Because cults are frequently shrouded in secrecy and lies, they have long been a source of fascination for viewers. Not only do they dominate the news, but also Hollywood and the media landscape as a whole. Although we frequently end up with more questions than when we started, our curiosity grows as we learn more about them.
This idea also offers rich and fruitful soil for a multitude of genres, from real crime to drama and science fiction. There are countless opportunities for where they can lead you and no restrictions on what you can do with them. If cults are your thing, there is no shortage of material to choose from, from “Yellowjackets” to “The Family.” Here are 12 fictional and documentary-style shows on cults that will hook you and lead you on an unstoppable binge-watching adventure.
The first episode of the sci-fi thriller series “Orphan Black” has amateur criminal Sarah Manning observing another woman cross in front of a train. Sarah notices that the deceased woman looks uncannily like her, so she takes advantage of the circumstance to steal this woman’s identity. But it soon becomes clear that this likeness is not a coincidence, but rather a component of a much larger web of control and conspiracies.
The fact that the tale is centered on not one, but two cults makes this show a fantastic fit for the cult genre. The Neolution Movement is a group committed to advancing the field of eugenics in order to change the direction of human evolution. At the other extreme are the Proletheans, an extremely fanatical religious sect that vehemently opposes the Neulotions’ purpose because they see it as an insult to both Christianity and divine creation.
The classic cultish pandemonium of brainwashing, religion, and murder is present in this program, along with supernatural and technological components like biotechnology and cloning. It offers convincing commentary on the existential ethics of eugenics and identity, in addition to being an engaging puzzle where unraveling and explaining one thread only reveals ten more.
Runaways
In Marvel’s “Runaways,” a group of youngsters learn that their parents may actually be genuine members of a cult. They don’t actually refer to themselves as a cult; instead, they go by the name The Church of Gibborim and pretend to be an ordinary public community church. Deeper investigation reveals that something evil is occurring behind the altar, as regular after-service abductions, ritual sacrifices, and even extraterrestrial worship take place.
Although the show has a few religious and true crime themes running through it, its primary focus is actually science fiction, with some superheroes tossed in for good measure. It shouldn’t be a surprise that it takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because it does. It’s the ideal show for anyone who wants to see a program about cults but doesn’t want to become overly consumed by the sorrow or seriousness that usually comes with these programs. “Runaways” does have its share of darker moments, but for the most part, it just wants to have fun.
Sacred Lies
A drama series called “Sacred Lies” is based on Stephanie Oakes’ book “The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly,” which follows a teenage girl named Minnow Bly as she flees a religious cult. Twelve years before to this escape, her cult, the Kevinians, moved into a secluded area of the forest to practice their beliefs in order to be free from social constraints and censure. Bly emerges from the woods in a desperate and confused state, managing to free herself from the Kevinians’ tight hold. She severely beats a young man during this escape for reasons that are initially unknown, and she soon finds herself in juvenile jail.
The girl herself seems to be unable to discover solutions to the series’ many mysteries and unanswered questions about what exactly happened to her. It appears that the truth is just out of reach for everyone concerned because the cult she claims to have left behind is nowhere to be discovered, and its leader has ostensibly been dead. As the secret is gradually revealed, layer by layer, the audience is forced to wait alongside Bly. Bly must try to transition to society and non-cult living, which is a difficult process that many cult survivors have had to go through after escaping, in addition to uncovering this past.
The Family
The Fellowship, nicknamed The Family, is an extreme fundamentalist Christian organization that is the subject of the interesting and upsetting documentary series “The Family.” This series uncovers the extent to which this intense organization is connected to some of the most prominent and powerful individuals in the entire planet.
The Family is based on religious ideas, and one of its objectives is to prepare young men for leadership roles with the end in mind of producing a nation ruled by fundamentalists who fear God. The only prerequisite for indoctrination is a strong belief in God, and preferably a Christian background. Despite the organization’s conservative leanings, which do bleed into many of their principles, they have associations with influential people and politicians on both sides of the political spectrum.
Jeff Sharlet, who has written extensively about the group, served as executive producer of the program in an effort to highlight exactly how many different endeavors this group is involved in. Particularly if you reside in the United States, where the political repercussions of the group’s actions can be seen most plainly, this mind-bending documentary series will rock you to the core. You’ll be left in a constant state of paranoia after seeing it, seeing every well-known individual or entity that comes into your head with suspicion. Although facing the truth can be difficult, this series won’t allow you turn away.
The Following
The drama series “The Following” stars Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, an ex-FBI agent determined to find and apprehend Joe Carroll, an escaped serial killer. Carroll, a former English professor who drew inspiration from romantic literature and the sinister liaisons of authors like Edgar Allen Poe, was jailed for the savage murder of a number of his female students. Upon making his getaway, he discovers that he has developed a cult of other murdering deviants with like-minded personal goals who will do anything to assist him in finishing his masterpiece.
The classic cults of enlightenment and religion are not the emphasis of this series, but it does have one common element: the charismatic leader who can manipulate and control followers to perform unfathomable things. Even while these are undoubtedly voluntary followers, it does illustrate the type of brainwashing that takes place when one person controls a group of soldiers that are dangerously compliant. It’s the ideal series for anyone who prefers their cults without all the been-there-done-that spiritual commentary and with a dash of death and mayhem.
The Path
The multifaceted Eddie Lane, a devoted follower of the extreme lifestyle movement known as Meyerism, is the center of the Hulu drama series “The Path.” Eddie had a terrifying vision while traveling to Peru, which makes him doubt his commitment and sends him on a mission to figure out what exactly he’s engaged in and whether he wants to continue.
Meyerism is a made-up group that combines numerous infamous elements of extreme cults and religions, but their central tenet is spiritual enlightenment. The acceptance of one guiding principle—that most people are damaged creatures and that this brokenness is what leads to more suffering in the world—lays the foundation for this enlightenment.
In contrast to many other television shows about cults, “The Path” doesn’t always depict them as nasty or wicked. Meyerism actually offers a lot of positive principles. They uphold the idea of equality for all people and reject any intolerance or hatred that is motivated by considerations of a person’s gender, color, or sexual orientation. Many of the members actually strike me as being genuinely good individuals. It is still very much a cult, nevertheless, with dubious and dangerous veins flowing just below the surface. The series is so wonderful because of what follows: The same conflict and confusion that the show’s lead character is experiencing is presented to the audience.
The Leftovers
The supernatural thriller “The Leftovers” is set in a future where 2% of the world’s population abruptly vanished due to a strange global occurrence called the “Sudden Departure.” Many of the world’s major religions disintegrate in the wake of the senseless tragedy, the loss, and the ensuing instability, and extremist cults rise in their stead.
The Garvey family members serve as the show’s main characters. Despite avoiding obsolescence, they still need to get around in the frighteningly empty and new world they have just entered. The family is torn apart as a number of members abandon their loved ones to join some of the major cults that have emerged, such as The Guilty Remnant’s silent nihilists and Holy Wayne’s, which is run by a deranged leader who promises to relieve followers of their suffering in exchange for sexual favors.
Although it is a fictional show with a fantastical concept, it does highlight some of the truly evil traits of cults. These extremist organizations prey on lost and confused individuals by making bogus claims of camaraderie and help. The heartbreaking ways in which lives are wrecked and families are torn apart are exposed in this series, so it may not be the most upbeat viewing experience, but it is a necessary one.
The Vow
The six-part true-crime documentary series “The Vow” offers a frank examination of the inner workings of the notorious self-help group NXIVM and its now-convicted leader, Keith Raniere. Despite posing as a self-help group, it becomes increasingly obvious as the series goes on that this is just your standard cult, complete with brainwashing, sex trafficking, a conspiracy, and nearly impossible escape.
The first season, which broadcast in 2020, focuses on the testimonies of a number of ex-NXIVM members as well as a few of the journalists who first started covering the cultish crimes committed by the groups. The documentary also includes Catherine Oxenberg, who steals the show as she recalls her attempts to free her daughter from the cult’s grasp—a story that was the focus of the docuseries “Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.” The focus of the second season, which debuted in 2022, is the legal prosecution of the group’s leader Keith Raniere and his devoted group of followers.
Unorthodox
The drama series “Unorthodox” centers on the journey of young Esty (Shira Haas), who escapes the oppressive Hasidic society she was raised in. Esty has been subjected to years of relentless manipulation and servitude. Now that she is pregnant, she must leave because she does not want her unborn kid to grow up in the same abusive atmosphere as she did. But they won’t just let her leave that easily: Her husband and his family will make every effort to drag her back, kicking and screaming the entire while.
Although the program is fictional, it draws on a number of actual fanatical religious sects, particularly those within the Haredi community. With specific connections to the Satmar Hasidic community in Williamsburg, New York, it is partially based on Deborah Feldman’s memoir “Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots.” This Hasidic community, which had its beginnings in Hungary in the early 1900s but relocated to the US after World War II, has developed into one of the most notable and traditional Hasidic groups in the country. Both a riveting mystery and a tragic statement on fanatical religion and the innumerable victims it causes, the series is equally compelling.
Waco
The dramatic, well-known standoff between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) against the Branch Davidian sect in Waco, Texas, is reenacted in the six-part miniseries “Waco.” The standoff, which took place in 1993 at the Mount Carmel Compound of the Branch Davidians, lasted roughly 51 days before it was finally resolved in a tragically lethal gunfight.
The program accurately recounts the tragedy by studying the actions from the viewpoints of significant figures on both sides. It’s a fairly accurate portrayal that mainly relies on documentation like pictures, news articles, and memoirs written by people who were actually there as events intensified and played out. The show offers viewers a fantastic method to expand their knowledge while simultaneously stoking their curiosity with actual crime. It is equally as much about history as it is about drama.
Wild Wild Country
A documentary series called “Wild Wild Country” made its Netflix debut in 2018 after having its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. In its analysis of the Rajneeshee cult and their controversial Indian guru leader, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, it is both artistic and truthful. Although the group and its beliefs had its beginnings in Pune, India, they quickly relocated to the United States and established a “utopian” commune in a secluded, rural region close to Wasco County, Oregon.
Following this change, the cult gained widespread notoriety in the 1980s, mostly as a result of the significant public coverage of their dubious activities. Conspiracy, fraud, and abuse were just a few of the numerous alleged crimes that dominated the media frenzy; decades later, people are still discussing it. This news video and interviews with a few of the cult’s former members are combined in the series. This series contains more than enough content to satiate even the most obsessive investigative tendencies for those who enjoy poring over dusty archives to uncover long-held truths.
Yellowjackets
The plot of “Yellowjackets” centers on a prestigious high school girls’ soccer team whose plane crashes in a remote Ontario wilderness. The young women are fighting for their lives every day while they are frozen, starving, and hurt. They resort to nasty, frightening measures out of desperation and the apparent psychic abilities of one of their friends to assist them push through their perilous quest.
However, as the show cuts back and forth between the 1996 crash and the current survivors, who are still plagued by the tragic and horrific event, it does seem as though their cultish rituals of sacrifice and worship paid off for them. As a new mystery begins to take shape, their secretive past returns to haunt them, dragging them back into the society they worked so hard to flee. It turns out that leaving cults behind isn’t always easy.
A classic coming-of-age story and horrifying supernatural aspects come together in the wonderful retro-style horror series “Yellowjackets.” It’s “Stranger Things” meets cults, making it ideal for anyone who enjoys retro fright. Despite the fact that Season 2 isn’t even scheduled to premiere until March 2023, Showtime has announced that the series has been renewed for a third season (via Deadline). Showtime apparently decided to renew the series without even waiting to hear from the viewers, so you know it’s going to be good.
