TV series
When Steven Stayner returned home, the real story began.
1972: 7-year-old Steven Stayner vanishes from Merced, California. For years, his family searches for him, only to find they’ve been looking for the wrong boy. 50 years on, Steven’s children unearth clues to their father’s mysterious past.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story is available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
1972: 7-year-old Steven Stayner vanishes from Merced, California. For years, his family searches for him, only to find they’ve been looking for the wrong boy. 50 years on, Steven’s children unearth clues to their father’s mysterious past.
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Episode 1
1972: 7-year-old Steven Stayner vanishes from Merced, California. His family struggles to keep his case in the public eye - until his heroic return seven years later sparks a media sensation.
Where to watch Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story
Episode 2
A heroic escape. A televised family reunion. But the Stayner ordeal is far from over as painful secrets surface. When a hit TV movie rewrites the Stayner story, reality gets stranger than fiction.
Where to watch Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story
Episode 3
Two decades after Steven went missing near Yosemite, three tourists vanish from the same area. When the FBI finds the killer, the Stayner family is linked to the new, horrifying crimes and the family is thrust back into the headlines.
Where to watch Captive Audience: A Real American Horror StoryEpisode information updated Jul 22, 2026
Corin NemecSelf
Todd Eric AndrewsSelf
HuluUnited States
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