True Crime Documentary About ‘Evil Influencer’ Takes Netflix by Storm
Utah Therapist’s Story Captivates Audiences Amid Child Abuse Case
The narrative surrounding Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt and her connection to Ruby Franke, a mommy vlogger recently sentenced to prison for child abuse, continues to attract significant attention. The documentary Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story, released on December 30, has surged to the top of Netflix’s film charts, amassing 15 million views.
This impressive viewership highlights the enduring interest in a story that has been explored in various other documentaries and docuseries. Another release, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, debuted on Hulu in February 2025, recording 7.9 million views within its first five days and becoming the streaming platform’s largest docuseries to date. Additionally, Ruby & Jodi: A Cult of Sin and Influence premiered on Investigation Discovery in September and is now available on HBO Max.
Produced by Fremantle, Evil Influencer has outperformed titles such as KPop Demon Hunters, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Goodbye June, and Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, all of which comprise the remaining entries in the top five English-language films list.
Directed by Skye Borgman, known for Netflix’s hit Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, the documentary delves into Hildebrandt’s involvement in child abuse alongside Franke. It examines her connections within their Mormon church community in Utah and her life-coaching business, ConneXions, while also addressing the role of Kevin Franke, Ruby’s ex-husband, who currently holds custody of their six children.
In early 2025, Netflix reported that American Murder: Gabby Petito was the most-watched title on the platform, amassing 56 million views and over 120 million hours streamed, followed closely by Adolescence, Squid Game, Zero Day, and Missing You. Other notable entries in the top 50 included Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer and Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story.
Netflix’s data dump in February 2025 also showcased strong numbers for documentaries such as The Menendez Brothers, American Murder: Laci Peterson, Worst Ex Ever, Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, and This Is the Zodiac Speaking, further affirming the growing allure of true-crime narratives among viewers.
