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Season 1 – Born in Synanon

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Born in Synanon Dec 2023 Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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80% Tomatometer 5 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Chronicling Cassidy Arkin's journey to discover the truth about Synanon, the experimental community that turned into a full-blown cult.
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Born in Synanon — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Chris Vognar Rolling Stone 12/11/2023
A thoughtful series that grows richer with each of its four episodes, Born in Synanon is as much a personal journey as a historical study, although it ultimately manages to be both. Go to Full Review Nick Schager The Daily Beast 12/11/2023
"Born in Synanon"’s framework resonates from the get-go as counterfeit, and the same goes for its lovey-dovey snapshot of Synanon’s origins. Go to Full Review Ty'Kira Smalls Common Sense Media 01/17/2024
Born in Synanon comes across as a standard cult docu, but has an intriguing twist of revealing the original good intentions of the center. Go to Full Review Alison Lanier Pajiba 12/21/2023
The project is a success in many ways, but it’s unique in its clumsiness and honesty as it tells what is, for everyone involved, a horrifying and murky story. That clumsiness is to its credit. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 12/13/2023
Born In Synanon is unique among cult-related docuseries because it shows that not all cults start because of one person’s narcissism and messiah complex... Of course, it makes it all the more fascinating to watch it all go wrong. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Born in Synanon — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Geeta Gandbhir

Director

Geeta Gandbhir

Executive Producer

Cassidy Arkin

Executive Producer

Sandra Rogers-Hare

Executive Producer

Jonathan K. Bendis

Executive Producer

Jessica Cozzetta

Executive Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Dec 12, 2023 Individual Reality Cassidy journeys back to Synanon to learn its humble beginnings as a drug rehab, and discover what attracted her parents to give up everything. Details Episode 2 Aired Dec 12, 2023 The People-Raising Business Synanon rockets into a multimillion-dollar business; the school is founded, separating children from their parents; Cassidy is born. Details Episode 3 Aired Dec 12, 2023 Great Flip of the Box Synanon begins to look more like a cult; Chuck's wife dies and the organization's principles are abandoned; Sandra and Ed divorce, splitting up the family. Details Episode 4 Aired Dec 12, 2023 End of Utopia Synanon begins to fall with a series of violent acts, tax issues, and a return to drinking; the Jonestown Massacre sways Sandy to escape with Cassidy. Details

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Born in Synanon — Season 1

Born in Synanon Born in Synanon Born in Synanon Born in Synanon View more photos

Season Info

Director
Geeta Gandbhir
Executive Producer
Geeta Gandbhir, Cassidy Arkin, Sandra Rogers-Hare, Jonathan K. Bendis, Jessica Cozzetta, Susan Zirinsky, Terence Wrong
Network
Paramount+
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
Dec 12, 2023