AUM: The Cult at the End of the World

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AUM: The Cult at the End of the World

Released Mar 19

1h 46m

Documentary

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

History

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Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

The shocking story of Aum Shinrikyo, the doomsday cult that unleashed a deadly nerve gas in Tokyo's subway system in 1995. Founded by disillusioned yoga teacher Shoko Asahara, Aum transformed into a terrorist organization while Japan's police and media turned a blind eye. Featuring rare archival footage and an interview with one of Asahara's former high-ranking disciples.

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Christy Lemire

FilmWeek (KPCC - NPR Los Angeles)

It feels a little superficial... It didn't say a whole lot about why cults are interesting in the first place.

Mar 28, 2025

Full Review

Jessica Kiang

Variety

A far-ranging but only fitfully revealing investigation into how Aum came into being and, chillingly, whether or not it ever really went away.

Jan 26, 2023

Full Review

Nick Schager

The Daily Beast

An incisive look at the inner workings—and rise to prominence—of Aum Shinrikyo.

Jan 24, 2023

Full Review

MontiLee Stormer

MovieReelist.com

Braun and Yanagimoto piece together the profile of its leader and the jagged timeline of his evolving doctrine, allowing the words of others to offer theories as to mentality and ultimate purpose.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 28, 2025

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Martin Kudlac

ScreenAnarchy

A rigorously laid-out anatomy of social disruption that was left untouched too long, causing a national tragedy. ... Bears an eerie and present parable on radicalization in the atmosphere of discontent.

Mar 25, 2025

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Carla Hay

Culture Mix

This grim and somewhat tedious documentary adequately tells the disturbing story about the Aum Shinriko cult but doesn't give much new information. It would be a better documentary with tighter editing and more original investigations from the filmmakers.

Mar 22, 2025

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Ben Braun

Director

Chiaki Yanagimoto

Director

Ben Braun

Screenwriter

Chiaki Yanagimoto

Screenwriter

Ben Braun

Producer

Chiaki Yanagimoto

Producer

AUM: The Cult at the End of the World: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The shocking story of Aum Shinrikyo, the doomsday cult that unleashed a deadly nerve gas in Tokyo's subway system in 1995. Founded by disillusioned yoga teacher Shoko Asahara, Aum transformed into a terrorist organization while Japan's police and media turned a blind eye. Featuring rare archival footage and an interview with one of Asahara's former high-ranking disciples.

Director: Ben Braun, Chiaki Yanagimoto
Producer: Ben Braun, Chiaki Yanagimoto, Dan Braun, Josh Braun, Rick Brookwell
Screenwriter: Ben Braun, Chiaki Yanagimoto
Distributor: Greenwich Entertainment
Production Co: Submarine Deluxe
Genre: Documentary, Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 19, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2025
Runtime: 1h 46m

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