Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Promotional release poster
Showrunners
  • Ryan Murphy
  • Ian Brennan
Starring
  • Javier Bardem
  • Chloë Sevigny
  • Cooper Koch
  • Nicholas Alexander Chavez
  • Ari Graynor
  • Nathan Lane
No. of episodes 9
Release
Original network Netflix
Original release September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
Season chronology
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The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
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The Ed Gein Story
List of episodes

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second season of the American biographical crime drama anthology television series Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix. The season centers on the 1989 parricides of José (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Chloë Sevigny), who were killed by their sons, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch). The narrative is structured around the Rashomon effect, which presents key events through unreliable narrators and allows viewers to form their own interpretations of the story.

It is the second installment in the Monster anthology series, following Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Having initially ordered the program in 2020 as a limited series, Netflix announced in 2022 that it had been renewed as an anthology series, with two further editions based on the lives of "other monstrous figures". The second season, which focuses on the Menendez brothers, was announced to be in development on May 1, 2023.

Upon its premiere on September 19, 2024, the season received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances (particularly those of Koch and Bardem) and the one-shot episode "The Hurt Man", but criticized its inconsistent tone, runtime, sexual content, and homoerotic themes. It was denounced by the real Erik Menendez for its factual inaccuracies and Lyle Menendez's portrayal, although Lyle later expressed gratitude for its depiction of child abuse. It further garnered controversy for implying an incestuous relationship between the brothers. Despite the controversies, the season achieved global commercial success, debuting as the number-one series on Netflix worldwide, the most-viewed streaming content on the Nielsen Streaming Chart, and the third most-watched Netflix series in the second half of 2024. At the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards, it earned 11 nominations, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Koch, and won for Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. It also received three nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards: Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film, Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for Koch, and Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Bardem.

A third season, titled Monster: The Ed Gein Story, was released on October 3, 2025, starring Charlie Hunnam as murderer and graverobber Ed Gein.

Synopsis

On August 20, 1989, in Beverly Hills, brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their wealthy parents, José and Kitty Menendez. While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.

Cast and characters

Main

  • Javier Bardem as José Menendez:
    Lyle and Erik's father. Born in Cuba, he was a wealthy and powerful businessman in the entertainment industry, serving as an executive at RCA Records and the CEO of Live Entertainment. He is portrayed as an ambitious and controlling father who imposes high expectations on his sons. Lyle and Erik allege that they killed José in self-defense after years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.[1] This marks the first series regular role for Bardem, who has primarily worked in major films. He described José as "this commanding man [who] really thinks and feels that he's absolutely right all the time, and that has to be obeyed by others."[2] Speaking to TheWrap, he admitted that he was initially unfamiliar with the case, but after "digging in and informing [himself]", he was alarmed by the extent of the alleged sexual abuse.[3] Bardem also served as an executive producer.
  • Chloë Sevigny as Mary Louise "Kitty" Menendez:
    Lyle and Erik's mother who struggled with mental health issues, including depression, alcoholism, and substance abuse. Lyle and Erik claim that Kitty had been complicit in the alleged abuse they suffered from their father. In describing Kitty, Sevigny expressed doubt about whether Kitty intentionally ignored the sexual abuse the brothers claim they endured from their father.[4] She connected with a director whose wife was friends with Kitty, stating, "I'm trying to get in touch with her to hear her personal accounts, which I generally don't like to do, but there's so much negative stuff about Kitty that I feel like it could be really beneficial to hear from someone that did know her."[4]
  • Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez:
    The younger Menendez brother, who, along with his older brother Lyle, killed their parents in 1989.[1] An 18-year-old tennis prodigy, he is portrayed as the more sensitive brother grappling with guilt, depression, and emotional trauma. Koch previously auditioned for the role of Erik Menendez in the NBC limited series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders and the Lifetime television film Menendez: Blood Brothers (both 2017).[5] Prior to the season premiere, Koch had a phone call with Lyle and Erik, and they later met at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility for Kim Kardashian's project on prison reform.[6] On his dedication to the role, Koch explained, "I just really wanted to do as much research and dig really deep into myself to really portray [Erik] with integrity and just be as authentic as possible to support him, and also to support his family and all the people who stand with him."[7] He has publicly advocated for their release and remains in contact with both brothers.[8]
  • Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez:
    The older Menendez brother, who, along with his younger brother Erik, killed their parents in 1989.[1] A 21-year-old aspiring businessman and Princeton University student, he is portrayed as the more confident, intense, and aggressive brother who is protective of Erik. Chavez revealed that he had no prior knowledge about the case before auditioning for the role.[9] In preparation, he said he "had to do an extensive amount of research" and described Lyle as a "compelling and complicated character".[9] Chavez declined to meet Lyle Menendez in prison, stating that it was his way of moving on from the character.[10]
  • Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson:
    Erik's lead defense attorney. A notable criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles, she is known for her tenacious and aggressive courtroom style.[1] Graynor stated, "[Leslie] is an extraordinary lawyer, but she was an extraordinary person, and such a spirit, and fierce and loving."[2] She revealed that she didn't reach out to Abramson while preparing for her role, as she knew the attorney "had made it pretty clear that she never wanted to speak about any of her cases".[11]
  • Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne:
    A prominent journalist known for his keen interest in high-profile criminal cases. Dunne was a key voice in shaping public perception of the brothers' story through his article The Nightmare on Elm Drive for Vanity Fair.[12] He is portrayed to be holding resentment against defense attorneys and murderers after the death of his daughter, Dominique Dunne, and the subsequent acquittal of her ex-boyfriend and killer.[1] Lane described Dunne as "a passionate advocate for victims and [that's] why he's looking out for José and Kitty".[2] He also approached Dunne's son, actor and director Griffin Dunne, who offered his perspective on the trial of John Sweeney for the murder of his sister.[13]

Recurring

  • Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel, Erik's therapist to whom Erik confesses the murders
  • Jason Butler Harner as Det. Les Zoeller, a Beverly Hills Police detective assigned to investigate the deaths of José and Kitty
  • Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth, Dr. Oziel's mistress who becomes entangled in Lyle and Erik's case
  • Marlene Forte as Marta Cano, José's sister
  • Larry Clarke as Brian Andersen, Kitty's brother
  • Charlie Hall as Craig Cignarelli, Erik's best friend who, along with Erik, co-wrote a screenplay about a kid who kills his wealthy parents for the inheritance

Guest

  • Jeff Perry as Peter Hoffman, an executive at Live Entertainment and José's business acquaintance
  • Jade Pettyjohn as Jamie Pisarcik, Lyle's girlfriend at the time of the murders
  • Tanner Stine as Perry Berman, Lyle and Erik's friend
  • Enrique Murciano as Carlos Baralt, José's brother-in-law and the executor of the Menendez family's estate
  • Anthony Turpel as Donovan Goodreau, Lyle's friend whose driver's license was used to purchase the shotguns
  • Drew Powell as Det. Tom Linehan, a Beverly Hills Police detective and Det. Zoeller's partner
  • Michael Gladis as Tim Rutten, Leslie's husband who is a journalist for the Los Angeles Times
  • Gil Ozeri as Dr. William Vicary, a therapist who examines Erik for the trials
  • Salvator Xuereb as Robert Shapiro, Erik and Lyle's first criminal defense attorney
  • Brandon Santana as Tony, an inmate at LA County Jail who becomes sexually involved with Erik
  • Tessa Auberjonois as Dr. Laurel Oziel, Dr. Oziel's wife
  • Jess Weixler as Jill Lansing, Lyle's lead defense attorney in the first trial
  • Milana Vayntrub as Pam Bozanich, a prosecutor in the first trial
  • Paul Adelstein as David Conn, a prosecutor in the second trial
  • Patrick Breen as a jury alternate who replaces Leigh in the second trial[14]
  • Vicki Lawrence as Leigh, a juror in the second trial[15]
  • Yvonne Miranda as Lisa Darview, a newscaster delivering the final verdict

Episodes

No.
overall		 No. in
season		 Title Directed by Written by Original release date
11 1 "Blame It on the Rain" Carl Franklin Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez are taken into custody by the FBI temporarily following the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion, which they initially blame on the mob. Haunted by nightmares of his parents dying, Erik visits Dr. Jerome Oziel and confesses that he and his brother were the ones who killed his parents and why they chose to do so: his father, José, was controlling and physically abusive while his mother, Kitty, was suicidal and addicted to drugs. Following the confession, Dr. Oziel calls Lyle into his office while calling his mistress, Judalon, to witness the confession. At the office, Lyle denies that they killed his parents and leaves with Erik.
12 2 "Spree" Carl Franklin Ian Brennan & David McMillan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
After killing their parents, Lyle and Erik spend part of the night outside in order to create an alibi. Upon returning, the brothers call the police to report the murder, but the police suspect something is amiss. Some time later, the brothers begin to spend a lot of money on luxury products, although they think that their father disinherited them and that they must find the will before it is read. After the opening of the safe where they thought the will was, one of the family's house staff discovers it and gives it to Lyle, and they realize that their father left them everything. Two months later, the police send a friend of Erik's to elicit a confession without success. Dr. Oziel continues with the brothers in therapy and offers them to be his business partner. After Oziel throws Judalon out of his house, in a fit of rage, she goes to the police station after learning everything about the Menendez case.
13 3 "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" Paris Barclay Ian Brennan & David McMillan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
After Judalon reveals to the police about Dr. Oziel's Menendez case tapes, the police go to Oziel's house to confiscate them, where they hear the brothers' confession. Lyle and Erik are then arrested by the police and sent to jail to await trial. The brothers have a hard time adjusting to their new life in jail, although Erik befriends an inmate. The brothers are in denial of the seriousness of the incident and its possible consequences until their lawyer, Robert Shapiro, reveals to them that they face the death penalty. After hearing the information, Erik considers telling the truth about his parents, but Lyle refuses. The guards discover a plan by Lyle to escape with Erik and transfer him to a different cell. After firing Shapiro, the family hires Leslie Abramson as Erik's lawyer. At the behest of Leslie, Erik tells Dr. William Vicary that he was sexually abused by Lyle, which was what José did to him.
14 4 "Kill or Be Killed" Paris Barclay Ian Brennan & David McMillan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
Leslie visits Lyle to get his side of the story, though he refuses to portray his father as a monster, saying that he wanted the best for him despite being so very harsh on him. As Lyle talks, he mentions that he was losing his hair due to the pressure his father had on him to be the best, and that their father saved the brothers from being arrested for burglary. Eventually, Lyle begins to talk about how his father abused him, going from bad to worse, while his mother did nothing to stop him. To normalize what was happening to him, he began abusing Erik. Lyle managed to get his father to stop abusing him, though he went on to abuse Erik. After this, Lyle confronted his father and told Leslie that José planned to kill them. Dominick Dunne, an enemy of Leslie, argues that the brothers are truly evil and do not deserve forgiveness.
15 5 "The Hurt Man" Michael Uppendahl Ian Brennan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
During Leslie's visit to Erik, Erik tells her how his parents suddenly locked him up and how his father abused him. In his opinion, his father only loved Lyle. When José began to abuse him, he felt that it was the only time in which his father really loved him, although, like his brother Lyle, the abuse began from massages to rape, which according to his father was to make him strong, although for him it was torture. His mother was aware of all this and began checking his penis to see if he had contracted AIDS, since he was secretly having sexual relations with a man because of his experiences with his father. Finally, Erik tells Leslie that he has been a broken man ever since.
16 6 "Don't Dream It's Over" Max Winkler Ryan Murphy & Ian Brennan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
When Fidel Castro seizes power in Cuba, a 16-year-old José is forced to migrate to the United States and leave his privileged life behind. In 1962, he meets Kitty and the two passionately fall in love with each other, defying the disapproval of their families by getting married. José eventually becomes successful, but their idyllic home life decays as their two sons grow to be overindulged and José begins to cheat on Kitty, who copes with it through substance abuse. José's ambitions of running for senator are endangered when Lyle and Erik are arrested for burglary, compelling him to discipline and disinherit them, and fix the relationship with his wife. Despite his efforts, Lyle is suspended from Princeton for plagiarism and José is horrified to learn that Erik might be homosexual. The episode also portrays Kitty being aware of José's sexual abuse towards their sons—despite his homophobia—which he normalized due to it having been common in his family.
17 7 "Showtime" Michael Uppendahl David McMillan & Reilly Smith & Todd Kubrak September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
Erik and Lyle prepare for the trial. During the prison visits, Lyle unsuccessfully attempts to convince relatives, friends, and his girlfriend to give false witness about José's abuse, if not gaslighting them. Even Jill has trouble believing their story, but Leslie trains Lyle to deliver an emotional testimony. In July 1993, arriving at the trial, Erik and Lyle are met with a crowd of admirers, some of whom have also been attempting to contact them. Leslie presents the brothers before the jury as sexual abuse survivors that killed their parents in self-defense. Lyle's emotionally charged testimony manipulates the jury, which profoundly disturbs Dominick as it parallels how ten years before, his daughter's murderer was given a much lighter sentence by using a troubled past as an excuse. Dining with friends, Dominick discusses many lines of evidence to make the attendees doubt the brothers' account, and insincerely congratulates Leslie for her effectiveness as an attorney. Meanwhile, Lyle has been calling Norma, a purported admirer to whom he confesses all their plans, while she secretly tapes him.
18 8 "Seismic Shifts" Ian Brennan Ian Brennan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
Just as a wave of earthquakes hits California, Judalon testifies about Dr. Oziel's abuse, favoring the jury's view of the brothers even more. However, when Erik testifies, his problems with the microphone, misacted demeanor, and misremembering where they bought the shotguns—which is interpreted as him lying—damage their credibility. Ultimately, the judge declares a mistrial, which Leslie blames on the male jurors being more naturally punitive until a female juror explains that it was mostly due to her being unlikeable to them. Six months later, the tone of the letters has shifted from admiration to hate. Jill furiously reveals to Lyle that Norma has been recording their calls and intends to publish a book.[a] With Lyle publicly exposed as a liar, only Erik is allowed to testify on the second trial. Jill abandons the case as the brothers have no money left, but Leslie keeps working for free out of fondness for the brothers. Still, Erik confronts her about her failure to emotionally manipulate the jury. Meanwhile, O. J. Simpson is put next to Erik's cell, and the two begin talking.
19 9 "Hang Men" Michael Uppendahl David McMillan & Reilly Smith & Todd Kubrak & Ian Brennan September 19, 2024 (2024-09-19)
In 1995, O. J. Simpson is declared not guilty, causing public outcry and adding to the tensions that have risen among Erik, Lyle, and Leslie, with the brothers now resorting to blame each other. The new trial has Mr. Conn as the prosecutor, who despite Leslie's constant objections successfully makes a case of the brothers being guilty based on numerous witnesses of their overindulged behavior and disrespect—rather than vulnerability—toward José and Kitty. He also surmises that the evidence for sexual abuse is very scarce, and considers illogical to confess everything to Dr. Oziel except the abuse. He believes the brothers lied about being abused, with the real motive having been money, based on their greed, materialism, and having spent $700,000 in the weeks after the murders. Finally, he condemns Leslie's history of emotionally manipulating juries for money. The jury finds Lyle and Erik guilty of first-degree murder, sentencing them to life imprisonment without parole in separate prisons. In a flashback to the day the family goes sailing, José encourages Kitty to return to journalism while Lyle and Erik discuss their plan.

Production

Development

Picture of show creator, producer, and writer Ryan Murphy at the PaleyFest in 2013
Picture of Ian Brennan at the San Diego Comic Con in 2011
Series co-creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan also served as co-writers; Brennan directed the episode "Seismic Shifts".

Monster was initially ordered as a limited series based on the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. On November 7, 2022, Netflix announced that it had been renewed as an anthology series based on famous convicted killers.[16][17] On May 1, 2023, it was confirmed the second season, titled Monsters, would focus on Lyle and Erik Menendez, brothers convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents in Beverly Hills, California.[18] Creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan revealed that the project was inspired by the popularity of the case on TikTok and Instagram, where content creators have sparked a movement in support of the brothers.[19] Murphy, who had personally followed the trials since moving to Los Angeles in 1989 at the same age as the brothers, noted his initial skepticism toward their abuse allegations but emphasized the series' intent to spark dialogue on male sexual abuse and societal biases at the time.[20] Brennan echoed this, stating that the topic was relevant due to a modern "vernacular" for discussing trauma and mental health that was absent during the trials.[21]

Writing

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was co-written by Murphy, Brennan, David McMillan, Reilly Smith, and Todd Kubrak.[22]

The season employs a Rashomon-style narrative structure, presenting the murders of José and Kitty Menendez and the brothers' allegations of sexual abuse from multiple conflicting perspectives.[23] It alternates between the viewpoints of multiple characters, including the Menendez family, defense attorney Leslie Abramson, and journalist Dominick Dunne, among others. Murphy described the approach as a deliberate choice to avoid a singular "truth," emphasizing ambiguity in the brothers' abuse claims and the parents' behavior.[24] Brennan elaborated on the format's inspiration from Akira Kurosawa's 1950 film Rashomon, noting its utility in true crime storytelling where evidence is contested.[25] He highlighted how the format challenges viewers to question media portrayals of the Menendez case.[25]

The season's fifth episode, titled "The Hurt Man", was written by Brennan and directed by Michael Uppendahl.[26] According to Murphy, it was not initially planned as a one-shot episode, but during the writing process, he realized that "the most powerful way to do it would be [...] in one shot so that [viewers] could not look away", as his goal was "to give Erik Menendez his day in court, to talk about what had happened to him uninterrupted, with no bias".[27] He stated that the dialogue was based on Erik's documented statements, transcripts, and writings to maintain authenticity.[27] Three days prior to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike, Brennan completed the 34-page screenplay of the episode in one sitting for three hours.[28] Koch received the screenplay in June that year, nine months before they filmed the episode in March 2024.[29] He stated, "The script became the backbone of my [preparation for the role] because it was the backstory that I didn't have to write for myself, for the character."[29] Brennan shared the full screenplay to Deadline in June 2025.[28]

Casting

Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny portrayed José and Kitty Menendez, respectively.

Casting directors Tiffany Little Canfield and Josh Einsohn conducted an extensive search for the roles of Lyle and Erik Menendez, reaching out to colleges and theater programs.[30] According to Einsohn, it was essential to find actors capable of portraying both the "sympathetic and monstrous sides" of the characters, given the plot's shifting perspective. Canfield and Einsohn reviewed thousands of auditions during the process.[31] In June 2023, Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez were cast as Erik and Lyle, respectively.[32] Koch previously auditioned for the same role in the NBC limited series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders and the Lifetime television film Menendez: Blood Brothers (both 2017).[5]

In January 2024, Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny joined the cast as José and Kitty Menendez,[33] respectively, with Nathan Lane being cast as journalist Dominick Dunne.[34] All three had previously worked with Murphy: Bardem starred in the 2010 film Eat Pray Love, Sevigny appeared in two seasons of American Horror Story, and Lane portrayed F. Lee Bailey in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016). In February, Ari Graynor joined as Erik's defense attorney, Leslie Abramson.[35] Leslie Grossman, who has worked with Murphy in multiple seasons of American Horror Story, was added that same month as Judalon Smyth.[36]

Principal photography

The memorial service scene was filmed at the Directors Guild of America building in Sunset Boulevard, where José and Kitty Menendez's actual memorial service was held in 1989.[37]

Production for the season was initially set for September 2023, but was postponed due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes.[38] Principal photography took place from January to July 2024 in Los Angeles.[39] Jason McCormick, a frequent collaborator of Murphy, served as the cinematographer for six out of nine episodes,[40] while Baz Idoine handled the remaining three.[41] The episodic directors were Michael Uppendahl, Ian Brennan, Carl Franklin, Paris Barclay, and Max Winkler.[42]

To recreate late-1980s Los Angeles, production designer Matthew Flood Ferguson and set decorator Melissa Licth utilized both location shooting and soundstage builds.[43] The interior of the Menendez family home in Beverly Hills was constructed on a soundstage to allow for historical accuracy.[44] Key architectural details from the actual family room where the crime took place were meticulously recreated, including the vaulted beamed ceilings, the specific distance from the French doors to the furniture, and the oversized built-in bookcase.[43][44] The exterior was a composite of three separate locations: one for the front of the property, a second for the pool and guest house, and a third for the tennis court.[45] Ferguson noted that finding a period-appropriate tennis court was difficult because the United States Tennis Association had changed court colors from green to blue in the years since the murders, eventually leading the production to locate a private court that still featured the original green surface.[46][45]

Other iconic Los Angeles settings were also featured; the restaurant Spago and the Directors Guild of America building were shot on location, while the interior of Dominick Dunne's Chateau Marmont suite was reconstructed on a soundstage.[43][44] To ensure accuracy, Ferguson and supervising art director Helen Harwell surveyed an actual suite at the Chateau Marmont to replicate details such as the casement doors and the wrap-around balcony.[43]

For the fifth episode, "The Hurt Man", which was filmed in a single continuous take, Ferguson designed an interview room set with removable walls to accommodate the camera crane's movement.[47] He incorporated an interior casement window on a hinge to serve as a visual element that could also open to allow for specific camera placements during the unbroken shot.[47]

Uppendahl opted minimal rehearsal for "The Hurt Man" to preserve authenticity, with Koch and Graynor only rehearsing once on set before filming.[48][49] McCormick began with a static shot and gradually zoomed in on Koch's face, while Graynor's face remained unseen as she slowly disappeared from the shot.[50] A total of eight takes were filmed over two days; the eighth and final take was selected for the final broadcast.[51] Koch described the process as emotionally draining and "super nerve-wracking," citing that his performance in the first two takes felt dry due to his nervousness around Murphy.[52]

The murder sequence was filmed over three to four days, which Koch described as heavily choreographed and technically demanding.[53] Although the series depicts multiple versions of the killings from differing perspectives, the version shown in the episode "Blame It on the Rain" most closely reflects the crime scene photos and accounts presented during the trials.[54]

At one point during filming, Koch and Chavez visited the former Menendez residence on Elm Drive in Beverly Hills and were allowed to enter the house.[55]

Editing

The first episode, "Blame It on the Rain", required careful editorial decisions to establish the season's tone and narrative focus.[56] According to editor Peggy Tachdjian, the episode had to introduce the Menendez family, set up the real‑life murder of José and Kitty Menendez, and transition into the aftermath and funeral, all while balancing drama with moments of black comedy and absurdity. Tachdjian said that Murphy wanted to emphasize the importance of portraying the murder's brutality early on to ensure audiences understood the severity of the crime and to establish it as the season's central event. To achieve this, the murder sequence was meticulously storyboarded and rehearsed, with production recreating specific details from the actual crime scene.[56]

Tachdjian's initial edit leaned toward a serious tone, but director Carl Franklin encouraged incorporating elements of dark humor, particularly in the funeral scene featuring the Milli Vanilli song "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You", which was extended in post‑production to accentuate its awkwardness.[56] The combination of stark realism and unsettling tonal shifts helped define the visual and emotional impact of the episode's opening scene.[56]

Music

Thomas Newman co-composed the original score alongside his daughter, Julia Newman.

Julia and Thomas Newman composed the original score.[57] The official soundtrack album was released on various streaming platforms on September 13, 2024, prior to the season premiere.[58]

The season also features a soundtrack that includes "Blame It on the Rain", "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You", and "Girl You Know It's True" by Milli Vanilli, as well as "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House, "Dirty Cash (Money Talks)" by The Adventures of Stevie V, "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice, and "The Power" by Snap!.[59]

According to Billboard, streaming activity for the three Milli Vanilli tracks increased significantly in the United States following the series' release: "Girl I'm Gonna Miss You" saw an increase of 258% within the first week and entered Billboard's TikTok Top 50 chart at number 37, while "Blame It on the Rain" (which ranked number 35 on the TikTok Top 50) and "Girl You Know It's True" increased by 68% and 32.5%, respectively.[60][61] Milli Vanilli debuted on the Artist 100 chart at number 88, and their extended play 4 entered the Billboard 200 chart at number 197.[62][63] "Blame It on the Rain" also ranked at number six on Billboard's Top TV Songs chart, while "Don't Dream It's Over" by Crowded House ranked at number three.[64]

Release

The red carpet premiere was held at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on September 17, 2024.[65] Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story was released on Netflix on September 19, 2024.[66][67]

Reception

Audience viewership

The season debuted at the number-one spot on Netflix worldwide, garnering 12.3 million views (or 97.5 million hours viewed) within four days of its release.[68] On its second week, it remained the most-watched series on the platform after earning 19.5 million views (or 153.8 million hours viewed).[69] It received 13.1 million views (or 103.6 million hours viewed) on its third week and 8.7 million views (or 68.6 million hours viewed) on its fourth week, demonstrating a modest week-to-week decline and sustained viewer engagement.[70][71] The season remained in Netflix's global Top 10 chart for seven weeks, matching the record set by Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. According to Netflix's Engagement Report for the second half of 2024 (July–December), Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story ranked as the third most-watched television series on the platform, accumulating 69.7 million views within three months.[72]

On the Nielsen Streaming Chart, it debuted as the top one streaming content (both for films and television series) with 1.72 billion minutes watched, and had a 40% rise on its second week with 2.4 billion minutes watched, the highest since Bridgerton in June 2024.[73]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 45% of 31 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.0/10. The website's consensus reads: "Well-acted but off-puttingly sordid, Monsters leaves viewers feeling guilty without enough pleasure to compensate."[74] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 47 out of 100 based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[75]

Critics praised the one-shot episode "The Hurt Man" for its emotional depth and Cooper Koch's performance, but expressed mixed reactions to the season's overall tone and its use of the Rashomon effect, a narrative technique that presents events through conflicting perspectives.[76][77][78] In his review for Vanity Fair, Richard Lawson praised the episode as "a formal wonder, bold in its simplicity", and described Koch's performance as "[blazing] with ache and fury, wholly selling a story of how trauma has unmoored one young man from both himself and reality."[76] However, Lawson critiques the season's overall inconsistency, observing that while "The Hurt Man" evokes empathy, subsequent episodes cast doubt on Erik's credibility and portray the brothers more cynically. This tonal shift, according to Lawson, undermines the impact of the episode and makes it disconnected from the rest of the season. Inkoo Kang of The New Yorker also highlighted "The Hurt Man" as "some of Murphy's most moving and startling work in ages", but critiqued that the remaining episodes "attempt to reconcile the horror of abuse with the horror of the brothers' retributive violence".[77]

Aramide Tinubu of Variety praised the first half of the season, highlighting "The Hurt Man" as a standout, and commended the cast's performances.[78] However, she ultimately described the season as "overlong and exhausting", calling its narrative "futile and bizarre". Daniel Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter similarly described the season as "unjustifiably long", but praised "The Hurt Man" for its writing and Koch's performance.[79] He further commended Javier Bardem's performance, calling him "terrifying in a performance that's wildly outsized but offers enough subtlety to position his howling patriarch as both a chilling villain and as a victim himself". The Guardian's Jesse Hassenger also offered a mixed review, noting that "high class acting can't save an overlong and repetitive relitigation", as the season failed to balance its complex subject matter with a compelling narrative.[80] He added that Koch's emotional performance contrasts with that of Nicholas Alexander Chavez, whom Hassenger described as "doing a coked-up impression of Tom Cruise." Similarly, The Hindu's Pallavi Keswani criticized it as "a sensational mess, so occupied with the ornamentation of facts that it loses the plot halfway through".[81]

Several critics have also expressed concerns about the season's ethical implications and its sexualized approach.[82][83] Kayleigh Donaldson of TheWrap described it as "something giddily salacious rather than a portrait of familial trauma", noting that, despite dealing with sensitive topics such as sexual assault and child abuse, it becomes "hugely misguided" for focusing on "sensuality, with the brothers both forever in Speedos and shot as though the series was a perfume ad".[82] The Express Tribune's Mahnoor Vazir also raised ethical questions regarding the "exploitation" of real-life tragedies for entertainment.[83] While Vazir praised "The Hurt Man" for being "painfully intimate" and "a masterclass in filmmaking", she criticized the season for failing to sustain this tone and momentum, missing the opportunity to properly explore male sexual abuse. Furthermore, she condemned the portrayal of an unsubstantiated incestuous relationship between the brothers as "cheap and entirely unnecessary".

Controversy

The season received widespread criticism for implying an incestuous relationship between the Menendez brothers.[84][85] Kevin Dolak of The Hollywood Reporter specified some of the scenes with incest innuendos: "In the second episode, this includes the brothers briefly kissing after Lyle has placed his hands on Erik's neck; later in the same sequence, Lyle is seen cutting in on Erik while he's dancing with a woman at a party in their room at the Hotel Bel-Air, then wiping cocaine from his nose and sticking his thumb in his brother's mouth. Later, in an episode seven sequence that is pretty clearly telegraphed as a moment of fantasy, mother Kitty Menendez ascends a staircase to find her sons showering together."[86] Nicole Vassell from Glamour described the incestuous portrayal as "a jarring addition to a story that is already tough to stomach".[87] Writing for TheWrap, Kayleigh Donaldson stated that the brothers' "co-dependency stemming from their father's molestations [...] are spun into a forbidden romance of sorts".[82] Viewers have also accused it of sensationalizing the brothers' abuse and turning it into a "fictitious relationship".[88]

Trial expert and journalist Robert Rand, author of the 2018 book The Menendez Murders, labeled the incest allegations as "fantasy" and pointed out that there was no credible evidence to support such claims.[89] He explained that while some rumors circulated during the trial, they were baseless, and the series distorted the brothers' relationship for dramatic effect. Rand claimed that Lyle Menendez testified he had never had a sexual relationship with his brother.[86]

In response, series co-creator Ryan Murphy defended the incestuous depiction as an "obligation for storytellers", stating, "What the show is doing is presenting the points of view and theories from so many people who were involved in the case. Dominick Dunne wrote several articles talking about that theory."[90] Vanity Fair clarified that Dunne never suggested such a theory in his reporting for the publication.[10][91]

Response from Lyle and Erik Menendez

On September 20, 2024, Erik Menendez released a statement through his wife's, Tammi Menendez, X account, stating:

I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose. It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.

It is sad for me to know that Netflix's dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward – back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women. Those awful lies have been disputed and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out. So now Murphy shapes his horrible narrative through vile and appalling character portrayals of Lyle and of me and disheartening slander.

Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth. How demoralizing to know that one man with power can undermine decades of progress in shedding light on childhood trauma. Violence is never an answer, never a solution, and is always tragic. As such, I hope it is never forgotten that violence against a child creates a hundred horrendous and silent crime scenes darkly shadowed behind glitter and glamor and rarely exposed until tragedy penetrates everyone involved. To all those who have reached out and supported me, thank you from the bottom of my heart.[92]

Addressing Erik's response, Ryan Murphy stated, "If you watch the show, I would say 60 to 65 percent of our show in the scripts and in the film form center around the abuse and what they claim happened to them. [...] And we do it very carefully and we give them their day in court and they talk openly about it."[93] He added, "There were four people involved in that— two of them are dead, and two of them are alive with their point of view. But what about the parents? We had an obligation as storytellers to also try and put in their perspective based on our research, which we did."[93] In a different interview, he further explained that the season incorporated the Rashomon effect to "[talk] about countless perspectives, and a perspective is not a lie. A perspective is an opinion."[94]

Nathan Lane, who portrayed Dominick Dunne, stated, "[Erik] hasn't seen the show. He's just criticizing it and condemning it without ever having seen it, so one has to take that with a grain of salt."[7] Meanwhile, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who portrayed Lyle Menendez, responded to Erik with "sympathy and empathy", but clarified that "the show aims to fill out a lot more details than just the courtroom scenes".[95]

Reflecting on Erik's criticism, Cooper Koch, who portrayed him, said, "It definitely affected me and it made me feel things. [...] I understand how difficult it would be to have the worst part of your life be televised for millions of people to see. It's so exposing. I understand how he feels and I stand by him."[7] Koch voiced his support for the brothers and their claims of sexual abuse, revealing that he discussed Erik's criticisms with him during their meeting at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.[96] During this visit, Koch also met Lyle and over 30 other inmates as part of a prison reform meeting led by Kim Kardashian.[96] Despite Erik's criticism of the series, he praised Koch's performance, stating, "I've heard nothing but great things about [Koch] and about episode five, and that [he's] going to win an Emmy. And I hope that [he does]."[10]

On February 20, 2025, in an interview with TMZ, Lyle Menendez stated that he and Erik are grateful that the series shed light on child abuse.[97] He also praised Koch and Chavez for their performances, calling Koch "pretty extraordinary".

Response from relatives of Lyle and Erik Menendez

On September 25, 2024, Lyle and Erik Menendez's family and relatives issued a statement, describing the season as "a phobic, gross, anachronistic, serial episodic nightmare". They added, "Our family has been victimized by this grotesque shockadrama. [...] Perhaps, after all, Monsters is all about Ryan Murphy."[98] Murphy described their response as "faux outrage" and predictable, claiming that Monsters is "the best thing that's happened to [the Menendez brothers] in 30 years", referring to the renewed public interest in their case following the season's commercial success.[99]

Copycat killing

On March 4, 2025, 15-year-old Reed R. Gelinskey was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the death of his mother in Caledonia, Wisconsin.[100] Gelinskey stated that he developed the plan to kill his parents after watching the "shotgun scene" from the series.

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
GQ Men of the Year Awards December 4, 2024 International Actor of the Year Cooper Koch Won [101]
The Daily Californian's Arts Awards December 23, 2024 Best Actor in a Drama — Television Won [102]
Golden Globe Awards January 5, 2025 Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Nominated [103]
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Cooper Koch Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Javier Bardem Nominated
Set Decorators Society of America Awards February 7, 2025 Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Television Movie or Limited Series Melissa Licht, Matthew Flood Ferguson Nominated [104]
NAACP Image Awards February 22, 2025 Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Carl Franklin Nominated [105]
Paris Barclay Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards February 24, 2025 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Javier Bardem Nominated [106]
Actors and Actresses Union Awards March 10, 2025 Best Actor in an International Production Won
[107]
Queerty Awards March 11, 2025 Best TV Performance Cooper Koch Nominated [108]
Premios Aura April 6, 2025 Hispanic presence in international series Javier Bardem Won [109]
Astra TV Awards June 10, 2025 Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or TV Movie Nominated [110]
Dorian Awards July 8, 2025 Best TV Performance – Drama Cooper Koch Nominated [111]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards September 6, 2025 Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Tiffany Little Canfield, John Eihnson, Bernard Tesley Nominated [112]
Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Thomas Newman, Julia Newman (for "Spree") Nominated
Outstanding Period Costumes Stephanie Bradley, Michelle Sandvig, Shannon Campbell (for "Blame It on The Rain") Nominated
Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Hairstyling Karen Bartek, Brittany Madrigal, Elissa Ruminer, Analyn Cruz, Kaity Licina (for "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?") Nominated
Outstanding Period or Fantasy/Sci-Fi Makeup (Non-Prosthetic) Miho Suzuki, Sabrina Wilson, Michael Anthony Ornelaz, Ana Lozano (for "Hang Men") Nominated
Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Peggy Tachdjian (for Blame It on The Rain") Won
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Jamie Hardt, Laura Wiest, John Bauman, Mehrnaz Mohabati (for Blame It on The Rain") Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards September 14, 2025 Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Nominated [113]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Cooper Koch Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Chloë Sevigny (for "Don't Dream It's Over") Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie Javier Bardem (for "Don't Dream It's Over") Nominated
Online Film & Television Association TV Awards September 26, 2025 Best Limited or Anthology Series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Nominated [114]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Cooper Koch Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Javier Bardem Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Chloë Sevigny Nominated
Best Casting & Ensemble in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Anthology Series Nominated
Best Music Composition in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Nominated
Best Picture Editing in a Motion Picture, Limited or Anthology Series Nominated
Best Makeup — Period and/or Character Nominated

Future

At the season's Los Angeles premiere, Murphy announced that the third season of the anthology series will center on Ed Gein, with Charlie Hunnam starring as the serial killer.[115] On October 4, it was confirmed that the season would be titled The Original Monster, exploring Ed Gein's life as the first "celebrity serial killer" and examining how true crime evolved into a pop culture phenomenon.[116] The title was later reworked to Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and the season was released on October 3, 2025. A fourth season centering on murder suspect Lizzie Borden is currently in production.[117]

Murphy expressed his interest in extending the season with "one or two episodes".[118] He stated, "It's been discussed. [...] Everyone has been interested in that. I think everyone wants to see how this story ends because this story is not over."[119] However, he noted that this would depend on whether Koch and Chavez, who portrayed Erik and Lyle, respectively, agree to reprise their roles.[120] When asked whether he would return, Koch replied, "I don't know, I don't think so. I think we told the story and [...] I think it's good where it is now."[121]

See also

  • Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders, a 2017 limited series about Lyle and Erik Menendez that aired on NBC

Notes

  1. ^ The Private Diary of Lyle Menendez: In His Own Words! by Norma Novelli, 1995.

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