Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults S01E01 - The Awakening

Episode Overview

In March 1997, thirty-nine followers of the Heaven's Gate cult are discovered deceased in a mansion in Southern California, marking the largest mass suicide in U.S. history. The group's origins trace back to 1970s Oregon, where founders Bonnie Nettles and Marshall Applewhite began gathering those intrigued by apocalyptic Christianity, new age beliefs, and UFOs. However, the sudden vanishing of new recruits soon raises alarm, drawing significant media scrutiny and prompting worries from families of the members.