Movies About Religious Cults

From David Fincher, starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf, Zach Grenier
Rated R

Fight Club is a 1999 film directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. The movie follows an unnamed narrator (Norton) who is unsatisfied with his white-collar job and lifestyle. He forms a "fight club" with Tyler Durden (Pitt), an enigmatic soap salesman. The club becomes an underground sensation, but its activities soon spiral out of control. The narrator discovers an underground movement of anti-materialist radicals bent on destroying credit card companies, and the members of fight club become its army. In the end, the narrator must choose between his newfound identity and the material world he once inhabited. The movie examines themes of masculinity, nihilism, and consumerism in modern society.

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Ciarán Hinds, Martin Stringer
Rated R

There Will Be Blood is a 2007 drama film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson and starring Daniel Day-Lewis. The film tells the story of an ambitious oil prospector, Daniel Plainview, who moves to California and ruthlessly builds an oil empire in the early 20th century. Plainview’s greed and ambition drive him to ruthless, cruel, and sometimes violent behavior as he strives to increase his wealth and power. His relationships with those around him are strained, and his motivations are often questioned. The movie culminates in a violent battle between Plainview and his nemesis, a local preacher. The film received critical acclaim and won two Academy Awards, for Best Actor and Best Cinematography.

From Stanley Kramer, starring Spencer Tracy, Fredric March, Gene Kelly, Dick York
Rated Passed

Inherit the Wind is a classic courtroom drama set in the small town of Hillsboro, Tennessee in 1925. It is based on the real-life Scopes Monkey Trial, which tested the right of a schoolteacher to teach evolution in a public school. The film stars Spencer Tracy as Henry Drummond, a progressive lawyer who defends the teacher, and Fredric March as Matthew Harrison Brady, a famous and conservative lawyer. The two engage in a heated battle of wits as the trial unfolds, with the town divided between traditional values and progressive ideas. In the end, the teacher is found guilty, but the real victory is the progress made in terms of public acceptance of new ideas.

From Charles Laughton, starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish, James Gleason
Rated Not Rated

The Night of the Hunter is a classic murder mystery horror film about a sinister and charismatic preacher named Harry Powell (Robert Mitchum) who is on a quest to find a fortune of stolen money. When he arrives in a small West Virginia town, he begins to court the widow of his most recent victim, Willa Harper (Shelley Winters), in order to get close to her children and try to get them to tell him where the money is hidden. However, the two children, John and Pearl, are wise to his motives and refuse to reveal the secret. After a series of intense and suspenseful events, Powell's true colors are eventually revealed and the children escape his grasp. The film is a classic example of film noir and was one of the first films to cast a villain in the lead role.

From Alex Gibney, starring Paul Haggis, Jason Beghe, Spanky Taylor, David Miscavige
Rated Not Rated

Going Clear is a documentary by Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney, which delves into the inner workings of the Church of Scientology. Through interviews with key former members, Gibney examines the Church's origins, its hierarchical structure, and its celebrity ties. The film also explores the Church's highly controversial practices, such as its disconnection policy and its alleged human rights abuses. With a mix of archival footage and personal accounts, Going Clear paints a comprehensive yet shocking portrait of the Church of Scientology.

From Roman Polanski, starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer
Rated Approved

Rosemary's Baby is a horror film directed by Roman Polanski. The film tells the story of a young couple, Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse, who move into an old apartment building in New York City. Rosemary soon becomes pregnant, and soon discovers that their new neighbors are part of a Satanic cult who are determined to use her unborn child for their own dark purposes. As her husband becomes more and more distant, Rosemary must make a desperate attempt to protect herself and her unborn child from the cult’s evil plans. The film was met with critical and commercial success and is considered one of the greatest horror films of all time.

From Alan Parker, starring Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe, Frances McDormand, Brad Dourif
Rated R

Mississippi Burning is a 1988 American crime drama film directed by Alan Parker and based on the true story of the 1964 Mississippi Burning civil rights investigation. The film stars Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe as two FBI agents who investigate the disappearance of three civil rights activists in Mississippi. As they investigate and uncover the truth, they must confront the racism and violence of the local people, as well as their own personal demons. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won an Oscar for Best Cinematography. The story and themes of the film remain relevant today, highlighting the struggle for civil rights and the systemic racism that continues to exist in the United States.

From Wolfgang Becker, starring Daniel Brühl, Katrin Sass, Chulpan Khamatova, Florian Lukas
Rated R

Good Bye Lenin! is a 2003 German tragicomedy film directed by Wolfgang Becker. The film follows the story of a young man, Alex Kerner, as he struggles to keep his mother, Christiane, from learning the truth about the fall of East Germany's communist regime. After suffering a heart attack, Christiane falls into a coma for eight months, during which time the Berlin Wall falls and East Germany is re-united with its western counterpart. When Christiane wakes from the coma, Alex and his family must keep her from finding out the truth in order to prevent her from suffering another heart attack. Alex creates a make-believe East Germany by buying up old East German products, attending events from the era, and even creating a fake television news broadcast. Meanwhile, Christiane begins to question why she cannot find any of her favorite East German products and discovers in the process that Alex has been deceiving her. In the end, Alex reveals the truth to his mother, who accepts the new Germany and looks forward to the future.

From Peter Mullan, starring Eileen Walsh, Dorothy Duffy, Nora-Jane Noone, Anne-Marie Duff
Rated R

The Magdalene Sisters is a 2002 Irish drama film directed by Peter Mullan. The story follows three young women sent to a Catholic Magdalene asylum in Dublin, Ireland in the 1960s. The girls – Margaret, Bernadette and Rose – have all been branded as "fallen women" by their families and the church for minor transgressions such as becoming pregnant out of wedlock, flirting with boys, or being sexually assaulted. In the asylum, the girls are subjected to hard labor and cruel, unjust punishments, while the nuns in charge take their vow of silence to a cruel extreme. The film follows the girls as they struggle against their cruel treatment and fight for their freedom.

From Larry Charles, starring Bill Maher, Tal Bachman, Jonathan Boulden, Steven Burg
Rated R

Religulous is a 2008 documentary film directed by Larry Charles and hosted by political commentator and comedian Bill Maher. The film documents Maher's journey around the world exploring the various religious beliefs and practices of different cultures and peoples, as well as his own opinions on religion. Throughout his travels, Maher interviews religious leaders and believers, as well as scientists and other experts, to get their opinions on why people are still so religious and how it affects society. The film also highlights some of the more humorous aspects of religion, particularly the absurdity of some of its most extreme beliefs. In the end, Maher challenges viewers to think for themselves and to be skeptical of any religious dogma.

From Vikram Gandhi, starring Vikram Gandhi, Toby, Greg, Molly
Rated Not Rated

Kumaré is a documentary film that follows the journey of director Vikram Gandhi, who assumes the alter ego of an Indian guru, Kumaré. In order to understand what people believe in and why, he travels to different cities in the United States and interacts with a variety of people. Through meditation, yoga and other spiritual practices, Kumaré helps people find peace, acceptance and love. Along the way, he gains insight into the power of belief and some of the dangers it holds. Ultimately, he must come to terms with the fact that many of his followers have come to believe in him, and that he must reveal his true identity. In doing so, he is able to help his followers find strength and peace in their own beliefs.

From Stanley Kubrick, starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Todd Field, Sydney Pollack
Rated R

Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 drama-mystery film directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as a married couple, Bill and Alice Harford. After Alice reveals to Bill that she had a fantasy of having an affair, their marriage is shaken, and Bill embarks on a night-long odyssey of sexual and moral discovery. His journey takes him through the night-time streets of New York, where he encounters a parade of characters, from high-class escorts to weird cult members. It ultimately leads him to a secret society where he is granted a shocking glimpse into their mysterious world. As his journey progresses, Bill begins to realize the power of the secrets he has uncovered and the perilous consequences of his exploration.

From Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri
Rated PG

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the prequel to the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, Kate Capshaw as Willie Scott, and Ke Huy Quan as Short Round. The film follows Indiana Jones as he travels to India in search of a missing artifact. Upon his arrival, he discovers an ancient cult led by the evil Thuggee cult who have kidnapped children to use in their human sacrifices. With the help of Short Round and Willie Scott, Indiana Jones is able to infiltrate and stop the cult, as well as reclaim the missing artifact. Along the way, he faces many dangerous obstacles, including a runaway mine cart and a human sacrifice ceremony. The film is known for its thrilling action sequences and iconic characters. It was a critical and box office success, and is now considered to be a classic of the action-adventure genre.

From Roger Ross Williams, starring
Rated TV-14

From Bill Paxton, starring Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe, Matt O'Leary
Rated R

From Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Jesse Plemons
Rated R

From Ari Aster, starring Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, Vilhelm Blomgren, William Jackson Harper
Rated R

From Martin Koolhoven, starring Guy Pearce, Dakota Fanning, Emilia Jones, Carice van Houten
Rated R

From Will Allen, starring Will Allen, Dimitrius Pulido, Phillipe Coquet, David Christopher
Rated Not Rated

From Florian Gallenberger, starring Emma Watson, Daniel Brühl, Michael Nyqvist, Richenda Carey
Rated R

From Joel Edgerton, starring Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Joel Edgerton, Russell Crowe
Rated R

From Nicholas Hytner, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen
Rated PG-13

From Sean Durkin, starring Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, Christopher Abbott
Rated R

From Eva Orner, starring Larissa Anderson, Francesca Asumah, Sarah Baughn, Bikram Choudhury
Rated TV-MA

From Marc Forster, starring Gerard Butler, Michelle Monaghan, Michael Shannon, Kathy Baker
Rated R