If you spent any time on YouTube between 2015 and 2020, you probably knew the Franke family. They were the "8 Passengers"—six kids, two parents, and a seemingly endless stream of wholesome, suburban Utah content. But the image of the perfect Mormon family didn't just crack; it shattered into a million jagged pieces.
By now, the headlines are old news. Ruby Franke and her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, are sitting in prison. But the recent documentary of Ruby Franke projects—specifically the major releases from Hulu, Netflix, and Investigation Discovery—are finally filling in the gaps that the 30-second news clips missed.
Honestly? It's way darker than the internet initially thought.
The Three Main Documentaries You Need to Know
There isn't just one film. Because this case touches on everything from influencer culture to religious extremism and "cult-like" therapy, several networks jumped on the story throughout 2025.
- Hulu’s "Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke": This is the big one. It premiered in early 2025 and is basically the "official" family perspective. Why? Because Ruby’s ex-husband, Kevin Franke, and their two oldest children, Shari and Chad, actually sat down for it.
- Netflix’s "Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story": Released right at the end of 2025, this one shifts the lens. It focuses less on the YouTube vlogging and more on Jodi Hildebrandt, the "therapist" who many believe was the puppet master behind the whole thing.
- ID/Discovery+’s "Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence": This four-part series digs into the "ConneXions" curriculum. It features Jessi Hildebrandt (Jodi’s niece), who had been sounding the alarm about her aunt's "psychological warfare" for years before anyone listened.
Why the Hulu Documentary Hits Different
The Hulu documentary of Ruby Franke feels like a punch to the gut because it uses over a thousand hours of unseen footage. We aren't just seeing the edited "vlogs" where everyone is smiling. We're seeing the raw, unpolished moments that were left on the cutting room floor.
There’s a specific scene in "Devil in the Family" where Ruby tells her son Chad to "fake being happy" for the camera. It’s haunting. You see this 15-year-old kid—who we now know was forced to sleep on a beanbag for seven months as "discipline"—trying to summon a smile so his mom can get the shot.
The documentary also clarifies a major point of public debate: Where was Kevin? In the film, Kevin Franke describes being "pushed out" of his own home. He claims Jodi manipulated him into believing he was "addicted" to various things and needed to be isolated from his family to "heal." While many people still blame him for not protecting the kids, the documentary shows a man who was deeply ensnared in the same high-control tactics Jodi used on Ruby.
The Journal Entries: A Glimpse Into the "Exorcism"
One of the most disturbing revelations to come out of the 2025 documentaries involves Ruby’s personal journals. When police raided Jodi’s home in Ivins, Utah, they found these notebooks.
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They aren't just diaries. They are a day-by-day log of what Ruby called "exorcising" her children. She genuinely believed her youngest kids were possessed by demons. She wrote about withholding food and water as a way to "starve the evil out."
The documentaries don't shy away from the physical reality of August 30, 2023. That’s the day Ruby’s 12-year-old son climbed out a window and ran to a neighbor’s house, begging for food and water. He had duct tape on his ankles and wrists. The neighbor described him as looking like he’d been in a "concentration camp."
Jodi Hildebrandt: The "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
If Ruby was the face of the tragedy, Jodi was the architect. The Netflix documentary of Ruby Franke (which, again, focuses heavily on Jodi) explores how a licensed therapist managed to destroy dozens of families before she ever met the Frankes.
Jodi’s "ConneXions" program wasn't just parenting advice. It was a radical, extremist ideology. She taught that "Truth" (with a capital T) required total isolation from anyone who didn't agree with her. She encouraged women to leave their husbands and parents to cut off their children.
Former clients appear in these documentaries to tell stories that mirror the Frankes'. They talk about being told their spouses were "predators" or that their children were "dark." It was a cult of two, headed by Jodi, with Ruby as her most famous—and most dangerous—disciple.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
There's a common narrative that Ruby "just snapped." The documentaries prove that’s not true. It was a slow, agonizing slide.
- It wasn't just the two youngest: While the criminal charges focused on the two youngest children found in Ivins, the older children like Shari and Chad lived through years of "milder" but still devastating emotional abuse.
- The Mormon Church’s role: The documentaries explore the complex relationship between Jodi’s teachings and the LDS faith. While the church eventually distanced itself from Jodi, she used religious language to justify torture, making it harder for the family to realize they were being abused.
- The "YouTube made her do it" myth: People love to blame social media. While the "8 Passengers" channel provided the money and the ego boost, the abuse happened because of a toxic ideological shift, not just for views.
The Legal Fallout and 2026 Status
As of right now, both women are serving their time at the Utah State Correctional Facility. They were sentenced to four consecutive terms of 1 to 15 years. Because of Utah's laws, the maximum they can serve is 30 years.
Ruby’s first parole hearing isn't until 2026. She’s reportedly been a "model prisoner," but the documentaries suggest that the damage to her children is lifelong. Shari Franke has since published a book, In the House of My Mother, further detailing her quest for freedom.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from the Franke Case
Watching a documentary of Ruby Franke isn't just about true crime voyeurism. It’s a massive warning sign for the digital age.
- Question "Parenting Experts": If a coach or therapist suggests isolating your child or using "shame" as a primary tool, run.
- The Danger of Family Vlogging: The exploitation of children for digital profit creates a power dynamic where the "content" becomes more important than the child’s safety.
- Trust Your Gut: Neighbors in the Franke case admitted they felt "something was off" for years. If you see a child who looks emaciated or terrified, calling for a welfare check can literally save a life.
- Support Protective Legislation: Several states are now passing "Lulu & Leo" style laws or "Kidfluencer" bills to ensure children in vlogging families are protected and compensated.
If you’re looking to watch these, start with the Hulu series for the emotional heart of the story, then hit the Netflix doc to understand the psychological mechanics of how Jodi Hildebrandt managed to pull the strings.