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Season 1 – Monsters of God

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Season 1 – Monsters of God Aug 2026 Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 12 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Filmmaker Eric Goode follows his first love – reptiles – into the dark and gonzo underworld of exotic animal smuggling. In this global network, everyone is chasing the ultimate prize, whether it be owning the rarest of species, claiming the biggest fortunes, or taking down the most elusive criminals. The billion-dollar criminal enterprise is fueled by extreme obsession for these creatures, driving many to push the boundaries of laws and environmental ethics. As he digs deeper, Goode uncovers a labyrinth of outlaw traffickers, bombastic collectors, and the dogged law enforcement agents on their tails.
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Monsters of God — Season 1

Monsters of God — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Equal parts fascinating and disturbing, Monsters of God dives into a bizarre world of eccentric characters, criminal intrigue, and the global reptile trade.

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Critics Reviews

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Hannah J Davies Guardian Aug 7, 2026
3/5
It does feel like Monsters of God could have been a two-parter, but then maybe it’s simply too hard to kill your darlings when you have so many of them. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal Aug 7, 2026
One man’s fixation is another man’s repulsive, venomous puff adder. But Eric Goode’s five-part “Monsters of God,” about the largely illegal and enormously lucrative global trade in reptiles, asks the questions nonetheless. Go to Full Review Daniel Fienberg The Hollywood Reporter Aug 6, 2026
Given how Goode’s documentaries are becoming increasingly reasonable and less outsized, Monsters of God led me to wonder if this has been the long game and Goode is getting ready for a look at ordinary everyday pet shops. Go to Full Review Stephanie Morgan Common Sense Media Aug 27, 2026
3/5
The combination of strange characters, international adventure, exotic wildlife, and criminal intrigue makes Monsters of God almost impossible to believe and is also what makes so entertaining. Go to Full Review Andrew Parker The Gate Aug 8, 2026
8/10
A lot of leg work had to be done in order for Goode to talk to and profile the biggest players in this game, and in terms of comprehensiveness, there’s nothing else out there at the moment that covers the subject better. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider Aug 7, 2026
Monsters Of God shows that Eric Goode has cornered the market on docuseries that concentrates on the colorful personalities that surround the illegal possession of exotic animals, and those personalities are fascinating to watch. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Zachary S @Zach154 Sep 9, 2026 Monsters of God is a crazy and often disturbing documentary series that dives into the world of reptile smuggling and the illegal trade of exotic animals. What makes the series so fascinating is how it shows just how easy and minimally punishable reptile trafficking once was, and the devastating consequences that had on wildlife. The people interviewed throughout the series are especially compelling; some are genuinely disgusting in the way they treated these animals, while others clearly cared for them but became caught up in the money, excitement, and adrenaline of the trade and the thrill of almost getting caught. The series does a great job of showing both the human motivations behind wildlife trafficking and the enormous cost it has on the animals themselves. Monsters of God is a truly astonishing documentary that exposes a bizarre underground world and demonstrates how easily greed and obsession can turn a passion for animals into something incredibly destructive. See more Drew M @Stonehands211 Sep 6, 2026 Man are the real monsters of God. See more Taj M @RT67826069 Sep 4, 2026 I enjoyed Tiger King and especially Chimp Crazy. But this project falls short of the other two, because there's no real storyline. In Tiger King, we followed Joe's conviction; in Chimp Crazy, we followed the finding of Tonka. But there's no similar story in Monsters of God. We only meet a bunch of reptile dealers, culminating with Wong -- but that's it. I appreciate shining a light on this underworld, but ultimately the effort was anticlimactic. See more Adele N @Adele222 Sep 2, 2026 It's about crazy reptile people similar to Tiger King and Chimp Crazy (I think that's what it's called about the crazy chimp lady). It's pretty good not as good as these other two. See more Skylar C @SkylarHC Aug 29, 2026 Must see for all reptile enthusiast. See more Ben W @RT09107876 Aug 21, 2026 Lightning didn't strike twice. See more Read all reviews
Monsters of God — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Eric Goode

Director

James Liu

Producer

Lissa Rivera

Producer

Callie Barlow

Producer

Charles Divak

Producer

Adrienne Gits

Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 6, 2026 The Fever The obsessive “fever” to own rare and dangerous animals sends the illegal reptile trade increasingly underground, fueling a dark, billion-dollar smuggling industry populated by notorious and ruthless dealers. The story begins with a fierce rivalry between reptile dealers Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield, whose animosity escalates to a macabre iguana trafficking case, as early efforts of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service pursuit begins to take shape. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 13, 2026 Operation Cobra Florida reptile dealer Ray Van Nostrand enters the fray and takes the trade business into the dark underworld of Miami drug smuggling and gun running with his connection to known cocaine cowboy Mario Tabraue. As the operation grows more dangerous and complex, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) begins closing in to bring the operation down. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 20, 2026 Smuggler’s Inn Ray’s son Mike Van Nostrand attempts to legitimize and capitalize on the family business by building a massive import and export empire that turns reptiles into a booming global commodity. But when his father re-enters the picture, Ray pulls Mike back into illicit trade and ups the stakes, this time involving even more exotic creatures and dangerous international dealer Anson Wong. Details Episode 4 Aired Aug 27, 2026 Operation Chameleon Fresh out of prison, Tommy Crutchfield re-emerges during a new era of high-end, ostensibly legal reptile dealing – the breeding of genetically modified rare animals that can command enormous prices. As the lure of illegal smuggling proves too great, U.S. authorities launch “Operation Chameleon” and uncover a vast trafficking network that entangles dealers and major zoos institutions in the global wildlife trade. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 3, 2026 Head of the Snake Malaysian kingpin Anson Wong emerges as a shadowy force at the center of the global reptile trade; a U.S. agent goes under cover to penetrate Wong's inner circle. Details
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Monsters of God — Season 1

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Monsters of God — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Eric Goode
Executive Producer
Jeremy McBride, Eric Goode, Harry Go, Emily Osborne, Nicole Stott, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Josh Safdie, Kevin Turen, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Tina Nguyen
Network
HBO
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 6, 2026
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