Something about cult documentaries grabs us. It might be the mind games or the shock of seeing normal folks believe wild ideas. It might be the leaders—sly, strong, risky—or the tales of those who got away. Either way, these films hit deep and linger. Whether you love true crime, mind thrillers, or just like seeing how humans act at extremes, these seven picks are a must-see.
7. One of Us
It’s hard to leave a close religious group, and One of Us shows this tough journey well. The film tracks three people as they leave New York’s tight Hasidic Jewish group. What they face next is tough: being alone, fear, and the tough start over. More than a faith film, it’s a strong story of guts, finding yourself, and the price of making your own choices.
6. The Keepers
This film isn’t about a typical cult, but the deep silence and abuse in The Keepers show a group just as tight. It starts with the unsolved killing of Sister Cathy Cesnik in 1969. The show links her death to a possible cover-up of sex abuse in a Catholic school in Baltimore. Through the drive of Cesnik’s old students, it shows years of silence, tricks, and help for abusers from the church.
5. The Family
What if a big U.S. religious group ran hidden? The Family, taken from reporter Jeff Sharlet’s work, looks at a secret Christian group linked to U.S. leaders and big global names. They think God picks certain men to rule, and they help boost these men. With hidden power in places like the National Prayer Breakfast, this show mixes faith and free power.
4. Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator
At first, Bikram Choudhury was known for making hot yoga big. But behind the sweat and poses was a dark tale of control, use, and harm. Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator looks at claims of sex harm and mental tricks following Bikram’s fame. It paints a warning about blindly following charming leaders, especially in wellness and self-help.
3. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey
Few stories show religious extremes as dark as this. Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey dives into a Mormon break-off group under Warren Jeffs.
With scary talks and sad stories, it shows how girls and women were trapped and families spl, t—all in faith’s name. Jeffs is in jail for life now, but his harm lingers in his victims’ lives.
2. Bad Vegan: Fame.Fraud.Fugitives.
Sarma Melngailis had fame, a top vegan spot in NYC, and fans. Then she met a man who said he could make her dog live forever (yes, really), and things spiraled.
Bad Vegan isn’t just about tricks and lost money—it’s about mind control, the thin line between love and tricks, and how smart folks can slip badly. It’s wild and sad.
1. Wild Wild Country
If you talk cult docs, Wild Wild Country is the top pick. In the ’80s, Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and his tough helper Ma Anand Sheela aimed to build a dream city in rural Oregon. What came was full of power moves, big poisonings, FBI actions, and big clashes. Directed by Maclain and Chapman Way, this six-part series has it all: thrills, ideas, betrayals, and an unforgettable cast.
Cult docs pull us in hard. They make us question what we trust, who we follow, and even our own beliefs. Whether it’s about poisoned spiritual groups or hidden networks shaping big events, these stories tap into deep fears—the need to fit, the fear of control, and the fight to break loose. And while these seven are just starters, there’s a whole bunch of intense true tales out there to discover.