If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you’ve likely seen the clips. Those intense, high-tension courtroom scenes and the hauntingly lavish 80s Beverly Hills aesthetic are everywhere. People are arguing in the comments about whether justice was served or if the system failed two traumatized boys. It’s the kind of true crime fever that only happens once every few years. You want to see it for yourself to understand the hype. So, where to watch Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story right now?
There is really only one place to go.
The Official Home of the Menendez Brothers Series
You won't find this on Hulu. It isn’t on HBO Max or Prime Video. Netflix is the exclusive streaming home for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
It’s the second installment of Ryan Murphy’s massive Monster anthology series, following the massive (and controversial) success of the Jeffrey Dahmer season. Netflix dropped all nine episodes at once on September 19, 2024. If you have a subscription, you’re good to go. If not, you’re looking at their standard monthly tiers.
Kinda weird how these things work, right? One day a decades-old case is gathering dust in the archives, and the next, it’s the #1 show in the world because of a streaming giant.
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Can you watch it for free?
Honestly, no. Not legally, anyway. Unlike some networks that offer a "first episode free" on YouTube or their own websites, Netflix keeps its "Monster" content behind a paywall. There are occasionally mobile-only plans or regional offers, but for the most part, you’ve gotta pay the piper to see Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch take on these roles.
Why Everyone Is Talking About This Specific Version
True crime is a crowded room. There have been dozens of documentaries and Lifetime movies about Lyle and Erik. So why did this one blow up?
Basically, it’s the Ryan Murphy touch. It’s stylish. It’s loud. It’s polarizing.
The show uses something called the Rashomon effect. One episode might show the brothers as cold-blooded killers looking for a payday. The next episode might show them as victims of horrific, long-term abuse. It doesn't tell you what to think; it gives you different versions of the truth and lets you struggle with it.
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The casting is also a huge factor. Javier Bardem plays the father, José Menendez, and he is terrifying. Chloë Sevigny plays Kitty, the mother, caught in a spiral of denial and despair. But it’s the "new guys"—Chavez and Koch—who really stole the show. Their performances have reignited a massive public debate about the brothers' actual sentence (life without parole).
Understanding the "Monster" Timeline
If you finish the Menendez story and find yourself wanting more of this specific brand of dark storytelling, you’re in luck. Murphy is turning this into a long-running franchise.
- Season 1: Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Released 2022).
- Season 2: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Released 2024).
- Season 3: Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Released 2025).
- Season 4: Lizzie Borden (In production for 2026).
It’s interesting to watch the evolution. The Dahmer season was criticized for being too focused on the killer. With the Menendez season, the creators tried to balance it more with the victims' perspectives—even though in this case, the killers claim they were the victims.
Essential Viewing Tips
If you're about to hit play, here’s a pro tip: watch Episode 5, titled "The Hurt Man."
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It’s a single-take episode. Just a camera on Erik Menendez (Cooper Koch) as he talks to his lawyer, Leslie Abramson (played by Ari Graynor). It’s 30+ minutes of one shot. No cuts. No flashy editing. Just raw acting. Many critics who hated the rest of the series actually praised this specific hour of television as a masterpiece.
Don't forget the documentary
If the dramatization feels too "Hollywood" for you, Netflix also released a companion documentary called The Menendez Brothers. It features new phone interviews with Lyle and Erik from prison. It’s a good reality check after you’ve seen the actors do their thing.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your Netflix Tier: Make sure your subscription is active. Since this is a high-bitrate show with a lot of dark, cinematic scenes, it looks significantly better in 4K if you have the Premium plan.
- Watch the Documentary Second: Watch the Ryan Murphy series first to get the narrative flow, then watch the 2024 documentary to see the real-life evidence and the brothers' actual voices.
- Follow the Legal Updates: Because of the show's popularity, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office actually began reviewing new evidence in the Menendez case in late 2024. Keep an eye on news outlets like the Los Angeles Times for real-time updates on their potential resentencing.
The conversation around this case isn't ending anytime soon. Now that you know where to watch Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, you can jump into the deep end of the debate yourself. Just be prepared—it isn't an easy watch.