Why do cults fascinate us so much? Maybe it's because it's incredibly easy — and terrifying — to imagine being sucked into one. The line between a "normal" life and suddenly deciding to devote every hour and dollar to a charismatic leader or fringe cause might be thinner than we think. Brrr.

If you're looking to explore more, head over to Max [1] where there's an enviable range of documentaries about all kinds of cults — from religious to sex. Here are eight you can binge right now.

"The Vow [2]"

The NXIVM cult was founded by pyramid schemer Keith Raniere, initially as a self-improvement workshop, but it quickly devolved into something waaaay more sinister. Members were allegedly brainwashed, abused, branded, and used for sex. This HBO Original docuseries offers riveting behind-the-scenes footage courtesy of the group's former historian.

"People Magazine Investigates: Cults [3]"

The celebrity publication produced two seasons of this news magazine, each focusing on a notorious cult organization, from the Manson family to Jonestown. For the time-strapped, each of the 12 episodes, which feature interviews with survivors and journalists, is a crisp 43 minutes.

"Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed [4]"

The church, which once counted bold-faced names Kevin Durant and Justin Bieber among its adherents, was also allegedly a breeding ground for exploitation and abuse. This acclaimed docuseries dives into the sordid backstory with extensive interviews from former members.

"Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults [5]"

You know how the phrase "purple Nikes" has become shorthand for a cult? Blame these people. In this Max Original, director Clay Tweel explores perhaps the most infamous modern collective, Heaven's Gate, whose members believed in a bizarre UFO-based ideology and committed mass suicide in 1997.

"My Daughter Joined a Cult [6]"

Was Swami Nithyananda a legit holy man or simply a conman who used his charm to exploit the vulnerable? That's the thorny question explored in this three-part series, which centers on the controversial Indian figure who was charged with rape and kidnapping.

"The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin Lara [7]"

This Max Original series tells the incredible story of Lara, a big-haired dietician who launched several questionable diet programs in the 1980s before founding a controversial Tennessee church. Claims of abuse followed. There's even an interesting postscript to the tale, as Lara died in a mysterious 2021 plane crash.

"Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief [8]"

In this HBO Original documentary, filmmaker Alex Gibney takes a deep dive into the controversial church founded by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Through interviews with former Scientologists, the film explores the church's inner workings and how it kept a hold on so many — including Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise [9].

"Prisoner of the Prophet [10]"

This three-episode docuseries focuses on Briell Decker, the 65th wife — yep, you read that right! — of Warren Jeffs, the former leader of a polygamist cult called the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jeffs eventually landed on the FBI's most wanted list and was convicted of several sex crimes.

Subscribe to Max [11] to watch all the documentaries mentioned here.