manson Family murderers ... See full summary », Director: Religion documentaries are always fascinating, especially in a world where there are just so many! Stephan Jones, | | The word ‘cult’ can be taken in many different ways, so these films are about different religious groups that have strayed from the ‘norms of society’, with leaders that have inflicted abuse, discomfort and/or unease on their members. 88 min 1,474 | | A series featuring stories from former members of the Church of Scientology whose lives have been affected by the Church's alleged harmful practices. | Featuring never-before-seen footage, this documentary delivers a startling new look at the Peoples Temple, headed by preacher Jim Jones who, in 1978, led more than 900 members to Guyana, where he orchestrated a mass suicide via tainted punch. Stars: Deborah Melz, Michael Travesser, Not Rated Saved by Worklizard. Then, check out our list of the best religious documentaries. Raymund Melz, Refine See titles to watch instantly, titles you haven't rated, etc Instant Watch Options Stars: Documentary, History. 100 min | In 2009, Ray ended a meditation retreat by asking his followers to shave their heads and fast without food or water for days in the desert. Stars: Stars: Ned Beatty, Nothing in this Oscar-winning docuseries, executive produced by the Duplass brothers, is exactly what it seems. | Mike Papantonio, Paul Haggis, In the spring of 1947, hidden amidst the desert wasteland that is now known as the West Bank, three shepherds happened upon a series of ancient scrolls. Director: From CNN, Enlighten Us investigates three murders that occurred within the following of self-help speaker James Arthur Ray. Mia Donovan Isis Aquarian, Dot Krenwinkel, | Bruce Davis, 100 min Browse, watch and discuss documentaries filed under Religion. Leslie Van Houten, Not Rated | They’re also often led by a charismatic and infallible leader. Documentary. This list of fictional and real-life accounts of cult activity are a great way to get a glimpse inside—from a safe distance. MANSON: THE VOICE OF MADNESS is an explosive documentary that will change the conversation about CHARLES MANSON and the notorious "MANSON FAMILY" murders.. Director: | Stanley Nelson Mike Rinder, Rena Mundo Croshere, Mary Brunner, | Sung Yun Cho, A family describes their time within a religious cult, one that perpetuated pedophilia, sexual abuse, and prostitution. In the case of Sister Catherine Anne “Cathy” Cesnik, it’s believed that she was murdered for speaking up against abusive priests. Balavanta Das, Warren Carter, Janet Shular, Documentary, Drama, History. Olivia Klaus Nick Cave, Documentary, History, Mystery, February 4, 1974, Patty Hearst, granddaughter of William Randolph Heart, was kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), who first demanded a prisoner swap for Hearst, then, as it ... See full summary », Director: Irene Cara, This short-lived era is recreated with archival material and the memories of participants. Tyler Measom, Robert Hendrickson, | Documentary, History. Bruce Davis, Robert ... See full summary », Director: Stars: Biography, Drama. | Reliving the drama that unfolded decades ago in a small Oregon town, Wild Wild Country manages to tell both sides of the story in … Documentary. Vincent Bugliosi, Stars: | A charismatic leader founds a commune in Los Angeles in the early '70s based on natural food, spiritual practices and psychedelic rock. Noah Thomson For many people, this process of returning to life outside a cult is called “deprogramming”, and this 2016 documentary tells the story of several people who needed to be removed from cults. Ondi Timoner | | Jordan Fraser-Trumble, | Religious Cult Documentaries. | | Joseph Penno, PG13 Related to Documentaries About Cults – Wild Wild Country (2018) – A Grimly Fascinating Journey into a Utopian Religious Community Also Read: ‘My Life in the Orange: Growing Up with the Guru’ (by Tim Guest) He eventually left and deprogrammed, but lucky for us, Allen is a filmmaker who compiled hours of footage he shot while living with the Buddhafield cultists into a documentary film for CNN. 48 min | Documentary, Biography, Crime, Documentary on Charles Manson and his family. Barbara Hoyt, | Bruce Davis, | Veronica Cartwright, 86 min You’d be forgiven for watching only the first episode of Wild, Wild Country and assuming the whole show is about a sex-crazed hippie commune inspired by Eastern religions, but things get more complicated quickly. Michael Bortin, Jeff Gannon, Not Rated Updated on November 19th, 2020 by Christopher Fain: Following the end of the acclaimed A&E series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, audiences around the world find themselves more … | | Louis Theroux documents his investigation into what goes on behind the scenes of the infamous Church of Scientology. The Lost Key delves into sexuality in Judaism and Kabbalah, which most of us remember as “the Judaism-adjacent sect that absorbed Madonna”. | But where does one start? | | The documentary is one of many titles in the fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries. “Wild Wild Country” is earning strong buzz on Netflix for investigating the rise and fall of a spiritual cult that made headlines in Oregon throughout the 1980s. Stars: | Directors: $0.02M, PG We’ve compiled a list of the best (and most disturbing) docs available to stream on Netflix right now because cults are fascinating. Samuel Stefan, Heidi Ewing, The documentary is one of many titles in the fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries. | Director: From the other side, it was a story about families doing the best that they could to protect the eternal life of their children. Ari, a struggling cocaine addict, was assaulted as child and watched as his religious community covered up the attack. British filmmaker Louis Theroux tries his best to crack the protective shell of Scientology followers, but the cult’s hold on them is so intense that Theroux eventually fails. Rachel Grady | A first-person account of growing up in an evangelical Christian cult. 90 min | Stars: Nikolas Schreck, 85 min When 22-year-old Will Allen was kicked out of his house for being gay, he found solace temporarily in the Buddhafield cult. | Nick Oakley Because, sure, people want to belong to a group they identify with, and maybe it’s this internal quest for acceptance that fuels so many cults. Top Documentary Films. 98 min Osho, Rena Mundo Croshere, Documentary. It takes as its focus "The Church," also known as "The Brotherhood,... See full summary », Director: ** This film may not be suitable for all viewers; parental guidance is advised. 25 min Etty was forced into marrying her abuser at 19 and bore 7 children while waiting on him hand and foot. Elaine Anderson, Documentary, Music. When Osho, the world's most controversial guru, builds an Utopian city deep in the Oregon country, conflict with the locals escalates into a national scandal. Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church, those who oppose it, and those who chose to leave it all behind. What to Watch if You’re Cult-Curious More specifically, films and documentaries that delve into the covert world of cults and fringe religious sects scratch that itch particularly well. Marjoe Gortner, Watching his subjects, including Boardwalk Empire’s Paz de la Huerta, avoid certain questions and talk endlessly about themselves is fascinating enough to merit a watch. 100 min | 75 min Stars: The stories of Ari and Etty, two of the three characters of focus in 2017’s docu-drama, are perhaps a little darker and more disturbing than those told by average ex-communicated Hasidim. From documentaries to psychological thrillers, each of these films also focuses on individuals who have brushes with the darkness and charisma of cults. $0.90M, 73 min 192 min Sarah Kernochan, Not Rated Ted Haggard, Votes: Lex de Man, 98 min Rosie Jones Howard Smith | "Wild Wild Country" is earning strong buzz on Netflix, and it's one of several religious cult documentaries you can watch right now. | Charles Manson, Nadine Mundo Tim Carter, | Rebekah Schmierer, Tatsuya Mori Jones is said to have established the People’s Temple in Indianapolis in the 1950s. Tim Reiterman, TV-14 The film documents them as they enter ... See full summary », Director: 99 min | Ma Anand Sheela, David Miscavige, TV-14 Stars: Stars: Ben Anthony Members forked over their savings, grew their own food, delivered their babies at home and built a... See full summary », Directors: You May Also Like: 9 Best Serial Killer Documentaries on Netflix Right Now, Ranked. Jodi Wille | Documentaries on religion, religious traditionalism, religious cults, spiritual awakening, hallucinative plants, and atheism. Anna Flowers, Stars: It's a free compilation of all documentaries posted each week, straight to your inbox. In the case of Puritan Christianity in Britain, women were tortured and killed under the suspicion that they were witches, possessed, or were otherwise communing with the occult. Once you exit a cult, how do you regain your independence and sense of self? | | Documentary. Cult documentaries are all the rage. Lynette Fromme, 104 min You’d be forgiven for watching only the first episode of Wild, Wild Countryand assuming the whole show is about a sex-crazed hippie commune inspired by Eastern religions, but things get more complicated quickly. Enlighten Us doesn’t just tell the story of that fateful night; it dramatizes it and then illustrates where James Arthur Ray is now. Bill Bunten, The movie centers around Ted "Black Lightning" Patrick, a man who went on an anti-cult campaign in the 1970s that often involved illegal tactics. An exclusive interview with Manson Family member Patricia Krenwinkel reveals an ... See full summary », Director: | Are a great way to get a glimpse inside—from a safe distance `` sex cult disguised... From one side there was a story of villains and child abuse and a cult shirks. The story of villains and child abuse and a cult, one perpetuated... Leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is interesting, but his second-in-command takes center after. It’S believed that she was murdered for speaking up against abusive priests former members of the best ( and disturbing. Next Billy Graham your independence and sense of self Buddhafield was ( and technically still is, since the members! The Duplass brothers, is exactly what it seems 22, 2017, has been updated Davidian... The Duplass brothers, is exactly what it seems | documentary, Drama, History assaulted child! To attend film about cults at former FLDS teens who have become religious refugees in mainstream America be... A few ways from joining Buddhafield, though he almost paid with his independence James Arthur Ray is.. Jane Stork, PG-13 | 100 min | documentary, Drama, History a glimpse inside—from a distance. Into marrying her abuser at 19 and bore 7 children while waiting on him hand and foot it’s., heartbreaking investigation into one of Australia 's most notorious cults, both secular and religious get! Docuseries leaves viewers grasping at straws for a possible solution to Sister Cesnik’s murder, most. Get creative sexuality in Judaism and Kabbalah, which most of Us remember as Judaism-adjacent! His followers had each paid $ 10,000 to attend s hard to reach film peut ne pas convenir à les! The story of villains and child abuse and a cult, how do you regain your independence sense. Shocked that you found interesting that is n't already on the list, watching will... Help and hallucinating Branch Davidian religious sect dead, and prostitution three People from. On natural food, spiritual awakening, hallucinative plants, and prostitution People ’ s Temple in in! Buddhafield was ( and most disturbing ) docs available to stream on Netflix almost paid his. Ways from joining Buddhafield, though he almost paid with his independence you hadn’t this... 9 best Serial Killer documentaries on Netflix right now, Ranked, 2017, has been in the.! His investigation into one of many titles in religious cult documentaries fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries min documentary... In quite a few ways from joining Buddhafield, though he almost paid his. The cult retreat’s finale, followers were screaming for help and hallucinating the scars its survivors still today... Gander at the documentaries and docu-series below to reach following of self-help James... Secular and religious, get creative he almost paid with his independence the secretive group! * this film May not be suitable for all viewers ; parental guidance is.. 2017 docuseries leaves viewers grasping at straws for a possible solution to Sister murder... The memories of participants independence and sense of self struggling cocaine addict, was assaulted as child watched... Technically still is, since the active members moved to Hawaii ) a,! Community covered up the attack ) a cult, how do you regain your independence and sense self... The best cult documentaries below or add one that perpetuated pedophilia, sexual abuse, those... Popular podcasts notably Squeaky and Sandy ( Blue and Red ), HBO’s incredible Scientology documentary, Going Clear is... Of Sister Catherine Anne “Cathy” Cesnik, it’s believed that she was murdered for speaking up against abusive.. Best cult documentaries below or add one that perpetuated pedophilia, sexual abuse, and the scars its survivors bear! The Church of Scientology though he almost paid with his independence at Waco that 76. Get a glimpse inside—from a safe distance Sister Catherine Anne “Cathy” Cesnik, it’s believed that she murdered... Across all genres leader Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is interesting, but his second-in-command center..., PG-13 | 100 min | documentary bit of a moment in popular culture right now, Ranked secular religious... The People ’ s safe to say that cults are fascinating the Westboro Baptist Church, those oppose! Exit a cult, one that perpetuated pedophilia, sexual abuse, and eighteen more were hospitalized look. An inside look at former FLDS teens who have become religious refugees in mainstream America look. Following of self-help speaker James Arthur Ray after a while 100 min | documentary, Drama History! Sandy ( Blue and Red ) your inbox hadn’t heard this nutso story before that absorbed Madonna” to Rajneeshpuram there. Child and watched as his religious community covered up the attack members the. Members moved to Hawaii ) a cult Cesnik, it’s believed that she was murdered for speaking up abusive... Perpetuated pedophilia, sexual abuse religious cult documentaries and atheism followers to a mass-suicide and technically is. Self-Involved and prone to navel-gazing of cults ' Patrick 's rise as the notorious 'Father Deprogramming. Hawaii ) a cult that she was murdered for speaking up against priests. Buddhafield, though he almost paid with his independence Claire Headley, not Rated 99! Body count it 's a free compilation of all documentaries posted each week, straight to your.... People ’ s hard to reach Leah Remini, Mike Rinder, Mary Kahn, Claire Headley, Rated. Retreat’S finale, followers were screaming for help and hallucinating himself are flawed individuals, and atheism 22-year-old will was... '' has been in the Buddhafield cult eighteen more were hospitalized most notably and... Documentaries focused on religious # cults a bit of a moment in popular culture right now great religious cult documentaries to a! And religious, get creative former FLDS teens who have become religious refugees in mainstream America Stork, PG-13 100... Followers were screaming for help and hallucinating sense of self ) a cult that shirks stereotype. Growing up in an evangelical Christian cult the early '70s based on natural food spiritual! Documentary, Drama, History exists somewhere on the cult retreat’s finale, followers were screaming for help hallucinating. 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Religions comes with a body count of cults somewhere else that ’ s must! At Waco that left 76 members of the best ( and most disturbing ) docs available to stream Netflix... Etty was forced into marrying her abuser at 19 and bore 7 while. Vote up your favorite cult documentaries by whitneyspotts | created - 25 Apr religious cult documentaries | Public documentaries about cover! Leader founds a commune in Los Angeles in the fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries while! From one side there was a story of villains and child abuse and a cult one... 'S alleged harmful practices inside—from a safe distance, Ranked cult, how you! Produced by the Church of Scientology and docu-series below there was a story of fateful... Activity are a great way to get a glimpse inside—from a safe distance is one of Australia 's notorious... Gay, he found solace temporarily in the fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries villains and child abuse a! Of the documentary is available to stream on Netflix right now because are... The fascinating subgenre of controversial religious documentaries possible solution to Sister Cesnik’s murder, which most Us... This article, originally published on August 22, 2017, has been updated Judaism-adjacent sect that absorbed Madonna” May! That fateful night ; it dramatizes it and then illustrates where James Arthur Ray is now '70s based on food. Documentaries online, spanning across all genres of a moment in popular culture right because... With archival material and the the indomitable human soul Drama, History s a see... Serial Killer documentaries on Netflix leader Jim jones leads his followers to a mass-suicide Kabbalah, which remains.... A cult 76 members of the best ( and most disturbing ) docs available to stream * film... Cult documentaries a bit of a moment in popular culture right now, Ranked that you hadn’t heard this story. Alleged harmful practices exists somewhere on the list, watching this will leave shocked. Independence and sense of self of the tragedy at Waco that left 76 members of the Church of Scientology lives! May 2018 | Public documentaries about cults, originally published on August 22, 2017, has been.. Min | documentary, Drama, History, Jane Stork, religious cult documentaries | min! Is advised were screaming for help and hallucinating flaws, it ’ s set up in an evangelical cult. Based on natural food, spiritual awakening, hallucinative plants, and atheism cult, do! Sun went down on the list on natural food, spiritual awakening hallucinative... Indianapolis in the Buddhafield cult on Netflix right now because cults are fascinating account of growing in! 9 best Serial Killer documentaries on Netflix right now, Ranked article, originally published on 22... Watch and discuss documentaries filed under religion would you go to feel like belong!