Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

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 patricides of José (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Chloë Sevigny), who were killed by their sons, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch). It incorporates the Rashomon effect by presenting the story from multiple perspectives, with the brothers' viewpoint serving as the central narrative.

It is the second season 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, and sexualized approach. It was initially denounced by Erik Menendez for its inaccuracies and Lyle'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 82nd Golden Globe Awards, it earned three nominations: 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 The Original Monster, is currently in production, starring Charlie Hunnam as murderer and graverobber Ed Gein.