Lizzie Borden Season Debuts at No. 1, Matching Recent Monster Openings

Key points

• The new season reached 12.1 million views in its first four days, tying the 12.2 million opening of The Ed Gein Story and the 12.3 million opening of The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
• The Jeffrey Dahmer Story remains the franchise's highest-performing entry, with 22.3 million views in its 2022 debut, though it predates Netflix's current view-counting methodology.
• The series is part of a planned 10-season run, with creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan selecting Lizzie Borden after testing other subjects to form a thematic triptych with Elizabeth Bathory and Aileen Wuornos.
• The Washington Post notes that the show reinterprets the 1892 case through a contemporary lens, including a 'hot maid' theory, reflecting how each generation reimagines the motive behind the Borden murders.
• The Netflix Top 10 for Sept. 14-20 also featured Crew Girl at No. 2 with 11.3 million views, doubling its debut week performance, and The Gentlemen Season 2 at No. 3 with 6 million views.

Background

The Lizzie Borden Story is the fourth installment of the Monster anthology, premiering Sept. 17, 2026. It follows The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (2022), The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (2024), and The Ed Gein Story (2025). The season features Ella Beatty as Lizzie, Charlie Hunnam as Andrew Borden, and Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos, blending historical events with creative liberties to explore themes of female rage.

How outlets are covering it

Variety emphasizes the commercial success of the new season, highlighting its No. 1 debut and comparison to previous installments. The Washington Post focuses on the cultural reinterpretation of the Lizzie Borden case, noting how the show updates the 1892 narrative for modern audiences. Netflix provides factual details on the cast and the series' placement within the broader 10-season plan, without commenting on viewership metrics.

Why it matters

The strong debut confirms the enduring popularity of Ryan Murphy's true-crime anthology and Netflix's ability to sustain interest in historical crime dramas. The series' success also underscores the platform's strategy of using view counts to gauge audience engagement, influencing future content decisions and marketing efforts.

What to watch

Netflix will likely continue promoting the Monster franchise, potentially releasing new seasons or related content. The strong performance of The Lizzie Borden Story may influence the development of future installments, including the teased Watcher Season 2. Additionally, the series' cultural impact may lead to further discussions about the historical accuracy and modern interpretations of true-crime stories.