Movies and TV shows about the fascinating world of cults -

From an outsider's perspective, it's so difficult to understand how and why they obtain this power, and why so many fall victim to it. If you're interested in learning more on the subject, then this is the list for you.

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'The Vow' (2020) -

'The Vow' is a shocking documentary series that offers an in-depth look into the NXIVM cult, which disguised itself as an executive self-help organization for more than a decade. In that time, they gained thousands of members, many of whom were extremely influential. It was led by the self-proclaimed scientist and philosopher Keith Raniere, who was referred to by members as Vanguard.

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'The Vow' (2020) -

Deeper inside the organization was a human trafficking cult called DOS, which stands for Dominus Obsequious Sororium, meaning master over slave women. 'Smallville' actress Allison Mack was deeply involved alongside Keith Raniere. The series follows several members who defected as they try to bring down the cult and save those still brainwashed.

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'Kumare' (2011) -

'Kumare' is not a documentary about a real cult, rather it follows a man named Vikram Gandhi who conducts a social experiment. He poses as a guru and the documentary follows what happens when he begins to gain followers.

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'Helter Skelter: An American Myth' (2020) -

This six-part documentary is the definitive account of Charles Manson's rise to power and all of the terrible crimes he and his followers committed. Pretty much everyone knows who Charles Manson is, but few people know the bizarre philosophies he touted behind the scenes. It's a fascinating watch.

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‘Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood’ (2019) -

‘Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood’ was an instant Quentin Tarantino classic. The unusual premise shows what might have happened if the Manson Family murders hadn't gone as planned. Tarantino's usual dark sense of humor and gratuitous scenes of violence only add to the freaky atmosphere.

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'Going Clear: Scientology' (2015) -

This HBO documentary takes a deep dive into the secret world of Scientology. It's based on a book of the same name written by Lawrence Wright, who interviewed many current and past members of Scientology.

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'Children of God' (1994) -

This 1994 documentary is based around a family who escaped the Children of God cult. The leader guided his members to follow his free love philosophy, which he encouraged through intimate contact regardless of relationship or age. It began in the 1960s, and communities following variations of these teachings still exist.

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'Children of God' (1994) -

Celebrities including Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan grew up in the Children of God cult with their families.

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‘Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults’ (2020) -

Heaven's Gate is the name of a cult that not everyone remembers, but most people are familiar with the story of how it ended. This documentary series looks back at the bizarre leaders who believed in UFOs, the vulnerable people who followed them, and the tragic end they met.

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'My Scientology Movie' (2015) -

In another take on Scientology, beloved documentary maker Louis Theroux goes in-depth with ex-member Mark Rathbun. Rathbun was a senior member of the church and had some seriously disturbing stories to tell.

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'Wild Wild Country' (2018) -

This exceptional Netflix documentary looks at the story of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and the cult he started in the 1970s. The guru amassed a following of thousands and took them to build a utopian society in rural Oregon. The mostly forgotten story ended with the first bioterror attack ever to occur in the United States.

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'Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple' (2006) -

Jim Jones is one of the most famous cult leaders in history due to the massive loss of life that occurred under his leadership. Many documentaries have been made on the subject, but 'Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple' was one of the first and the best.

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'Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle' (2018) -

'Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle' was released on the 40th anniversary of the massacre that took place at the Jonestown compound in Guyana. When Jim Jones was set to be arrested, he commanded all of his followers to take their own lives by consuming a drink laced with poison. Almost a thousand people killed themselves and their children under his guidance, proving the extraordinary and terrifying control he had over them.

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'Waco: The Rules of Engagement' (1997) -

David Koresh, pictured here with his wife and daughter, was an American cult leader in the 1990s. He claimed to be a prophet and created his own extremist sect of the Davidian Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

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'Waco: The Rules of Engagement' (1997) -

His cult ended up in a violent 51-day stand-off with the military at their compound in Waco, Texas. It ended in devastation. This 1997 documentary was created just a few years after the incident and delves deeply into the cult and its self-destruction.

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'Waco' (2018) -

The 2018 TV series 'Waco' starring Taylor Kitsch as David Koresh dramatizes the story.

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‘The Following’ (2013) -

This creepy drama series stars Kevin Bacon as an FBI officer and James Purefoy as an infamous serial killer who gains a cult following. All hell breaks loose when he escapes prison and unites with them.

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'The Source Family' (2012) -

'The Source Family' documentary tells the story of a wellness guru who built a cult after creating the first health food restaurant in Los Angeles. James Edward Baker, later to be known as Father Yod, is pictured here with his first wife. She left him when he started his cult and gained 14 more wives.

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'Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath' (2016) -

This is the third documentary about Scientology on the list, but the subject is just so enticing! Actress Leah Remini is an ex-member of Scientology who created this documentary to spill their secrets at great personal risk.

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‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ (2011) -

This 2011 thriller stars Elizabeth Olsen in one of her first big roles. Although it isn't based on a real cult, it clearly draws inspiration from many real-life examples. It tells the story of a young woman returning home after leaving an abusive cult.

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'Deprogrammed' (2015) -

This 2015 documentary film looks at the controversial work of Ted Patrick. Patrick was known as the "father of deprogramming" due to his early efforts to undo the brainwashing of former cult members. Worried family members would contact him for help pulling their loved ones out of cults, like the parents of Linda Epstein, pictured here.

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‘The Path’ (2016) -

'The Path' is a TV series starring Michelle Monaghan and Aaron Paul as members of a spiritual movement called Meyerism. It's based on a mix of several religious cults, and it's a thrilling watch.

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‘The Leftovers’ (2014) -

This fascinating drama series details the fallout of a bizarre phenomenon in a small town. When 2% of the world's population suddenly disappear, the local cults grow in power as those left behind search for answers.

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Hereditary’ (2018) -

Ari Aster, the director of 'Hereditary,' is responsible for some of the most disturbing and critically-acclaimed horror movies in recent years. Toni Collette stars as a grieving mother who starts to unravel the terrifying mystery of her own mother's past.

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‘Midsommar’ (2019) -

Ari Aster is also the director of the movie ‘Midsommar,’ a magical horror film that blew everyone away in 2019. Florence Pugh stars as a young American woman who goes to visit her friend's hometown in Sweden during the traditional midsummer festival.

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‘Midsommar’ (2019) -

The stunning scenery contrasts with the overwhelming, claustrophobic sense of dread as things slowly go off the rails.

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‘Unorthodox’ (2020) -

The hit Netflix series 'Unorthodox' follows a young Jewish woman living within an ultra-orthodox Hasidic community in Brooklyn. She tries to escape her arranged marriage and oppressed lifestyle, and break free of the misogynistic rules she has lived by her entire life.

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'Kill List' (2011) -

The 2011 movie 'Kill List' is a fantastically creepy psychological thriller about a mentally-scarred hitman whose next job seems to be taking him into very dark territories.

Sources: (Cultura Obscura) (Oprah Daily) (Men's Health)

See also: The greatest movie villains of all time

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