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A true crime series, Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story puts the spotlight on a chilling case from 1989. Created by Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy, the latter of whom has American Horror Story as his claim-to-fame, the nine-episode series chronicles the real-life story of the Menendez brothers, convicted in 1996 for murdering their parents.
Starring Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as the two brothers named Lyle and Erik Menendez, respectively, the series has the characteristic dark, intense, and dramatic vibe of a true-crime thriller. Additionally, it also dives into the courtroom drama with both the prosecution and defense pitching for themselves in tense settings.
The series also comes across as a psychological drama, it goes on to question the motives of the sibling duo. Dropping all episodes at once for a binge-watch, Monsters is currently trending on several top global streaming charts.
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8 shows that offer a true-crime thriller experience like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story
Those who have already watched all nine episodes of Monsters can now browse through these eight recommendations, should they seek to explore more chilling stories.
- Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
- Worst Ex Ever
- Des
- The Act
- Candy
- Narcos
- Unsolved Mysteries
- Mindhunter
1) Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022) - Netflix
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story forms the second installment of the Monsters series. The first installment is Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Again, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, this 2022 story recounted the gruesome real-life crimes, including the murder of seventeen men, by Jeffrey Dahmer.
This true-crime saga explores the psychology of the accused, his motives, and the police incompetence. Carrying ten episodes with Evan Peters in the lead, the show also focuses on the victims and their families after the crime, adding emotional depth to the show.
2) Worst Ex Ever (2024) - Netflix
Showcasing the disturbing realities of relationships going horribly wrong, Worst Ex Ever carries four episodes, with each focusing on a different case.
The docuseries brings to life spine-chilling tales of betrayal, violence, and deceit through testimonials, bodycam footage, and reenactments. An episode featuring the kidnapping and torture of a woman to another about a man hiring his cousin to kill his wife, the show chronicles the extreme lengths to which some people can go to harm their ex-partners.
Additionally, unlike Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, a large portion of the footage on this show is real and from actual crime scenes.
3) Des (2020) - AMC+, Apple TV, Prime Video
A three-episode miniseries from Lewis Arnold, Des takes on the psychological thrill of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Each of its three chapters featured the crime, investigation, and societal impact of real-life Scottish serial killer, Dennis Nilsen.
A suspect who was arrested in the ‘80s after human remains blocked a drain near his London home, Des borrows its title from the nickname the accused used in public.
A deep-dive into one of the UK’s most chilling cases, the show covers all aspects of the trial and its aftermath, including the discovery of more victims and the sensational shock that prevailed at the time.
4) The Act (2019) - Hulu
An intense and admittedly disturbing look into one of the most complex true crime incidents, The Act has a lot to tell. The story followed Gypsy Blanchard, a girl subjected to years of abuse by her mother, Claudine “Dee Dee” Blanchard. However, in a departure from Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, this one is not a straightforward crime story.
Dee Dee had convinced everyone around her that Gypsy was severely ill and required constant care, something that Gypsy herself believed to be true. However, upon realizing the deceit, she vows revenge, killing her mother in the process.
5) Candy (2022) - Hulu
Based on the real-life tale of Candy Montgomery, Candy goes beyond the true crime and psychological drama of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story to explore further layers of infidelity, betrayal, and suburban life in the ‘80s.
A housewife and mother, Jessica Biel’s Montgomery was accused of murdering her friend and neighbor, Betty Gore, with an axe. In five episodes, it portrays the life of a suburban woman who gets involved in an illicit affair with her neighbor.
All of it finally ended with her committing a heinous crime when faced with psychological pressures in a plot filled with suspense, shock, empathy, and of course, tragedy.
6) Narcos (2015) - Netflix
With Wagner Moura playing Pablo Escobar, Narcos and its three seasons followed the notorious crimelord and the Colombian drug trade. While the plot is based on a real person, some of the scenes are dramatized a bit like Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
The first season focused on Escobar’s rise to power, corruption, and violence. Meanwhile, the second chapter revolved around his escape from La Catedral prison followed by a widespread manhunt and his eventual death. Finally, the third season saw power battles and betrayals within the Cali Cartel.
7) Unsolved Mysteries (2020) - Netflix
Unsolved Mysteries is a Netflix revival of the classic documentary series that originally aired from 1987 to 2010. It does not limit itself to one case but rather each episode narrates a real-life unsolved mystery. From puzzling murders and missing persons to paranormal sightings and extraterrestrial encounters, it packs a bit of all.
The show offers a raw and real recounting of events from actual victims or their next of kin and even professionals from the field, going as authentic to the true-crime genre as possible.
8) Mindhunter (2017) - Netflix
If Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story probed the motivations of the two accused, Mindhunter makes diving into the minds of some of history’s most infamous serial killers its major selling point.
In two seasons and 19 episodes, the show stretched from the late ‘70s to the early ‘80s following FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench, along with psychologist Wendy Carr. The trio had launched a research project to interview imprisoned serial killers, understand their psyche, and use it for solving other cases.
In the meantime, viewers get to experience tension and unease as hardened criminals go one after the other, retelling the details of their crimes.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently catching the eye of many true-crime enthusiasts for its no-holds-barred exploration of the real-life incident it tells about. Yet, those who have gone through its end, may turn their gaze to this list and continue their tryst with authentic crime thrillers.
