Series Details:
| Also known as | Monstros: Irmãos Menendez – Assassinos dos Pais Monstres: L’histoire de Lyle et Erik Menéndez (French) Monster: Die Geschichte von Lyle und Erik Menendez (German) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Biography, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller |
| Season | 2 |
| Episodes | 9 |
| Release date | September 19, 2024 |
| Running time | 36–65 minutes |
| Age rating | TV-MA |
| Starring | Javier Bardem, Chloë Sevigny, Cooper Koch, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Ari Graynor, Nathan Lane |
| Created by | Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan |
| Directed by | Carl Franklin, Paris Barclay, Michael Uppendahl, Max Winkler, Ian Brennan |
| Written by | Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, David McMillan, Todd Kubrak |
| Production Company | Prospect Films Ryan Murphy Television |
| Original Network | Netflix |
Cast & Character:
Main
- Javier Bardem as José Menendez:
- Chloë Sevigny as Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez:
- Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez:
- Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle Menendez:
- Ari Graynor as Leslie Abramson:
- Nathan Lane as Dominick Dunne:
Recurring
- Dallas Roberts as Dr. Jerome Oziel
- Jason Butler Harner as Det. Les Zoeller
- Leslie Grossman as Judalon Smyth
- Marlene Forte as Marta Cano
- Larry Clarke as Brian Andersen
- Charlie Hall as Craig Cignarelli
Guest
- Jeff Perry as Peter Hoffman
- Jade Pettyjohn as Jamie Pisarcik
- Tanner Stine as Perry Berman
- Enrique Murciano as Carlos Baralt
- Anthony Turpel as Donovan Goodreau
- Drew Powell as Det. Tom Linehan
- Michael Gladis as Tim Rutten
- Gil Ozeri as Dr. William Vicary
- Salvator Xuereb as Robert Shapiro
- Brandon Santana as Tony
- Tessa Auberjonois as Dr. Laurel Oziel
- Jess Weixler as Jill Lansing
- Milana Vayntrub as Pam Bozanich
- Paul Adelstein as David Conn
- Patrick Breen as a jury alternate
- Vicki Lawrence as Leigh
Storyline:
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story chronicles the case of the real-life brothers convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and 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.
About Series:
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the second season of the American biographical crime drama anthology series Monster, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan for Netflix. This season follows Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story and focuses on the infamous Menendez brothers. Originally ordered as a limited series in 2020, Netflix announced in 2022 that it would continue as an anthology series exploring the lives of other “monstrous figures,” with development for this season announced on May 1, 2023.
The red carpet premiere took place at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on September 17, 2024, with the series released on Netflix on September 19, 2024.
The season received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances, particularly those of Javier Bardem and Zoe Koch, but criticized its runtime, inconsistent tone, and the portrayal of the brothers’ relationship. Erik Menendez denounced the series for its inaccuracies and characterization of Lyle. Despite the critiques, the season achieved global commercial success, debuting as the number-one series on Netflix worldwide.
In its first four days, it garnered 12.3 million views (97.5 million hours viewed), and in its second week, it maintained the top spot with 19.5 million views (153.8 million hours viewed). In the third week, it received 13.1 million views (103.6 million hours viewed), and in its fourth week, it recorded 8.7 million views (68.6 million hours viewed).
A third season, titled The Original Monster, is currently in development, featuring Charlie Hunnam as serial killer Ed Gein.
Episodes:
| Episode | Title | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blame It on the Rain | 58m | 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. |
| 2 | Spree | 54m | 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. |
| 3 | Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? | 50m | 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. |
| 4 | Kill or Be Killed | 50m | 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. |
| 5 | The Hurt Man | 36m | During an emotional conversation with Leslie, Erik gives a harrowing account of the sexual abuse and torture he experienced throughout his childhood. |
| 6 | Don’t Dream It’s Over | 65m | The trajectory of Jose and Kitty’s relationship — from their courtship through their fracturing marriage — plays out against family therapy sessions. |
| 7 | Showtime | 54m | Lyle and Erik struggle to shape their defense before the trial. Then Menendez mania hits — from cheering crowds to fan mail and courtroom TV cameras. |
| 8 | Seismic Shifts | 51m | A captivating witness alters courtroom dynamics, and Erik’s testimony causes a sibling rift. The Menendez pop-culture moment begins to fade. |
| 9 | Hang Men | 55m | 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. |
