Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults

After forming a small group in Oregon in the 1970s, Heaven’s Gate co-founders Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite hit the road for recruitment meetings, asking members to leave their families and lives behind.

After Ti died from cancer in 1985, a distraught Do briefly allows members to visit their families, and a few consider leaving the group for good. He then steers them toward an extreme belief system where they will graduate to the "next level" together.

The group starts recruiting again, having dwindled in number, but they’re met mainly with derision and skepticism. Seeing this failure as a sign, Do begins planning their exit to the next level.

The arrival of the Hale-Bopp comet spurs the group to prepare for their exit. Former members, loved ones, and experts reflect on the legacy of Heaven’s Gate, offering a chilling reminder that indoctrination can happen to anyone.