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The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – Monster

Play trailer 2:30 Poster for The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story – Monster Sep 2024 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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47% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story chronicles the case of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed - and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole - that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents. The series dives into the historic case that took the world by storm, paved the way for audiences’ modern-day fascination with true crime, and in return asks those audiences: Who are the real monsters?
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Monster — The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Monster — The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

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Critics Consensus

Well-acted but off-puttingly sordid, Monsters leaves viewers feeling guilty without enough pleasure to compensate.

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Critics Reviews

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Inkoo Kang The New Yorker Oct 8, 2024
The astoundingly prolific showrunner melds his modes as provocateur and clumsy social-justice warrior, with mixed results. Go to Full Review Craig Mathieson The Age (Australia) Sep 27, 2024
2.5/5
The second season of Ryan Murphy’s biographical crime anthology literally doesn’t know when to stop. If you want to credit this to ambition, then there are rewards... but if you lean towards lurid excess, Monsters certainly incriminates itself. Go to Full Review Dan Einav Financial Times Sep 27, 2024
3/5
Monsters proves itself capable of confronting a complex case with sensitivity — which makes its increasing sensationalism and salaciousness all the more frustrating. Go to Full Review Nicolás Medina Montevideo Portal / Latido Beat Feb 7, 2025
4/10
The series ends up leaving a bittersweet taste: powerful at its best moments, but unable to sustain its initial promise. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review John Paul King Washington Blade Oct 29, 2024
While it may not be the right show for every taste, it’s not “trash TV” either. It’s a bold and challenging work from one of our most prolific and dedicated queer showmen... Go to Full Review Hannah Brown Jerusalem Post Oct 11, 2024
While the Menendez brothers’ story is undeniably interesting, I found the characters were all people I didn’t want to spend time with, whether or not there was a miscarriage of justice. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Cool T @RT75957865 14 hrs ago Season 1 and 2 was ok. BUT 3 and for is ffffffffffff sh**t very disappointed!!!! the bulls***t... Expected much more. A GREAT DISAPPOINTED!!! can't believe Netflix made this... Spend money on it!!! See more Isaac K @isaackrawiec11 1 day ago Sorry but out of all the monster series this one was by far the most boring case that they done. See more Isobel S @RT85478538 2 days ago Wicked series - loved it See more Fro T @frothizzlereviews 2 days ago Javier Bardem gives a knock out performance playing the extremely creepy father, but I really didn’t need to see the graphic implication of the Menendez brothers being in an incestous relationship, which feels heavily fabricated. The murder-by-shotgun sequence is haunting, but this season was extremely unpleasant. I can handle uncomfortable subjects, but this felt really bogged down and dramatized. Having said that, Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch do a solid job with their acting turns. 4/10 See more Ketty T @RT13593393 Sep 5, 2026 I didn’t like that they showed the parents getting shot all gun stores have to have background checks and the language See more Melchizedek Franz Noval S @Melchizedek Aug 17, 2026 The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is a dark, disturbing entry in the Monster anthology that explores the Menendez case from multiple perspectives, focusing on the brothers’ relationship and their claims of childhood abuse. Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch stand out with strong, contrasting performances as the brothers, while Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny add intensity and dysfunction to the Menendez family. The strongest moments make you question what you're watching, raising issues of abuse, trauma, guilt, and how fully the truth can be captured. However, the series can feel sensational and repetitive, with its nine-episode run sometimes stretched out. Overall, it's compelling and well-acted, but definitely uneven. A fascinating true-crime drama with some great performances, even if it doesn't always know when to stop. See more Read all reviews
Monster — The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

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Cast & Crew

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Ryan Murphy

Creator

Ian Brennan

Creator

Javier Bardem

Jose Menendez

Cooper Koch

Erik Menendez

Nicholas Alexander Chavez

Lyle Menendez

Chloë Sevigny

Kitty Menendez

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Blame It on the Rain Plagued by dark thoughts after the murders, Erik opens up to his therapist and shares disturbing details that put the doctor in a difficult position. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Spree After throwing suspicion elsewhere during police questioning, Lyle and Erik go on a wild spending spree while waiting for Jose's will to be read. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? The brothers navigate life behind bars after police receive a tip-off about the tapes; a new defense attorney prompts Erik to talk about the past. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Kill or Be Killed Lyle shares painful memories of trying to live up to his father's expectations, detailing the timeline and impact of Jose's abuse and its effect on Erik. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 19, 2024 The Hurt Man During an emotional conversation with Leslie, Erik gives a harrowing account of the sexual abuse and torture he experienced throughout his childhood. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Don't Dream It's Over The trajectory of Jose and Kitty's relationship, from their courtship through their fracturing marriage, plays out against family therapy sessions. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Showtime Lyle and Erik struggle to shape their defense before the trial; Menendez mania hits, from cheering crowds to fan mail and courtroom TV cameras. Details Episode 8 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Seismic Shifts A captivating witness alters courtroom dynamics, and Erik's testimony causes a sibling rift; the Menendez pop-culture moment begins to fade. Details Episode 9 Aired Sep 19, 2024 Hang Men At a second trial, the prosecution aims to prove that Erik and Lyle are cold-blooded killers; after the verdict, the brothers face a new reality. Details

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Monster — The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

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Monster — The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story View more photos

Season Info

Synopsis Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story chronicles the case of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed - and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole - that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents. The series dives into the historic case that took the world by storm, paved the way for audiences’ modern-day fascination with true crime, and in return asks those audiences: Who are the real monsters?
Creator
Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 19, 2024
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