What Happened In Jonestown? Everything You Need To Know About Hulu’s ‘Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown’

A new docuseries titled Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown has arrived, shedding light on the horrifying events and “final hours” ahead of the Jonestown Massacre, per Hulu’s description.

Decider contributor Joel Keller urged viewers to STREAM it in Decider’s review of the three-part docuseries from National Geographic, explaining that “while you may know the story of the Jonestown massacre, Cult Massacre: One Day In Jonestown brings it to life in a new way, with lots of vivid recollections by people who were there.”

The new docuseries features interviews with survivors, eyewitnesses, and Jones’ son, Stephan, as well as archival footage and audio recordings, which spotlight cult leader, Jim Jones. He initially and informally launched the racially diverse religious community of the Peoples Temple in Indiana in the 1950s, per the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST).

In 1964, Jones was ordained, per People. According to the outlet, he became more and more paranoid in his pursuit for power.

Interested in checking out this new docuseries? Here’s everything we know about Cult Massacre: What Happened in Jonestown.

Where was Jonestown located?

After moving from Indiana to California, Jones eventually also moved the temple to Jonestown in 1974, a remote, experimental and agricultural settlement in Guyana, located in South America, per TIME. According to the ADST, the move was prompted by increasing accusations against members of the temple.

What happened in Jonestown?

California Congressman Leo Ryan traveled to Guyana with aides and a group of journalists in November 1978 to investigate Jonestown amid allegations from a group called Concerned Relatives that members were being held there against their will. As Ryan was preparing to leave on Nov. 18, 1978, he was fatally shot by gunmen from the Temple, per PBS. Four others with him were killed, while nine others suffered injuries, per People.

That same day, more than 900 people died in a mass murder-suicide, in which Jones had members either inject themselves with or drink a concoction of cyanide and grape Flavor-aid punch. (If you’ve ever heard the expression “drink the Kool-Aid,” it’s a reference to this dark event.)

When does Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown come out?

Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown was released on Monday, June 17, 2024.

How to watch Cult Massacre: One Day in Jonestown:

All three parts of the new docuseries are now streaming on Hulu. You can also check out the trailer above.