‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ Debuts to 12.1 Million Views as Ryan Murphy’s Anthology Keeps Its Hot Streak Alive

Ryan Murphy’s true-crime anthology series has become one of Netflix’s most reliable ratings machines, consistently drawing massive audiences despite an ongoing pattern of critical skepticism. Each new installment arrives carrying the weight of the franchise’s history, with fans and industry watchers alike curious whether the streak of blockbuster debuts can continue.

That question has now been answered for the anthology’s fourth chapter, which dropped on the platform earlier this month covering one of American history’s most infamous and debated criminal cases. Given how consistently this franchise has performed in the past, expectations were already running high heading into its release.

‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ debuted with 12.1 million views in its opening four days on Netflix, according to the streamer’s latest Top 10 data. The season landed as the most-watched title globally across both series and films for the week of September 14, reaching the Top 10 in 89 countries in the process.

That debut puts the new season directly in line with the franchise’s recent track record. ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’ opened to 12.2 million views in 2025, while ‘The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ debuted to 12.3 million views back in 2024, placing this latest installment squarely within the same range as its immediate predecessors.

The original ‘Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’ remains the franchise’s undisputed high point, having opened to roughly 22.3 million views back in 2022, translated from its original hours-watched metric before Netflix shifted its measurement system. Still, landing so close to its two most recent predecessors confirms the anthology continues drawing consistent, massive audiences season after season.

This fourth season centers on Lizzie Borden, played by Ella Beatty, who was tried and ultimately acquitted for the 1892 axe murders of her father and stepmother in Fall River, Massachusetts. The season marks the first installment of the anthology to focus on an alleged female perpetrator, distinguishing it from the franchise’s previous three seasons.

The cast also includes Vicky Krieps as Bridget “Maggie” Sullivan, the Borden family’s live-in maid, along with Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden, Joey Pollari, and Sarah Paulson rounding out the ensemble. Created by Ian Brennan, the series was announced in July 2025, with Beatty cast in the title role that same month before production began in Los Angeles that September.

Despite the massive viewership, ‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ continues a familiar pattern for the franchise when it comes to critical reception. The season currently sits at 42% with critics and 57% with audiences, extending a trend of polarized reviews that’s followed the anthology since its very first installment.

That gap between audience turnout and critical scores has become something of a signature for Murphy’s true-crime output more broadly, with reviewers consistently raising concerns about the franchise’s tone, pacing, and the ethical questions inherent in dramatizing real-life tragedies. Regardless of that critical divide, audiences have shown no signs of losing interest.

Sarah Paulson, Ella Beatty, Jessie Lee, and Vicky Krieps throw one crazy dance party in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story. pic.twitter.com/6N62qvWPEg

— Netflix (@netflix) September 22, 2026

‘Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story’ wasn’t the only title generating buzz on Netflix’s charts that week, either. YA drama ‘Crew Girl’ landed right behind it in the number 2 spot, more than doubling its debut viewership and securing a season 2 renewal in the process, while ‘The Gentlemen’ season 2 rounded out the top three with 6 million views in its third week.

Given how consistently this franchise continues to perform regardless of critical reception, it’s clear Murphy’s true-crime anthology remains one of Netflix’s most dependable draws heading into future installments.

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