Cults are equally fascinating and terrifying. Perhaps it’s their strange combination of charisma, chaos, and control, or the unsettling idea that faith, when taken too far, can become dangerous. Cult stories are hard to look away from: part horror, part psychology, and part mystery. And when you see it play out on the screen in front of you, it can be all the more invigorating.
From terrifying documentaries to captivating dramas, these shows reveal how faith can turn into obsession and how power can transform devotion into disaster. Here are some deliciously dreadful shows that’ll creep you out and also totally hook you in!
Wild Wild Country (Netflix)
When red-robed followers invade an Oregon desert to construct a “utopia,” you know it won’t end well. Wild Wild Country narrates the real tale of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) and his community, Rajneeshpuram.
The six-part Netflix docuseries is both fascinating and distressing. It’s full of contradictions, peaceful principles turning into power fights, paranoia, and even attempted murder. What makes it addictive is its uncertainty: was it belief, or fanaticism? When it ends, you’ll still be asking.
Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle (Hulu)
No cult story is more notorious than Jonestown. This two-part documentary series revisits Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, whose 1978 mass murder-suicide claimed over 900 lives.
Through tapes and survivor testimonies, Jonestown illustrates how one man’s charm led to total dominion. It’s not just about tragedy, but also about how good intentions turn into delusion. You’ll feel stunned long after the credits roll.
The Vow (HBO)
The Vow is a psychological thriller that dives deep into NXIVM, a self-help organization that assured enlightenment but hid a dark secret. This cult forced members to call themselves “slaves,” so you know something bizarre was going on!
The series, also listed in Hulu’s guide of top cult documentaries, is narrated by former insiders, which gives it an uncanny sense of intimacy. Mark Vicente and Sarah Edmondson’s video captures the unsettling normalcy of all—seminars, mantras, smiling faces—until the horror below begins to unfold.
It’s part disclosure, part healing session, and part crime story. As the tale unfolds, you begin to see how manipulation can be disguised as motivation.
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence (Hulu)
Stolen Youth tells the story of college students manipulated by Larry Ray, a classmate’s father, into years of emotional abuse.
It’s surprising not just for what happened, but for who it happened to, intelligent, privileged students at a prestigious university. The quiet pacing makes it even creepier, showing how abuse can hide below intelligence and trust. What makes it even crazier is that it could so easily have been any of us!
The Path (Hulu)
The Path transforms cult life into an exceptional human drama. Starring Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan, and Hugh Dancy, the series revolves around Meyerism, a movement that combines new age principles and complete devotion.
When Eddie (Paul) begins to doubt the group’s leader, the faith cracks, and fear floods in. The show feels so realistic and disturbing, which is what draws you in even more. Therapy-speak, trust circles, and spiritual jargon make manipulation seem comforting, making it that much more petrifying.
Unorthodox (Netflix)
Some cults don’t look like cults at all. Unorthodox tells the tale of Esty, a young woman escaping her ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn. Based on Deborah Feldman’s biography, it’s a silent but powerful escape tale.
Shira Haas delivers a spectacular performance — fragile yet bold — as Esty discovers freedom in Berlin. There’s no violence here, but the emotional control is cruel. It’s as haunting as it’s real: a life bound by obedience, undone by bravery.
Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (Netflix)
Keep Sweet depicts a reality of nightmarish proportions. This four-part Netflix series goes into the world of Warren Jeffs, the self-declared prophet of the FLDS Church.
Through interviews and videos, the show exposes forced marriages, isolation, and unthinkable abuse, committed in the name of devotion. It’s one of the most distressing cult documentaries ever made, not because it’s sensationalized, but because it’s factual.
The Leftovers (HBO)
When 2% of the world’s population disappears, sorrow takes strange forms. In The Leftovers, a quiet cult called the “Guilty Remnant” believes life is no longer important. Dressed in white and chain-smoking, they haunt people attempting to move on.
The pain, devotion, and void in this show merge into something attractive. It’s emotional, creepy, and impossible to shake.
Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God (Hulu)
Amy Carlson, the self-proclaimed “Mother God,” claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and Marilyn Monroe. Her online commune, powered by livestreams and hashtags, descended into anarchy before her mysterious death.
Hulu’s Love Has Won depicts the rise and fall of a digital-age cult. It’s bizarre, darkly hilarious, and deeply distressing. Watching followers worship her through YouTube feels unreal until you realize how common virtual cults have become.
Escaping Polygamy (A&E / Hulu)
Escaping Polygamy follows three sisters who fled a conservative Mormon sect and now risk all to support others in doing the same.
Unlike other cult documentaries, this one unfolds in real time. Secret meetings, late-night missions, and family confrontations make every episode tense and perilous. It’s raw, emotional, and less polished than the others, which makes it feel authentic.
Why Do These Cult Shows Keep Us Addicted?
Cults reflect our deepest fears and desires. They demonstrate how good intentions can easily morph into chaos, and how the desire to belong can become a trap. These shows fascinate us because they reveal the brittleness of belief.
When we watch, we’re not just staring at the ridiculous. We’re trying to understand. What made them fall for it? And secretly, could we? We get addicted to these shows because they’re not about beasts, but about people who’re lost, optimistic, and desperate for purpose. They portray how the search for purpose can lead to darkness.
From Oregon deserts to Brooklyn roads, from digital livestreams to remote communes, these cult stories reveal a common truth: control always starts with belief. Each show serves as a warning and a mirror of our trust, faith, and longing for something greater than ourselves.
We watch these for the excitement, fear, and mystery. But perhaps we also watch to remind ourselves about where the line between devotion and submission lies. So go ahead, hit play. Just don’t be stunned if, long after the final episode, you’re still wondering who’s leading and who’s following.
