Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke is a three-part documentary series that dives into the unsettling transformation of a family vlogger. The show premiered on Hulu on February 27, 2025, showing the rise and fall of Ruby Franke.

Franke, known for her YouTube channel “8 passengers,” built a massive following by sharing her six children’s daily lives. However, it took a dark turn, leading to shocking revelations about her parenting methods.

The documentary shows the rise of Franke’s online fame, showing her strict parenting slowly raising red flags to her subscribers. As more people started watching her videos, the more people got concerned about her parenting style. 

The series includes former fans, family members, and experts who provide insight into the family’s lives over the years. Through the series viewers will see exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage. The experts analyze the psychological impact of Franke’s parenting tactics. 

As the episodes continues, the documentary unpacks Franke’s legal case and the downfall of her channel. It shows the role of her controversial partner, Jodi Hilderbrant, who allegedly contributed to the extreme punishments, which inflicted serious physical injuries, being denied food and water, and being tied up. These punishments were done to Franke’s youngest son and daughter.

Law enforcement was involved in this case leading to Franke and Jodi Hildebrant arrests. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, published March 5, 2025, “Ruby and Hildebrandt both pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree aggravated child abuse and were each sentenced to four one-to-15-year terms in prison.” 

This documentary serves as a warning about the dangers of online influence and extreme parenting. It challenges viewers to reflect on accountability in family vlogging and the lasting impact of social media.