Netflix’s Latest True Crime Movie Is an Instant Streaming Hit With Over 25M Hours Viewed

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I’m telling you, everyone is obsessed with true crime, and Netflix knows it! Just look at their latest true crime movie – it’s absolutely blown up since it was released on December 30th, with over 25 million hours watched already. It’s actually above all their big holiday releases! Even popular shows like KPOP: Demon Hunters and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery have been pushed down to numbers two and three. A new Kate Winslet drama and even The Grinch couldn’t compete – this true crime film is clearly what everyone’s watching right now.

The Netflix documentary, Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, is currently the most-watched film on the platform. It’s number one in the US and 18 other countries, and appears in the Top 10 in a remarkable 55 countries worldwide. This is especially impressive because the film focuses on a very specific American story – set within the Mormon community in Utah – a subject that might not typically attract such a wide audience. Despite this, the documentary is clearly resonating with viewers and making a significant impact.

Evil Influencer Is A Story Most People Don’t Know That They Know

In August 2023, therapist and popular YouTuber Jodi Nan Hildebrandt was arrested, along with her business partner, Ruby Franke. The arrests led to disturbing revelations about the realities hidden within the world of parenting influencers.

In 2022, Hilderbrandt and Franke started a YouTube channel called “ConneXions,” along with their Instagram account, “Moms of Truth.” This was a revamped version of a business Hilderbrandt had run since the late 2000s. She originally worked as a counselor in Utah, and later became part of LifeStar, a counseling service that focused on mental and emotional issues, including unwanted sexual thoughts and excessive use of pornography.

In 2012, Hildebrandt received professional probation after revealing a client’s private sexual details to the Mormon church. As a result, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints removed her from their list of recommended counselors. Despite this, she continued to practice therapy privately, using unconventional and often harmful techniques. She skillfully persuaded couples and families—especially those who were deeply religious—that her severe methods were divinely inspired and carried out God’s will.

Hilderbrandt became very close to Ruby Franke and her family, eventually gaining control and persuading Ruby to help her with what she called a “holy mission.” Their parenting videos were shockingly strict, causing concern among other family YouTubers. The situation drastically changed when Ruby Franke’s twelve-year-old son escaped from their care facility and went to a neighbor for help. He was found to be severely malnourished, bruised, and injured, with clear signs he had been tied up and forcibly restrained. This discovery led to the uncovering of deeply disturbing abuse happening within the seemingly peaceful Mormon community.

Evil Influencer Isn’t the Only Version of the Story

What’s really remarkable is how many people are watching the Netflix documentary, especially since this is already the third movie or show to cover this story.

The story of Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrandt has been covered in several TV productions. In 2024, a Lifetime movie called Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story starred Heather Locklear and Emilie Ullerup as Hildebrandt and Franke. This movie caused controversy because Franke’s family wasn’t involved in its creation and didn’t approve of it. Later, in early 2025, Hulu released a docuseries called Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, which allowed Franke’s family to share their perspective. Most recently, a Discovery/HBO Max docuseries, Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence, released last September, focused specifically on the relationship between Franke and Hildebrandt.

The documentary Evil Influencer is resonating with audiences because it sheds light on the disturbing story of Jodi Hildebrant and Ruby Franke, a recent and significant example of the dangers within influencer culture. As the influencer world potentially faces a decline – particularly with the growing influence of AI – Netflix is clearly establishing itself as a key player in this type of true crime storytelling with this film.

You can stream Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story on Netflix.

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2026-01-09 19:10