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Season 1 – The Secrets of Hillsong

Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Season 1 – The Secrets of Hillsong May 2023 Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
FX's "The Secrets of Hillsong" is a four-part documentary series based on the explosive original reporting on the megachurch's scandals by Vanity Fair journalists Alex French and Dan Adler. The series features the first interviews with former pastors Carl and Laura Lentz since their public ouster from the church, which for years counted musicians, actors, athletes and other celebrities among its flock. Many of the congregants navigating the global reckoning also offer their perspectives as the church faces a rash of fresh revelations.

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The Secrets of Hillsong — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Nick Allen RogerEbert.com 05/19/2023
3.5/4
“The Secrets of Hillsong,” a fascinating four-part docuseries, looks at the church’s shiny edifice and dismantles it piece by piece. Go to Full Review
Nick Schager The Daily Beast 05/15/2023
Per modern docuseries convention, The Secrets of Hillsong runs at least one episode too long. Regardless, it’s a comprehensive overview of a reprehensible situation that often plays out in the religious world. Go to Full Review
Jeanine T. Abraham VisAbleBlackwoman (Medium) 07/22/2023
4
It’s easy to go for the surface story of the dynamic young preacher who has an illicit affair, but when the journalists decide to look at the culture around this young man, we see how the sausage is made, and boy, is it disturbing. Go to Full Review
Melissa Camacho Common Sense Media 05/31/2023
Nonetheless, The Secrets of Hillsong offers some interesting (albeit distressing) insight into how a church can act as a wolf in sheep's clothing. Go to Full Review
Joel Keller Decider 05/19/2023
An effective picture of a megachurch that tried to modernize the old-fashioned Pentecostal service, despite being not only just as ultra-conservative as other evangelical ministries, but in possession of lots and lots of secrets. Go to Full Review
Kylie Cheung Jezebel 05/16/2023
The Hillsong story makes pretty clear that the call has long been coming from inside the house. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Joshua H @JoshuaHawes 02/02/2024 As a Christian, this was such a hard watch coming to terms with horrific practices behind the church, and is a bright example to all churches on what not to do. However, I do feel like they could have done a lot better in making the separation between Christianity as a whole and the actions of Hillsong a lot clearer as it at times leans into communicating the wrong message. See more Tim S 07/15/2023 The story of Hillsong is a cautionary tale, but the sources chosen are decidedly one-sided and many have already established themselves as critics of mega churches and/or Christians in general…they had strong bias coming in…an axe to grind. Many advocates for the broader anti-Hillsong narrative are known to be far more extreme in viewpoint or presentation than on camera in the series. Yet, they are all portrayed as utterly reasonable and kind. So, I watched feeling like the topic wasn't being dealt with honestly. Having said that, I am glad this story is being told, so we can all learn from it. I just wish it were told more fairly. See more Dylan J 06/01/2023 Absolutely loved this series! See more Read all reviews
The Secrets of Hillsong — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 19, 2023 Church in the Wild In 2015, a young pastor named Carl Lentz lands in New York City to spread the Word of Hillsong, an Australian megachurch; after allegations explode, Lentz is fired from his role and disappears; now he breaks his silence after more than two years. Details Episode 2 Aired May 19, 2023 The Prodigal Son In their first interviews since their expulsion, Carl and Laura Lentz shed light onto the inner sanctum of Hillsong, detailing the burden of building the church's congregation and the response from leadership when it deemed Carl a liability. Details Episode 3 Aired May 26, 2023 Sins of the Father A group of international reporters discover Hillsong's founding father, Frank Houston, laid the groundwork for the church's pattern of covering up misconduct with non-disclosure agreements and hush money. Details Episode 4 Aired May 26, 2023 False Prophets Shortly after Carl Lentz's expulsion from Hillsong, Brian Houston is formally charged with concealing his father's crimes and banished from Hillsong after allegations of his own misconduct are made public. Details
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Season Info

Director
Stacey Lee
Executive Producer
David Collins, Joel Chiodi, Michael Williams, Rob Eric, Agnes Chu, Dan Adler, Sarah Amos, Alex French
Network
FX
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 19, 2023