The recent release of the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has sparked heated debate over its portrayal of the infamous Menendez brothers.
The R-rated series, which premiered in fall 2024 as a single nine-episode season, dramatizes the case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, offering a narrative interpretation of the events leading to the murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, and the subsequent legal battles. The series, rather than adopting a documentary format, presents a screenplay that blends fact with dramatization, leaving viewers to question the balance between accuracy and artistic license.
Released to critical buzz, the show quickly climbed to #1 on the Netflix watchlist, amassing 12.3 million views within its first four days.
Junior Molly Anthony was among the many who tuned in shortly after its release. “I knew a lot about the case before I watched the show, but it revealed details I’m not sure are 100% true or just added for entertainment purposes,” she said.
The series stars Alexander Chavez as Lyle and Cooper Koch as Erik, portraying the brothers as deeply bonded. However, this depiction has stirred controversy, with some viewers suggesting the portrayal borders on an incestuous relationship. Critics have pointed fingers at director Ryan Murphy, attributing these creative choices to his signature dramatic style. This aspect is just one of several controversies surrounding the series.
Many viewers have criticized the show for exaggerating and distorting the brothers’ relationship and the events of the case, calling it disrespectful and inconsistent with established evidence.
The Menendez brothers’ case has even become a topic of discussion among the Chapel Hill High School Ethics Bowl, where students debate real-life ethical dilemmas. Within a week of the series’ release, the club discussed the morality of dramatizing such a tragic and contentious true story.
Senior Katie Killgallen, an Ethics Bowl member, shared her perspective. “A lot of the information in the show could be seen as slanderous to the brothers,” she said. “The publicity the case has received because of the series is significant, but viewers need to remember it’s primarily a work of fiction.”
The series follows the Menendez brothers’ story in chronological order—from the murder of their parents to their arrest, trial, and eventual sentencing. However, the characterization of the brothers has drawn criticism for diverging from factual accounts.
Lyle is depicted as an egotistical and violent young man who appeared intent on harming his parents, a portrayal that contradicts reports of his protective instincts toward Erik. Similarly, Erik is initially presented as the mastermind behind the killings but later portrayed as weak and dominated by his older brother. These inconsistencies have left some viewers feeling the show lacks coherence and nuance.
Despite its flaws, the series does attempt to balance sensationalism with moments that encourage empathy for the brothers. By including key factual elements of the case, it provides viewers with a foundation for understanding the complex story behind the dramatic embellishments.
Beyond its entertainment value, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has reignited public interest in the Menendez case, including within the student body. Fans have delved deeper into the case and even rallied around calls for a reevaluation of the brothers’ sentences. Notably, new evidence has emerged that could potentially reopen the case.
While a Netflix series may primarily serve as entertainment, its impact on public discourse—and potentially on a legal case decades in the making—is undeniable. Despite its controversial elements, the series has brought renewed attention to a case that continues to captivate and divide audiences.
