DAHMER was just the beginning.
In the second installment of the Monster anthology series, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan tackle another high-profile case that captivated the nation in the ’90s. Streaming on Netflix now, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tells the story of two brothers who killed their parents on Aug. 20, 1989, and the events surrounding the brutal slayings. (Both were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.)
Created by Murphy and Brennan, the first iteration of Monster, DAHMER — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, premiered in 2022 and chronicled Jeffrey Dahmer’s (Evan Peters) gruesome murders between 1978 and 1991. DAHMER was a record-breaking success on Netflix, reaching 1 billion view hours in its first 60 days. The 10-episode series is only one of four series, including Stranger Things and Squid Game, to achieve such a milestone. Hot off the first iteration’s success, Monster was picked up for two additional installments of following notorious figures who left their mark on society. Here’s everything you need to know about Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
What’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story about?
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story follows Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who fatally shot their parents in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. During their trials, the brothers cited years of abuse as the reason for murdering their parents. However, prosecutors argued that their motive was to get their hands on the family fortune.
Can I watch the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story trailer?
Check out a chilling sneak peek of the series above. Watch as the Menendez brothers rationalize the killing of their parents and bask in the media attention when they enter the courtroom. Also, get a first glimpse of Nathan Lane as investigative journalist Dominick Dunne. Then, glimpse the events that led the brothers to kill their parents in the second and final trailer up top.
Who’s in the cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story?
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Javier Bardem
as José Menendez
About the Character
José Menendez is a music industry executive and Erik and Lyle’s father.
When Bardem signed on to play José, he hadn’t actually read a script yet. “This the first TV show [I’ve done] in my life and I’m not used to saying yes without reading something,” said Bardem. “But when the material came, Ian [Brennan]’s amazing writing and [Ryan Murphy]’s writing, it was obvious that it was something that I would like to be part of.”
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Chloë Sevigny
as Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez
About the Character
Kitty is the Menendez family matriarch.
“[Ryan] told me a little bit about Kitty and I immediately thought, ‘Well, this is going to be a great challenge and what an opportunity to play a flawed woman,’ ” said Sevigny.
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Nicholas Chavez as Lyle Menendez (left) in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
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Nicholas Chavez
as Lyle Menendez
About the Character
Lyle is the eldest of the Menendez brothers.
“I have a tremendous amount of empathy for Lyle and what he’s experienced,” said Chavez. “I think that as actors, we’re tasked with tackling these really, really difficult roles, and it’s very easy to become emotionally attached to the characters that we play.”
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Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez (right) in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
Cooper Koch
as Erik Menendez
About the Character
Erik and his brother Lyle become media sensations after killing their parents.
“I feel like when you’re playing a part, you have to be on their side,” said Koch about playing Erik. “You have to understand them. You have to find that deep, deep empathy … The only way to tell the story [is] to get everybody’s perspective so that the audience can then form their own.”
Previously In
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Nathan Lane
as Dominick Dunne
About the Character
Dominick Dunne is an investigative journalist who covers the trial for Vanity Fair.
Murphy wanted Lane for the role because he knew he could master its gravity. “I have this theory … about actors, where if you want somebody to be really, really dramatic and great, hire somebody who knows comedy,” said Murphy. “[Lane] has an amazing episode in here that I think is one of the best things [he’s] done in [his] career.”
Added Lane, “I just feel very lucky and grateful at this point in my life that something like this came along.”
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Ari Graynor
as Leslie Abramson
About the Character
Leslie Abramson is one of the most prominent Los Angeles defense attorneys. She becomes the lead counsel for Erik Menendez.
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Leslie Grossman
as Judalon Smyth
About the Character
Judalon Smyth is a former patient and mistress of Erik Menendez’s therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, who finds herself entangled in the Menendez case — and who ultimately plays a key role in Lyle and Erik’s arrests.
“It’s the goal and the dream of life getting to work with your favorite people in the whole world and Ryan and I’ve known each other so long now,” said Grossman of working with Murphy again. “I’m the luckiest that he keeps inviting me to the party.
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Dallas Roberts
as Dr. Jerome Oziel
About the Character
Dr. Jerome Oziel is the self-protective and not-entirely-by-the-book therapist who Erik Menendez sees after the murder of his parents.
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Jason Butler Harner as Les Zoeller (center) in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.
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Jason Butler Harner
as Les Zoeller
About the Character
Les Zoeller is the Beverly Hills PD detective in charge of the Menendez murders case. He’s a to-the-point, logical man in search of the truth.
Enrique Murciano
as Carlos Baralt
About the Character
Carlos Baralt is an Americanized Cuban immigrant, professor, and lawyer. He’s Lyle and Erik’s uncle; brother-in-law to Jose Menendez; and the executor of the Menendez will.
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Monsters also stars:
Michael Gladis as Tim Rutten
Drew Powell as Detective Tom Linehan
Charlie Hall as Craig Cignarelli
Gil Ozeri as Dr. William Vicary
Jeff Perry as Peter Hoffman
Tessa Auberjonois as Dr. Laurel Oziel
Tanner Stine as Perry Berman
Larry Clarke as Brian Andersen
Jade Pettyjohn as Jamie Pisarcik
Marlene Forte as Marta Cano
Paul Adelstein as David Conn
Alexis Martin Woodall (DAHMER– Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, American Horror Story, Feud), Eric Kovtun (DAHMER, The Watcher, Ratched), David McMillan (DAHMER– Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Louise Shore (Lessons in Chemistry, American Crime Story), and Carl Franklin (DAHMER– Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Good Behavior) serve as executive producers alongside Murphy and Brennan.
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Can I see some photos from Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story?
Yes, right here! Witness the stone-faced Menendez brothers in the courtroom during their trial. And peek in on José and Kitty sharing some ice cream in the living room where their murder will take place.
What’s the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story release date?
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story arrives on Netflix Sept. 19.
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Watch the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Teaser
