
Charles Manson
Actor · 1934 – 2017 · Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Charles Milles Manson (November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017) led the California-based Manson Family cult based in the late 1960s. Some cult members committed a series of nine murders at four locations in July and August 1969. In 1971, Manson was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for the deaths of seven people, including film actress Sharon Tate. The prosecution contended that while Manson never directly ordered the murders, his ideology constituted an overt act of conspiracy. Before the murders, Manson had spent more than half of his life in correctional institutions. While gathering his cult following, Manson was a singer-songwriter on the fringe of the Los Angeles music industry, chiefly through a chance association with Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys, who introduced Manson to record producer Terry Melcher. In 1968, the Beach Boys recorded Manson's song "Cease to Exist", renamed "Never Learn Not to Love" as a single B-side, but without a credit to Manson. Afterward, Manson attempted to secure a record contract through Melcher, but was unsuccessful. Manson would often talk about the Beatles, including their 1968 self-titled album. According to Los Angeles County District Attorney, Vincent Bugliosi, Manson felt guided by his interpretation of the Beatles' lyrics and adopted the term "Helter Skelter" to describe an impending apocalyptic race war. During his trial, Bugliosi argued that Manson had intended to start a race war, although Manson and others disputed this. Contemporary interviews and trial witness testimony insisted that the Tate–LaBianca murders were copycat crimes intended to exonerate Manson's friend Bobby Beausoleil. Manson himself denied having instructed anyone to murder anyone. Manson's notoriety as an emblem of insanity, violence, and the macabre influenced pop culture. Recordings of songs written and performed by Manson were released commercially, starting with Lie: The Love and Terror Cult (1970). Since his incarceration, various musicians have covered some of his songs. Although originally sentenced to death in 1971, his sentence was commuted to life with the possibility of parole after the California Supreme Court invalidated the state's death penalty statute in 1972. He served his life sentence at the California State Prison, Corcoran and died at age 83 in late 2017. Description above from the Wikipedia article Charles Manson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Movies22
Movie6.1DocumentaryCrimeIn August 1969, Charles Manson's followers killed seven people on his orders. Why? Explore a conspiracy of mind control, CIA experiments, and murder.
Chaos: The Manson Murders
2025 · 77 votes
Movie6.6DocumentaryMusicA celebration of the legendary band that revolutionized pop music, and the iconic, harmonious sound they created that personified the California dream, captivating fans for generations and generations to come.
The Beach Boys
2024 · 42 votes
Movie7.3DocumentaryMusicThe creative chemistry of four brilliant artists —drummer John Densmore, guitarist Robby Kreiger, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and singer Jim Morrison— made The Doors one of America's most iconic and influential rock bands. Using footage shot between their formation in 1965 and Morrison's death in 1971, it follows the band from the corridors of UCLA's film school, where Manzarek and Morrison met, to the stages of sold-out arenas.
When You're Strange
2010 · 232 votes
Movie7.3MusicDocumentaryWith the help of more than 10,000 dedicated Zappa fans, this is the long-awaited definitive documentary project of Alex Winter documenting the life and career of enigmatic groundbreaking rock star Frank Zappa. Alex also utilizes in this picture thousands of hours of painstakingly digitized videos, photos, audio, writing, and everything in between from Zappa's private archives. These chronicles have never been brought to a public audience before, until now.
Zappa
2020 · 69 votes
Movie7.2DocumentaryCrimeA documentary of the decline of America, composed of archival material and exclusive footage, carnage, madness, and mayhem with an unapologetic sincerity on the factual depiction of violence in the industrialized nation of the United States. Featuring a juxtaposition of detailed accounts of terrible acts, brutal behavior, and interviews from experts and convicted killers alike.
The Killing of America
1981 · 63 votes
Movie7.1DocumentarySophia was always the good girl growing up and her father's rock, but her quest to identify her unknown grandfather results in a shocking discovery: He is Charles Manson, history's most notorious criminal; and he bears striking physical similarities to her beloved father. Sophia's discovery propels her into an underworld of Manson family members and unreliable narrators as she traces her grandfather's life. Along the way, her genetics unlock never-before-released records and audio recordings that illuminate Manson's pathology in startling ways. But the more Sophia uncovers, the more her relationship with her father is strained. For Sophia, there's no turning back. What has she inherited, and how will she reckon with her family legacy?
My Grandfather Charles Manson
2026 · 6 votes
Movie7.2DocumentarySteve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans interweaves stunning newly discovered footage and voice recordings with original interviews. It is the true story of how a cinema legend would risk almost everything in pursuit of his dream.
Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans
2015 · 58 votes
Movie6.5DocumentaryAn interview with film director Roman Polanski conducted during his period of house arrest, discussing his life and work.
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir
2012 · 40 votes
- Movie10.0DocumentaryCrime
Reveals through graphic historical and exclusive footage the tragic murders of political and social leaders. These heinous crimes help make the 20th century man's most most violent era. Included also are numerous attempted assassinations and the stories behind those who are driven to kill prominent figures. ASSASSINATED: Malcolm X John F. Kennedy Dr. Martin Luther King Mahatma Ghandi John Lennon Robert Kennedy George Moscone
Movie6.8DocumentaryProsecuting attorney Vincent Bugliosi and Manson "family" members Lynette Fromme, Mary Brunner and Sandra Good discuss the Tate-LaBianca murders.
Manson
1973 · 26 votes
Movie7.7HistoryDocumentaryTwenty-five years after the verdict in the Rodney King trial sparked several days of protests, violence and looting in Los Angeles, LA 92 immerses viewers in that tumultuous period through stunning and rarely seen archival footage.
LA 92
2017 · 148 votes
Movie7.4DocumentaryBBC look at whether or not Snuff films really exist. Snuff as defined by the FBI and the film is a film that shows some one being killed which was produced for gratification of the viewer who pays to see the film. The film takes a look at the start of the rumors of snuff films, the latching on by exploitation producers and how the ability of anyone to shoot video with things such as mobile phones and put them up on the Internet have made the existence of a such a film likely. A very good very reasoned film that isn't really that graphic (at least with actual footage) the film looks at the subject with filmmakers and law enforcement officials and relates the chilling tales of the people who actually set out to make a film for themselves. The key element is the profit motive since its clear that killers and other people have been using home video equipment to record their nasty deeds, we just don't know if money has changed hands. A film to make you think.
The Dark Side of Porn: Does Snuff Exist?
2006 · 8 votes
Movie5.2DocumentaryThe sequel to This is America, aka Jabberwalk. This film goes inside the real America circa 1980 - a world of punks, orgies and worm-eating hicks! Romano Vanderbes back on the film making side and Norman Rose back on narrating duty for the second of the This Is America trilogy. Things kick off slightly louder this time with a performance by The Dictators doing a version of America the Beautiful while the titles role, then right into piece about punk star Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedy's running for mayor of San Francisco. Then back into a more This Is America feeling segment about a crazy fat bloke called Captain Sticky. Among some of the other more interesting segments we get a look at underground vagrants, a piranha attack, martial arts nuns, a family of worm eaters, a drug abusing church and ends with a death row electrocution.
This Is America Part 2
1980 · 9 votes
Movie6.8DocumentaryThe untold story of Charles Manson's obsession to become a rock star, his rise in the LA music scene, the celebrities who championed his music, his tragic friendship with The Beach Boys' Dennis Wilson and his descent into violence and chaos once his dreams fell apart.
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind
2019 · 20 votes
- Movie7.3Documentary
Documentary on notorious US murderers. Includes Charles Manson and his family, Kenneth Bianchi "The Hillside Strangler", Henry Lee Lucas, and Otis Toole. Has some interview footage and recounts their deeds.
Death Diploma
1987 · 3 votes
Movie6.1DocumentaryTV MovieCulled from more than 100 hours of new and archival interviews with former Manson cult members, this two-hour special goes inside Spahn’s Ranch, where the Manson cult lived, to offer an intimate and terrifying look into America’s most murderous group.
Inside the Manson Cult: The Lost Tapes
2018 · 34 votes
Movie8.0DocumentaryAn explosive documentary that changes the conversation about Charles Manson and the notorious "Manson Family" murders.
Charles Manson: The Final Words
2017 · 1 votes
Movie5.8DocumentaryGeraldo Rivera investigates allegations of a widespread Satanic underground in the United States.
Devil Worship: Exposing Satan's Underground
1988 · 4 votes
MovieDocumentaryBased upon Vincenzoni's biography, "Pane e cinema", the documentary traces the story of the screen play writer who invented many stories that became blockbusters throughout the world.
Movie4.9DocumentaryThe incredible, behind the scenes, true story and exclusive footage of the most dangerous white gang of the 20th century. No actors, no recreations, just you, your personal guide Robert Hendrickson, The MANSON Gang and the most notorious living gangster in American history.
Inside The Manson Gang
2007 · 7 votes
Movie5.4DocumentaryCrimeLynette “Squeaky” Fromme, Sandra “Blue” Good, Catherine “Gypsy” Share, and Dianne “Snake” Lake recount their experiences with Manson, life on Spahn Ranch and their leader’s eventual decent into madness. Their candid, in-depth interviews provide a unique perspective on what it meant to be a part of the infamous Manson family and vividly depict the collapse of a freewheeling family whose leader groomed a few of its own to commit murder.
Manson: The Women
2019 · 5 votes
- Movie
The 20 most brutal murders of Hollywood are discussed.
Series15
TV8.3AnimationComedyFollow the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado.
South Park
1997 · 5.2K votes
TV8.3DramaA group of high school students navigate love and friendships in a world of drugs, sex, trauma, and social media.
Euphoria
2019 · 11K votes
TV8.1CrimeDocumentaryFor more than 25 years, Dateline has brought viewers investigations into some of biggest mysteries in America. This entry in the franchise takes a second look at some of the most mysterious cases of recent history. It explores the stories through firsthand accounts told by people who are close to the crime, including investigators who dedicated their time to the cases and family members who are still trying to confront the tragedies that befell their loved ones.
Dateline: Secrets Uncovered
2017 · 13 votes
TV6.2Sci-Fi & FantasyRealityParanormal investigators investigate places that are reported to be haunted. Engaging forensic experts, historical records and the most innovative technology available, the squad helps everyday people who are struggling with unexplained supernatural phenomena.
Ghost Hunters
2004 · 79 votes
TV5.0DocumentaryThe story of the big names that have shaped the musical genres, plus an occasional stopgap for the new rock 'n' roll - comedy.
Legends
2006 · 1 votes
TV7.4DocumentaryA documentary series focusing on the ongoing Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, evolving music industry, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the sexual revolution, and the rise of foreign and domestic terrorism.
The Seventies
2015 · 24 votes
TV8.6DocumentaryA chronicle of the twisted lives of some of the most frightening, diabolical characters in recent history. Each two-hour episode traces the heinous, criminal acts of these elusive miscreants and the eventual road to justice.
Very Scary People
2019 · 10 votes
TV6.7DocumentaryCrimeThe untold story behind cult leader Charles Manson and his followers' heinous crimes as told through interviews with former members, archival footage, and newly-unearthed images.
Helter Skelter: An American Myth
2020 · 11 votes
TV7.2DocumentaryTracing Charles Manson's rise as a cult leader, the 1969 murders, and his trial, using unreleased prison recordings, interviews, and archival footage.
Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes
2026 · 12 votes
- TV8.5Documentary
They are the tragic stories at the heart of some of history's most defining moments - tales of hatred and obsession, fanaticism and a burning desire for attention. In Assassinations That Changed the World, HISTORY examines the famous assassinations and assassination attempts that have left their mark on humanity.
Assassinations That Changed the World
1996 · 2 votes
TV6.2CrimeDocumentaryExplore the psychological machinations and immoral behavior that define the most nefarious types of criminals.
Inside the Criminal Mind
2018 · 23 votes
TV5.7A version of the story made for British television without any censorship or dramatic reconstructions.
Manson: The Lost Tapes
2018 · 3 votes
TV7.5DocumentaryThrough 20 years' worth of never-before-aired conversations, those closest to the case have their views challenged as Manson talks openly about his part in the infamous crimes, as well as his upbringing, criminal youth and his true feelings about "The Family."
Making Manson
2024 · 6 votes
TV7.5DocumentaryThe six-part series features gripping first-hand accounts of how the year's events came together at the same dizzying, chaotic time.
1969
2019 · 2 votes
TV7.8DocumentaryThe two-part special “Manson Speaks: Inside the Mind of a Madman” presents a new theory on Manson’s motives that does not align with the “Helter Skelter” theory he was prosecuted under; brings forth eye witnesses who are speaking publicly about Manson for the first time; and makes contact with the only convicted Manson Family killer who is currently out of prison and living under a pseudonym.The special also examines 26 hours of exclusive never-before-broadcast phone conversations with Manson that may change the scope of his crimes, almost five decades later.
Manson Speaks: Inside the Mind of a Madman
2017 · 4 votes