7 Shows Like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Following the success of 2022’s Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true crime anthology series returns with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, chronicling the case of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez.
The 9-episode series premiered on September 19th and stars newcomers Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, Javier Bardem (Dune, No Country for Old Men) as José Menendez, Chloë Sevigny (Feud, Big Love) as Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, Nathan Lane (Dicks: The Musical, The Gilded Age) as Dominick Dunne, and Ari Graynor (Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty) as Leslie Abramson.
The series has received mixed reviews with a current Tomatometer score of 50%, due to some of the storylines portrayed which has many fans questioning the truth of what actually happened. Regardless, there are true crime fans who enjoyed the trial aspect of the series and the behind-the-scenes insight into the legalities and evidence.
If you are looking for more series based on true crime events, here are 7 shows like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story to watch next.
The Act (2019 miniseries)
Cast: Joey King, Patricia Arquette, AnnaSophia Robb, Chloë Sevigny, Calum Worthy, Poorna Jagannathan, Steve Coulter, Denitra Isler, Dean Norris, José Alfredo Fernandez, Juliette Lewis, Adam Arkin, Rhea Seehorn
Synopsis: “Dee Dee Blanchard is overprotective of her daughter, Gypsy, who is trying to escape the toxic relationship she has with her mother. Gypsy’s quest for independence opens up a Pandora’s box of secrets, which ultimately leads to murder. The stranger-than-fiction true-crime series is based on a 2016 BuzzFeed article that detailed the shocking 2015 crime.”
Where to watch: Hulu
A Friend of the Family (2022 miniseries)
Cast: Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, Anna Paquin, Mckenna Grace, Austin Stowell, Hendrix Yancey, Elle Lisic, Joe Chrest, Mila Harris, Maggie Sonnier
Synopsis: “A Friend of the Family is based on the harrowing true story of the Broberg family, whose daughter Jan was kidnapped multiple times over a period of years by a charismatic, obsessed family “friend.” The Brobergs — devoted to their faith, family, and community — were utterly unprepared for the sophisticated tactics their neighbor used to exploit their vulnerabilities, drive them apart, and turn their daughter against them. This is the story of how their lives were permanently altered — and how they survived.”
Where to watch: Peacock
Candy (2022 miniseries)
Cast: Jessica Biel, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy Simons, Pablo Schreiber, Raúl Esparza
Synopsis: “Candy Montgomery is a 1980’s housewife and mother who did everything right: a good husband, two kids, even the careful planning and execution of transgressions, but when the pressure of conformity builds up, her actions scream for a bit of freedom.”
Where to watch: Hulu
Landscapers (2021 miniseries)
Cast: Olivia Colman, David Thewlis, Kate O’Flynn, Dipo Ola, Daniel Rigby, Samuel Anderson, Felicity Montagu, David Hayman
Synopsis: “Inspired by real events, Landscapers tells a unique love story involving Chris and Susan Edwards (Thewlis and Colman), a seemingly ordinary British couple who become the focus of an extraordinary investigation when two dead bodies are discovered in the back garden of a house in Nottingham”
Where to watch: Hulu, Max, Spectrum
Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders (2017 miniseries)
Cast: Edie Falco, Gus Halper, Miles Gaston Villanueva, Julianne Nicholson, Anthony Edwards, Heather Graham, Josh Charles, Chris Bauer, Dominic Flores, Sam Jaeger, Elizabeth Reaser
Synopsis: “When a wealthy Beverly Hills couple was murdered in cold blood while watching TV in their living room, America was shocked… but it was only the beginning of the tragic story. When it was revealed that the culprits were their two beloved sons, a media circus and national obsession were born. This eight-episode drama series explores the dark secrets and untold revelations about the family, the murder and the real-life trial that captured the country’s imagination for nearly a decade. After all, everyone knows who did it, but one question still remains… why.”
Where to watch: Apple TV, Prime Video
American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson (2016 limited series)
Cast: John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson, David Schwimmer, Courtney B. Vance, Sterling Brown, Nathan Lane, Connie Britton, Selma Blair, Jordana Brewster, Kenneth Choi, Christian Clemenson, Bruce Greenwood
Synopsis: “Based on the book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson by Jeffrey Toobin, it explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution overconfidence, defense shrewdness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s African-American community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.”
Where to watch: Hulu
The Staircase (2022 miniseries)
Cast: Colin Firth, Toni Collette, Michael Stuhlbarg, Dane DeHaan, Olivia DeJonge, Sophie Turner, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Odessa Young, Rosemarie DeWitt, Tim Guinee, Parker Posey, Juliette Binoche
Synopsis: “Exploring the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling N.C. family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson; based on a true story.”
Where to watch: Max
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