Ruby Franke Documentary Where to Watch : For years, Ruby Franke portrayed the image of a perfect family through her 8 Passengers YouTube channel. Behind the scenes, however, a much darker reality was unfolding—one that eventually led to her arrest and a potential 60-year prison sentence for child abuse.
Now, Hulu’s latest docuseries, Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke, takes an unfiltered look at what really happened inside the Franke household. Through interviews with family members—including Ruby’s husband, Kevin, and their eldest children, Shari and Chad—the series pieces together the events that led to the shocking downfall of one of YouTube’s once-beloved family vloggers.
Ruby Franke Documentary Where to Watch: The Fall of Ruby Franke
The three-part docuseries is now streaming exclusively on Hulu, which offers a free trial for new users. If you’re already a subscriber, you can watch it as part of your regular plan. For those looking for a bundle deal, Hulu is available with Disney+ and Max or Disney+ and ESPN+, though keep in mind that Disney+ does not offer a free trial.
Why This Story Matters
In a rare and deeply personal interview with Rolling Stone, Shari Franke, Ruby’s eldest daughter, explained why she decided to come forward and even write a memoir. “Writing the book was a way to take back my privacy, as strange as that sounds. Just because it was Ruby who took my voice away… and then with the arrest, it was the media that picked a side of me to portray.”
For years, the internet saw the Franke family as wholesome, traditional, and deeply rooted in faith. But as the documentary reveals, much of that image was carefully curated—often at the expense of the children’s well-being.
The Dark Turn: How It All Fell Apart
At the heart of this story is Ruby’s relationship with Jodi Hildebrandt, a controversial counselor who became a powerful influence over her parenting decisions. Under Hildebrandt’s guidance, Ruby began enforcing extreme punishments—such as withholding food and isolating her children for long periods.
The situation reached a breaking point in August 2023, when one of Ruby’s young sons escaped from the house and begged a neighbor for help. Authorities quickly stepped in, leading to Ruby’s arrest and the unraveling of a carefully controlled narrative.
The documentary doesn’t just recount the events; it forces viewers to ask hard questions about accountability, manipulation, and the role of social media in shaping public perception. At one point in the trailer, the interviewer asks Kevin Franke why he didn’t step in sooner. His response? “If I dwell on that question, it eats me alive.”
The Bigger Picture: What Can We Learn?
Beyond just a gripping true-crime story, Devil in the Family sheds light on the dangers of unchecked power within family structures and the influence of toxic mentorships. It also highlights a bigger issue—how family vlogging can sometimes blur the line between real life and performance.
If you’ve ever watched a family vlogger and wondered, What’s really happening behind the camera?, this docuseries might just make you rethink everything.
📺 Now streaming on Hulu—watch it while the conversation is still unfolding.