6 Best Cult Leader Movies

By Vlad Zakh · May 16, 2026

The chilling manipulation and charismatic control of the cult leader has powered some of cinema’s most unsettling psychological dramas. In The Master (2012): A troubled war veteran falls under the spell of a charismatic leader of a burgeoning spiritual movement. Just as strong is Midsommar (2019): A grieving woman’s trip to a Swedish festival with her boyfriend reveals a pagan cult’s horrifying rituals.

Midsommar (2019)

IMDb ★ 7.1 RT 83% Metacritic 72

A grieving woman's trip to a Swedish festival with her boyfriend reveals a pagan cult's horrifying rituals.

Directed by Ari Aster · 2h 27m · Rated R

27 wins & 74 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Faults (2014)

TMDB ★ 6.2

A disgraced cult deprogrammer is hired to save a young woman from a mysterious religious group.

Directed by Riley Stearns · 1h 30m

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Sacrament (2014)

TMDB ★ 5.7

Journalists visiting a remote commune uncover its charismatic leader's terrifying control over his followers.

Directed by Ti West · 1h 39m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Philo, Magnolia Selects Amazon Channel, Monsters and Nightmares Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Master (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A troubled war veteran falls under the spell of a charismatic leader of a burgeoning spiritual movement.

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson · 2h 17m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A young woman struggles to readjust to normal life after escaping a manipulative rural cult.

Directed by Sean Durkin · 1h 41m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sound of My Voice (2011)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A documentary filmmaker infiltrates a mysterious cult led by a woman claiming to be from the future.

Directed by Zal Batmanglij · 1h 25m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Cult Leader Movies

Midsommar (2019)

Faults (2014)

The Sacrament (2014)

The Master (2012)

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Sound of My Voice (2011)

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