Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story has quickly become one of Netflix's biggest premieres of September 2026. The fourth installment of the true-crime anthology associated with Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan needed only a few days to climb among the platform's most-watched series and reach number 1 on Netflix's international daily rankings.The series premiered on
September 17, 2026, with all eight episodes available from day one, and places
Ella Beatty in the role of Lizzie Borden, the woman who was accused and later acquitted of the murders of her father and stepmother in Massachusetts in 1892.Just about 48 hours after launch,
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story was already sitting in first place among Netflix series in numerous markets, confirming that the Monster franchise continues to draw enormous viewer interest.But its success also comes with controversy. Netflix's production does not aim to function as a strict historical reconstruction and modifies or invents numerous elements of the real Lizzie Borden case.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story reaches number 1 on Netflix
The premiere of
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story started strong.The season arrived on Netflix on September 17, and by September 19 it was already appearing in first place on the platform's international daily series rankings.The performance held up over the following days.Aggregated data from Netflix's daily rankings once again placed the series at
number 1 worldwide among the platform's television productions on September 20 and 21, 2026.This means the new Lizzie Borden story quickly managed to overtake other recent Netflix releases.The phenomenon is particularly significant because the series arrived complete, with no weekly release schedule.Viewers can watch all
eight episodes consecutively, which favors binge-watching and searches related to the ending, the real case, and the characters.
What is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story about?
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story freely reconstructs one of the most famous criminal cases in the United States.
The story unfolds mainly in
Fall River, Massachusetts, in the late 19th century.Lizzie lives in a Victorian household marked by family tension, repression, and a complicated relationship with her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden.The arrival of housemaid
Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, played by Vicky Krieps, disrupts the dynamic of the household.The series develops a close relationship between Lizzie and Maggie as tension in the Borden home escalates.Eventually, the murders take place that will turn Lizzie into one of the most well-known criminal figures in American popular culture.
The real case of Lizzie Borden
Behind the Netflix series lies a real historical case.On
August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife Abby were found murdered in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts.Both had suffered violent blows from a weapon similar to an axe.Lizzie Borden, Andrew's daughter, ended up becoming the main suspect.She was arrested and put on trial.However, in
June 1893 she was acquitted.This detail is essential to understanding the difference between the real story and Netflix's version.
Was Lizzie Borden found guilty?
No.
Lizzie Borden was never convicted of the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden.A jury found her not guilty.Furthermore, no other person was convicted of the crimes, which contributed to the case becoming one of the great criminal mysteries in the United States.For over a century, theories have emerged attempting to explain what happened inside the Borden house.Netflix's series takes a much more definitive stance.
Netflix presents its own version of what happened
Here lies an important difference between
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story and the documented history.The series dramatizes Lizzie as responsible for the murders.That does not mean there is definitive historical evidence allowing anyone to claim the events unfolded exactly as they appear on screen.In reality, Lizzie Borden was prosecuted and later acquitted.Netflix uses that historical mystery as a starting point to build a much more explicit dramatic interpretation.For this reason, the production should be understood as a
dramatization inspired by real events, not as a documentary.
Which parts of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story are fiction?
The series takes numerous creative liberties.One of the most significant examples is the relationship between Lizzie Borden and
Bridget Sullivan, the family's housemaid.Bridget Sullivan was a real person and was working for the Bordens when the murders occurred.However,
there is no conclusive historical evidence that Bridget and Lizzie had the romantic relationship Netflix presents, or that the two planned the murders together.The production uses this possibility as an important part of its narrative.Other events and relationships have also been altered, moved up in time, or invented to build the season's story.
Who plays Lizzie Borden on Netflix?
The actress playing Lizzie is
Ella Beatty.The actress leads a season of the Monster anthology for the first time and takes on the responsibility of portraying a figure whose story has fueled debate for more than 130 years.Netflix's Lizzie appears as a woman trapped by the family and social restrictions of the Victorian period.The series uses that context to develop themes related to:
- Repression.
- Power.
- Sexuality.
- Violence.
- Independence.
- Family relationships.
- Fame.
- Public perception.
Beatty's performance thus becomes the center of essentially the entire season.
Cast of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
Netflix assembled a highly recognized cast for the fourth Monster story.Among its main members are:
Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden
She is the protagonist of the season and the main suspect in the murders of Andrew and Abby.
Vicky Krieps as Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan
She plays the Borden family's housemaid and one of the most important characters in Netflix's version.
Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden
Hunnam plays Lizzie's father.The actor returns to the franchise after previously starring in the season dedicated to Ed Gein.
Rebecca Hall as Abby Borden
She plays Andrew Borden's second wife and Lizzie and Emma's stepmother.
Billie Lourd as Emma Borden
She is Lizzie's older sister.
Jessica Barden as Nance O’Neil
She plays the stage actress who maintained a friendship with Lizzie after the trial.
Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos
One of the most unexpected appearances is Sarah Paulson playing serial killer Aileen Wuornos.Her presence connects different eras within the series' reflection on women who became figures of enormous criminal notoriety.
Why does Aileen Wuornos appear in the Lizzie Borden series?
The appearance of
Aileen Wuornos may be puzzling for those familiar with the real story.Lizzie Borden was born in 1860.Aileen Wuornos was born in 1956.Therefore, the two women belonged to completely different eras and could never have met.Wuornos's inclusion is not an attempt to establish a real historical connection.The series uses the character, played by Sarah Paulson, as a narrative device to link different stories of women connected to violent crimes and the public fascination generated around them.Therefore,
Lizzie Borden and Aileen Wuornos never met in real life.
How many episodes does Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story have?
The season consists of
eight episodes.Netflix released all of them simultaneously on
September 17, 2026.This means there is no need to wait each week to find out how it ends.Among the episodes are chapters centered on the murders, the investigation, the aftermath, and the trial that turned Lizzie Borden into a national celebrity.The final episode, titled
"Carnival," runs approximately one hour and addresses the aftermath of the trial and the weight of the fame that will follow Lizzie.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is the fourth installment of Monster
The series belongs to the true-crime anthology that began on Netflix with the story of Jeffrey Dahmer.Each installment focuses on a different case.The franchise has previously covered:
- Jeffrey Dahmer.
- Lyle and Erik Menendez.
- Ed Gein.
- Lizzie Borden.
With
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the anthology once again shifts to a new era and, for the first time, places a woman as the central figure of an entire season.It is not necessary to have seen previous installments to understand the story.Each season functions essentially as an independent production.
Why is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story so successful?
Several factors may explain the rapid interest generated around the series.
Lizzie Borden remains a mystery more than 130 years later
The absence of a definitive conviction for the murders turned the case into fertile ground for books, films, documentaries, and theories.Lizzie Borden's name remains culturally associated with the axe and the Fall River murders.
The Monster franchise already has an established audience
The previous installments generated enormous conversation on Netflix.Each new season sparks interest even before the chosen case becomes known.
The cast brings together recognized actors
Ella Beatty is joined by Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Billie Lourd, Jessica Barden, and Sarah Paulson.
All eight episodes arrived simultaneously
The full season can be watched in a single weekend, which accelerates conversation and searches about the ending.
The story blends true crime with a provocative interpretation
Netflix does not try to hide the dramatic liberties taken.The season presents a deliberately stylized, violent, and provocative version of the story.That also explains why it is generating divided opinions.
Audience success contrasts with the critical reception
Strong performance on Netflix does not mean the critical reception has been entirely positive.Some critics have specifically questioned the historical liberties, the extreme tone, and the way the production turns unproven claims into explicit events within the fiction.There is also debate about the portrayal of Lizzie's sexuality and about the fictional relationship between her and Bridget Sullivan.Other viewers, however, may find precisely in that exaggerated approach one of the production's main appeals.The situation demonstrates once again something that has already happened with other Monster seasons:
popularity and critical acclaim do not necessarily move in the same direction.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is not a documentary
This distinction deserves special attention.
Although it uses:
- Real people.
- Real murders.
- An actual trial.
- Historical locations.
- Documented characters.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is a drama series.The writers use historical events as a foundation, but they also construct scenes, conversations, relationships, and motivations that cannot be historically verified.Therefore, anyone wanting to know the true case should cross-reference what Netflix shows with historical sources.
Did Lizzie Borden really kill her parents?
This is likely the question that generates the most interest after watching the series.The historical answer is that
it is not known for certain who murdered Andrew and Abby Borden.Lizzie was accused.She was put on trial.And she was acquitted.Legally, she was not found guilty.Netflix's series adopts a specific interpretation to build its story, but that version does not change the historical outcome of the trial.Additionally, Abby Borden was not Lizzie's biological mother, but her stepmother.
What happened to Lizzie Borden after the trial?
After being acquitted, Lizzie returned to Fall River.She and her sister Emma bought a larger home known as
Maplecroft.Lizzie continued living under the shadow of the murders and the enormous attention the trial had generated.Over time, her relationship with Emma deteriorated, and the two sisters stopped living together.Lizzie died in
1927, more than three decades after the murders.She was never tried again for the deaths of her father and stepmother.
Does Lizzie Borden’s house still exist?
Yes.The Fall River home where the murders took place still exists.Over the years it has become one of the most well-known sites associated with American true crime and has functioned as lodging and an attraction linked to the case.The interest generated by Netflix has once again driven searches about the house, the murders, and the real story behind the production.
Where to watch Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story?
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is available exclusively on Netflix.All eight episodes have been available since
September 17, 2026.Netflix also offers audio and subtitles in Spanish, and officially uses the title:
Monstruo: La historia de Lizzie BordenThis is the title used in Spanish instead of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story.
Will there be another Monster season after Lizzie Borden?
The anthology is designed to change its story and protagonists with each installment.For that reason, a potential new season would not necessarily have to continue Lizzie Borden's story.Until Netflix officially announces the next case, any information about the protagonist of a future installment should be treated with caution.Lizzie's story functions as the franchise's fourth independent installment.
Frequently asked questions about Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story
Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix?
Yes. The series premiered on Netflix on
September 17, 2026, and its eight episodes are available.
Is Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story number 1 on Netflix?
The series quickly reached the top spot on Netflix's daily series rankings in numerous countries and topped international charts just a few days after its premiere.
How many episodes does Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story have?
It has
eight episodes, all available since the day of its premiere.
Who plays Lizzie Borden?
Ella Beatty plays Lizzie Borden.
Was Lizzie Borden a real person?
Yes. Lizzie Andrew Borden was an American woman accused of the murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and her stepmother, Abby Borden, in 1892.
Was Lizzie Borden convicted?
No. She was tried and
acquitted in 1893.
Did Lizzie Borden really kill her father and stepmother?
There is no definitive historical answer. Lizzie was accused, but a jury found her not guilty, and no one else was ever convicted of the murders.
Were Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan lovers?
The series presents a romantic relationship between the two, but
there is no conclusive historical evidence that Lizzie Borden and Bridget Sullivan were lovers.
Did Aileen Wuornos know Lizzie Borden?
No. They lived in completely different eras. The connection between them belongs to the series' narrative construction.
Who plays Aileen Wuornos?
Sarah Paulson plays Aileen Wuornos.
Who plays Lizzie Borden’s father?
Charlie Hunnam plays Andrew Borden.
Is the Lizzie Borden series based on a true story?
Yes, it is inspired by the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden that took place in Fall River in 1892, but the production introduces numerous fictional elements and dramatizations.
Is it necessary to watch the previous Monster seasons?
No. Each installment tells a different story and can be watched independently.
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story confirms the power of Netflix’s franchise
The rapid rise of
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story demonstrates that interest in Netflix's true-crime anthology continues.The new installment combines a historical case that has generated questions for more than a century with a cast led by Ella Beatty, Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, and Rebecca Hall.Added to this is a deliberately provocative interpretation of the mystery.The series does not try to preserve historical ambiguity: it builds its own version of the murders and develops relationships that are not supported by the historical record.It is precisely that mix of
true crime, fiction, psychological drama, violence, and controversy that is driving much of the conversation.Released on
September 17, 2026, the series took about two days to climb to the top spots on Netflix and continues to hold prominent positions in international rankings.For those who decide to watch it, it's worth remembering one fundamental difference:
Netflix tells a version of Lizzie Borden's story. The true identity of whoever was responsible for the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden was never legally proven.Sources
Netflix:
https://www.netflix.com/es/title/82068293Netflix Tudum:
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/monster-season-4-lizzie-borden-release-date-cast-newsMovieWeb:
https://movieweb.com/monster-the-lizzie-borden-story-netflix-hit-sept-2026/
