20 Best Cult Documentaries of All Time – Must-Watch Stories That Will Haunt You

These stories tap into something primal in us: the desire to belong, the vulnerability of belief, and the terrifying charisma of those who weaponize faith, fear, and love to manipulate others.

Whether set in the quiet suburbs of Southern California or deep within isolated compounds, cults represent extreme human behavior wrapped in the guise of spirituality, self-improvement, or community. And perhaps what’s most disturbing is just how easily “normal” people fall into them.

So why are we so fascinated by cults?

Part of the answer lies in curiosity—morbid or otherwise. We want to understand how intelligent, often well-meaning individuals get drawn into radical ideologies or abusive systems.

We want to know how one person can wield so much power that others will give up their money, their families, their identities, and even their lives.

Cult documentaries offer not only voyeuristic insight into these micro-societies but also act as cautionary tales.

They reveal the subtle, step-by-step process of coercion and control, making us wonder, could it happen to me?

20. My Scientology Movie (2015)

Louis Theroux brings his signature awkward charm and razor-sharp curiosity to My Scientology Movie, one of the most creatively constructed documentaries on the Church of Scientology.

Denied access to the Church and its facilities, Theroux uses actors to reenact alleged abuses and bizarre rituals as described by former senior member Mark Rathbun, who acts as his guide. The result is surreal, darkly funny, and unsettling.

What starts as a documentary turns into a psychological cat-and-mouse game as the Church begins surveilling the filmmakers, turning the tables on the documentarians. It’s a fascinating meta-commentary on control, secrecy, and fear, told with wit and courage.

19. The Source Family (2012)

Equal parts bizarre and fascinating, The Source Family tells the story of Father Yod—part rock star, part spiritual guru, and full-blown cult leader.

In the 1970s Los Angeles, Yod created a commune centered around Eastern mysticism, psychedelic drugs, and a natural food restaurant frequented by celebrities.

The film is visually rich, featuring archival footage, interviews, and music from the cult itself.

While less harrowing than others on this list, it’s one of the most unique, entertaining, and psychedelic cult stories ever documented. A colorful reminder that even the sunniest utopias can carry sinister undertones.

18. Children of God: Lost and Found (2007)

This harrowing and cathartic documentary by Noah Thomson features personal testimonies from former members of the Children of God, an evangelical sex cult led by David Berg.

Told through the eyes of survivors who endured systematic abuse, including forced sexual acts as children under the cult’s warped doctrines, the film is brutally honest and emotionally raw.

Instead of focusing on Berg or sensationalist accounts, the film gives the survivors the power to narrate their own trauma and healing process.

At just over an hour, Children of God is brief but hits like a gut punch. It’s an unmissable document of resilience and reckoning.

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

Just watched another Jonestown documentary, called Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple (2006).

Not as in depth as Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle, which is on iPlayer, and I recommend.

— twitch.tv/Limmy (@DaftLimmy) April 28, 2024

Stanley Nelson’s devastating documentary tells the infamous story of Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, culminating in the horrific 1978 mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana.

What sets Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple apart is its intimate interviews with survivors, former members, and Jones’ own associates.

These voices offer chilling insight into how a movement that began with civil rights advocacy and racial integration descended into paranoia, control, and mass death.

Archival footage, personal testimonies, and expert narration combine to form a powerful documentary that is as emotionally affecting as it is historically significant.

16. Deprogrammed (2015)

In Deprogrammed, filmmaker Mia Donovan explores the life and mission of Ted “Black Lightning” Patrick, the father of the anti-cult movement.

During the 1970s, Patrick became notorious for his controversial practice of forcibly “deprogramming” cult members at the request of desperate parents.

Through interviews and rare footage, the documentary explores whether Patrick was a savior or a kidnapper—and whether his methods were justified.

Donovan’s personal connection (her brother was also involved in a cult) adds emotional weight to the narrative. The film raises critical questions about free will, trauma, and the blurry lines between rescue and coercion.

15. American Commune (2013)

Directed by sisters Nadine Mundo and Rena Mundo Croshere, American Commune is a deeply personal, nostalgic, and poignant documentary about their childhood home—The Farm, a utopian commune founded in the 1970s by Stephen and Ina May Gaskin.

While not a cult in the traditional sense, the documentary reveals how the idealism of the counterculture era slowly gave way to internal contradictions and social decay.

What makes this film so unique is the first-person narrative: it’s not just a story about a commune, but a story of memory, identity, and reconciliation.

The directors return to their past to confront unresolved questions, and in doing so, they allow viewers a glimpse into how utopian dreams can unravel into disillusionment.

14. Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (2023)

@tv_friend #truecrime #truecrimetiktok #hulu #whattowatch #tvrecommendation #stolenyouth #tv #docuseries ♬ original sound – TV Friend

One of the most recent—and most disturbing—entries on this list, Stolen Youth unpacks the slow-burning horror of Larry Ray, a manipulative father who moved into his daughter’s Sarah Lawrence College dorm and started a cult among her friends.

Over the next decade, Ray gaslit, abused, and extorted his victims, convincing them they were broken and only he could fix them.

Told through firsthand accounts and texts from those who endured it, the documentary examines how even the most educated, promising young people can be caught in webs of psychological domination. It’s as much about toxic relationships as it is about cults, and the ending while harrowing, is ultimately hopeful.

13. Escaping Twin Flames (2023)

This Netflix docuseries digs into the modern-day digital cult known as the Twin Flames Universe, founded by Jeff and Shaleia Divine.

Peddling a twisted version of soulmate theory wrapped in New Age and pseudo-spiritual rhetoric, the cult preyed on lonely individuals seeking love.

As the series unfolds, viewers learn how the group encourages members to stalk or harass their “twin flames,” leading to psychological damage and even legal troubles.

Through interviews with ex-members and leaked training videos, Escaping Twin Flames is both fascinating and horrifying—a story of obsession, coercion, and control in the internet age.

12. The Vow (2020–2022)

This two-season HBO docuseries meticulously chronicles the rise and fall of NXIVM, the so-called “self-help” group that turned into a full-blown sex cult under the leadership of Keith Raniere.

Using hours of footage from filmmaker-turned-whistleblower Mark Vicente, The Vow offers a behind-the-scenes look at how intelligent, successful people were manipulated into submission.

Season 2 follows Raniere’s trial, getting into legal proceedings and survivor testimonies. With incredible access and cinematic storytelling, The Vow is one of the most comprehensive and gripping cult documentaries ever made.

11. Sons of Perdition (2010)

Sons of Perdition follows the painful and courageous journeys of three teenage boys who escape from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a rigid and oppressive offshoot of Mormonism led at the time by Warren Jeffs.

For seemingly trivial offenses—like watching movies or listening to music—they are cast out of their communities and families. But freedom comes at a price.

Without any support system, the teens struggle with homelessness, unemployment, and emotional trauma.

Directed by Tyler Measom and Jennilyn Merten, the film offers an unflinching look at how indoctrination warps identity and how difficult rebuilding your life can be when everything you’ve ever known has been stripped away. It’s a heart-wrenching yet inspiring look at resilience and rebirth.

10. Holy Hell (2016)

@tcdocs #holyhell #truecrimetiktok #documentary #googleplay #primevideo ♬ Oh No – Kreepa

Holy Hell is one of the most shocking and personal cult documentaries you’ll ever see. Filmmaker Will Allen was a member of the Buddhafield cult for over two decades, and he captured hundreds of hours of footage from the inside.

His leader, Michel Rostand—an enigmatic figure with movie-star looks and a deeply abusive streak—claims to offer spiritual enlightenment but thrives on manipulation, psychological control, and sexual exploitation.

The film’s real power lies in Allen’s narrative. It’s not just an exposé; it’s a reckoning. What starts as dreamy footage of yoga, nature, and community slowly evolves into something dark and devastating.

9. Going Clear: Scientology & the Prison of Belief (2015)

Based on Lawrence Wright’s explosive book, Alex Gibney’s Going Clear is a landmark in investigative documentary filmmaking.

It charts the rise of Scientology, from L. Ron Hubbard’s sci-fi roots to its Hollywood expansion and alleged psychological and physical abuses.

Interviews with former high-ranking members like Mike Rinder and Marty Rathbun detail practices of manipulation, “auditing,” financial exploitation, and even celebrity involvement (including Tom Cruise and John Travolta).

Gibney approaches the topic with measured calm, letting the facts and testimonials build a portrait that’s both damning and deeply disturbing.

It’s essential viewing for anyone interested in how belief systems become instruments of control.

8. Life After Manson (2014)

A brief yet powerful documentary that zeroes in on Patricia Krenwinkel, a former Manson family member convicted in the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders.

At only 24 minutes, Life After Manson feels more like a confessional than a traditional doc, allowing Krenwinkel to reflect on her choices, the manipulation she experienced, and the decades she’s spent behind bars.

What makes it so compelling is its emotional intimacy—there are no frills, just a woman reckoning with unimaginable crimes and the cult psychology that led her there. It’s chilling, humanizing, and unforgettable.

7. Kumaré (2011)

In one of the most daring social experiments ever filmed, documentarian Vikram Gandhi poses as an Indian guru named Sri Kumaré, attracting a group of devoted followers in the American Southwest. His goal: to show how easy it is to create a spiritual movement based on nothing. What follows is surprisingly profound.

Even as Gandhi prepares to reveal the truth, he realizes that his teachings—though fictional—have genuinely helped people.

Kumaré challenges our understanding of belief, authenticity, and the role of charisma in leadership. It’s funny, deeply philosophical, and ultimately emotional—a documentary that flips the genre on its head.

6. Wild Wild Country (2018)

“Wild Wild Country is the first great documentary of 2018 and one that gets a high recommendation. I dare you to start it and not end up binge-watching this one.”https://t.co/ay2GTnqOkq

— Wild Wild Country (@wildwildcountry) March 12, 2018

Wild Wild Country is the stuff of cult documentary legend. It follows Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later known as Osho) and his followers as they build a massive commune in rural Oregon during the 1980s.

Tensions with local residents escalate into bioterror attacks, immigration fraud, and a full-blown siege.

Told through extensive interviews with both Rajneeshees and government officials, the series paints a morally complex picture of idealism gone rogue.

What begins as a spiritual quest devolves into a warzone. Gorgeously shot and masterfully edited, it’s a saga of power, faith, and the American Dream turned nightmare.

5. The Deep End (2022)

@lovecolbyjanine I love yall 🤍 #thedeepend #spiritualtok #spiritualawakening #spiritualjourney ♬ original sound – YT 🎥: ColbyJanine

The Deep End offers an inside look at the controversial spiritual teacher Teal Swan, a self-styled guru with a massive online following. With charisma and stunning visuals, Swan preaches radical honesty and emotional healing, but former followers allege psychological abuse and cult-like behavior.

Filmed over three years, this four-part series feels like a psychological thriller, constantly questioning whether Swan is a healer or a manipulator.

It’s also a powerful commentary on influencer culture, showing how social media can weaponize spirituality. Unnerving and visually captivating, The Deep End is one of the most important modern cult documentaries.

4. Manson (1973)

Filmed shortly after the Manson Family murders, this gritty and controversial documentary features interviews with actual members of the cult, including Squeaky Fromme and Sandra Good.

It offers an uncensored look into their beliefs, behavior, and unwavering devotion to Charles Manson.

There’s no dramatic soundtrack or flashy editing—just stark reality. What makes Manson so unsettling is how candidly the “family” speaks, often rationalizing or glorifying their actions.

It’s raw, disturbing, and unlike anything else on this list—a documentary relic from a moment when America’s innocence was shattered by one man’s madness.

3. Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997)

This Academy Award-nominated documentary is an unflinching investigation into the 1993 Waco siege between the Branch Davidians and the U.S. government.

Combining FBI footage, congressional hearings, and interviews with survivors, it delivers a searing critique of both the cult’s leadership under David Koresh and the law enforcement response.

The tragedy left 80 people dead, including children, and this documentary doesn’t flinch in showing how systemic failures and ideological extremes collided with deadly consequences. If you’re looking for one of the most journalistic and factual cult docs ever made, this is it.

2. Prophet’s Prey (2015)

Amy Berg’s Prophet’s Prey exposes the evil masquerading as holiness within the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS). Warren Jeffs, now imprisoned for child sexual assault, continues to command followers from his cell.

With investigative journalist Jon Krakauer and private investigator Sam Brower leading the charge, this documentary unveils the monstrous extent of Jeffs’ crimes.

The pacing is gripping, and the impact is emotional—there’s no turning away from the trauma of the survivors. It’s one of the most sobering and necessary documentaries about religious extremism ever produced.

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

While most Jonestown documentaries focus on Jim Jones, this heartbreaking entry tells the story of the women who stood beside him—and helped carry out his orders.

These women weren’t just victims; they were enablers, co-conspirators, and in many cases, survivors.

Through archival footage and interviews, The Women Behind the Massacre offers a different lens on one of the most infamous cult tragedies in history. It’s a powerful examination of loyalty, abuse, and how coercion can mask itself as belief.

It avoids sensationalism and instead focuses on humanity, making it both devastating and necessary.

Final Thoughts

Cults reflect the darkest corners of the human experience—manipulation, desperation, belief, and betrayal.

These documentaries don’t just retell events; they show us how ordinary people can be pulled into extraordinary and often terrifying situations.

Even in Hollywood’s most successful movie franchises, the themes of control and influence echo, reminding us of the fine line between fiction and reality.

Each of these films is a lesson, a warning, and a mirror. Watch them not just for entertainment, but for understanding.