Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults
Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults
Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults
What do you believe?
Documentary
Crime
67
Watch TV Show
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Overview
What started in 1975 with the disappearance of 20 people from a small town in Oregon, ended in 1997 with the largest suicide on US soil and changed the face of modern New Age religion forever. This four-part docuseries uses never-before-seen footage and first-person accounts to explore the infamous UFO cult that shocked the nation with their out-of-this-world beliefs.
Status: Ended
First Air Date: 2020-12-03
Runtime: 0h 51m
Director: Unknown
Writer: Unknown
Top Cast
Marshall Applewhite
Marshall Applewhite
Self - Co-Leader of Heaven’s Gate (archive footage)
Bonnie Nettles
Bonnie Nettles
Self - Co-Leader of Heaven’s Gate (archive footage)
Sawyer
Sawyer
Self - Former Member
Frank Lyford
Frank Lyford
Self - Former Member
Benjamin Zeller
Benjamin Zeller
Self - Religious Studies Professor
Janja Lalich
Janja Lalich
Self - Sociologist
Robert Balch
Robert Balch
Self - Sociologist
Official Videos
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults | Official Trailer | HBO Max
Heaven’s Gate: The Cult of Cults | Official Trailer | HBO Max
Episodes - Season 1
The Awakening
The Awakening
Episode 1
March 1997. Thirty-nine members of the Heaven’s Gate cult are found dead in a Southern California mansion - the largest mass suicide in U.S. history. The inception of this mysterious group dates back to 1970s Oregon, where founding members Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite begin to recruit individuals interested in end-of-the-world Christianity, new age religion, and UFOs - but the disappearance of new members soon drives media attention and family concerns.
The Chrysalis
The Chrysalis
Episode 2
As the Heaven’s Gate "Classroom" begins, Bonnie and Marshall - who call themselves "Ti" and "Do" or "The Two" - enforce strict rules of no family communication. After Ti dies from cancer in 1985, a distraught Do briefly allows members to visit their families, and a few consider leaving the group for good. When the members return, Do becomes much more controlling - and opens the door to group suicide.
The Second Harvest
The Second Harvest
Episode 3
Using a popular sci-fi TV series to help bolster his teachings, Do encourages asexuality and individual submission for the benefit of the collective - and even initiates voluntary castrations. Having dwindled in number, the group starts recruiting again, but they’re met largely with derision and skepticism. Seeing this as a sign, Do begins planning their exit to the next level.
The Exit
The Exit
Episode 4
The 1997 arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet spurs the group to prepare for their departure, though their plan to commit mass suicide goes undetected. After an anonymous 911 caller alerts the authorities, Heaven’s Gate, deemed the first "internet cult," becomes a media and pop culture phenomenon - but the suicides have a very different effect on those closest to them. Today, former members, loved ones, and experts reflect on the legacy of Heaven’s Gate, offering a chilling reminder that indoctrination can happen to anyone.
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