So many of us escaped the realities of lockdown-life by exploring the light-hearted, made-up worlds of TV through shows such as Bridgerton and Schitt’s Creek. But, if you’re ready for your trip into TV-land to take a darker route, and you’ve already watched all the true crime streaming services have to offer, it may be time for you to explore the weird world of cults.

Couch detectives who like to Wiki while they watch are in for a treat with our pick of shows that detail the ins-and-outs of sects that exist on the periphery of society. Although some, like Wild Wild Country, are documentaries detailing real events and include interviews with the survivors, others such as Nine Perfect Strangers are fictional but feature character-actors whose presence always spells major drama ahead – we’re looking at you, Michael Shannon.

Whether you fancy the cautionary tales of the former or the safe escapism of the latter, you’re bound to find one of the following shows about cults a compelling watch.

Best shows about cults: 9 shows that explore the weird and wacky world of religious sects