20 chilling documentaries about escaping cults

This Netflix documentary is challenging to watch, but it's a gripping story that everybody should watch once. It tells the disturbing story of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a polygamist Mormon denomination led by Warren Jeffs. The multi-episode production features interviews with survivors, many of whom had sexual relations with Jeffs, who recount their experience and what it took to get out. 

In The Program: Cons, Cults and Kidnapping, a filmmaker travels to the Academy at Ivy Ridge, a behavioral school she was sent to as a child that harmed and abused her behind her family's back, to expose the truth of what happened to her and other victims many years ago. “For a long time, I wasn’t going to include my story because I just wanted to be a filmmaker and make it about this issue, not me,” the director said about the film. “But after all the years of research, when I found my own file and learned that it’s my very own program that left all this evidence behind, I was like, ‘Oh no, I’m going to have to be in this now.’” 

Hulu's new documentary, Devil in the Family, focuses on the lives of the oldest children of Ruby Franke. Franke is a disgraced YouTuber who once had over two million subscribers on the platform, turned convicted felon after pleading guilty to charges of child abuse — after they escaped the emotional and manipulative chains she placed on them for several years. The three-episode series is an emotional watch that may fill you with holy indignation ... you've been warned. 

The Vow is a two-season docuseries about Keith Raniere, a cult leader who ran the now-defunct self-help company NXIVM. The program's 15 episodes focus on different parts of the chilling story and end with Reniere's conviction, which we won't spoil for you here. However, if you're interested in documentaries like this, then this is one you have to stream. 

In this HBO docuseries, former members and loved ones of former members of the religious group Heaven's Gate, which Marshall Applewhite led, recount their experience being part of this mind-controlling cult, which manipulated members into believing they'd enter alien spacecraft if they took their own lives. 

The Oprah Winfrey Network produced the chilling documentary Sons of Perdition, which follows three teenage boys who were exiled from their families and the FLDS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints led by Warren Jeffs. The 2010 production follows a format similar to that of the TLC reality show Breaking Amish. 

Love Has Won is a three-part docuseries that tells the story of Amy Carlson, a religious leader known as Mother God, who led a cult of people who believed she was God and Jesus Christ reincarnated. According to some of the cult's ex-members, Carlson thought she could heal people of fatal diseases "with the power of love." 

We've all heard the idea of having a "twin flame," but what if it's all that social media has made it out to be? In the Netflix documentary Escaping Twin Flames, several former members of Twin Flame Universe, a controversial online community that preys on hopeless romantics, share what really happened after taking part in classes that allegedly encouraged them to do wild things for love. 

Wild Wild Country is a must-see Netflix docuseries. It examines the cult of the Indian spiritual guru Osho, who established a "utopian" society in Oregon. However, after some time, Osho and his cult following became at odds with members of the community, making for a binge-worthy six episodes. 

Scientology is a controversial religion that has attracted many believers and several famous people, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta. This 2015 documentary, available to stream on Max, tells the story of the religion from the beginning and details the alleged abuse and horror that's existed within the church's four walls for decades. 

Yes, even diet programs can turn into cults. However, that may be unsurprising when you consider the things some popular titles promote. In this documentary, the creators retell the story of Gwen Shamblin, the founder of the religious weight-loss program "Weigh Down Workshop." Across the five episodes, former members share their experiences with Shamblin and recount terrifying stories. 

This Netflix documentary tells the story of 7M management in Los Angeles, which former members have described as a cult. The three-episode series covers the company's history and its owner, Robert Israel Shinn. During the interviews, members also claimed they were abused and suffered financial exploitation. 

In this Hulu series, survivors and eyewitnesses share new stories about the Jonestown massacre, which included 918 deaths, orchestrated by American religious cult leader Jim Jones. 

Life After Manson offers a gripping look into the mind of Patricia Krenwinkel, one of Charles Manson’s most devoted followers, as she reflects on her past crimes from behind bars. Through candid interviews, the documentary explores her journey of reckoning, remorse, and the lingering emotional grip of Manson’s influence. 

Filmmaker Will Allen moved to Hollywood shortly after graduating college and captured exclusive footage from his time in the "Buddhafield" cult. The group mainly recruits members through yoga studios before brainwashing them into believing the cult leader, who goes by many names, is God. Allen is extremely vulnerable and candid in his storytelling, making this one a thrilling watch. 

Hulu's three-episode documentary about the students who fell under the dark influence of a friend's father at their school, Sarah Lawrence College, delves into the shocking manipulation, coercion, and abuse several survivors suffered at the hands of Larry Ray. Through firsthand accounts and chilling revelations, the series unpacks how one man’s control upended their lives and their long journey toward justice. 

Born in Synanon takes a deep dive into the wild and unsettling world of the Synanon cult, told by the people who actually grew up in it. Mixing personal stories with old footage, the documentary unpacks how a rehab program with good intentions morphed into a strict, controlling movement, which left a lasting impact on those who lived through it.

Netflix's three-part documentary on the Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh, is a gripping production on religious cults and the impact they can have on entire communities. It features footage from the 51-day standoff in 1993 between the group and the FBI, which ended with the deaths of over 70 adults and children. 

You've likely already heard of the Duggar family from their TLC reality show 19 Kids & Counting. Although things looked picture-perfect from the outside, the inside was a dumpster fire. In this Prime Video docuseries, a few of the family members discuss their experience filming and how their parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, allegedly turned pivotal years of their lives into nightmares. 

This title is pretty straightforward, and the series, which you can stream on Hulu, recounts many of the stories listed here, only in a condensed format. Plus, some episodes focus on a different angle, which is interesting to see.