Ryan Murphy's Lizzie Borden Show: A Netflix Streaming Hit, But Not Without Competition
By Rahul Majumdar
Ryan Murphy’s latest season of Monster has emerged as another major success on Netflix, but it can't claim to be the platform's most-viewed. The new season, focusing on the infamous Lizzie Borden murders, debuted with 12.1 million views in its initial four days—a strong start, yet not quite reaching the heights of previous seasons.
According to Deadline, Season 4 matched the viewing numbers of Season 3's "The Ed Gein Story" within that same timeframe. Even more impressive, Season 2’s “The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” reached 12.3 million views in four days.
Despite these comparables, Netflix subscribers remain captivated by the series, with Season 4 of Monster amassing over 80 million views thus far—a testament to its enduring appeal despite backlash regarding its graphic violence.
This season stands out for featuring a female subject for the first time in the show's history, with Ella Beatty leading an eight-episode drama that retells the story of Lizzie Borden and her 1892 murders.
The official synopsis teases: "When the repressed daughter of a wealthy New England family and her rebellious maid find themselves trapped in a house built on humiliation and cruelty, they escape into a fantasy of sex, power, and revenge."
Reeling in Charlie Hunnam, Rebecca Hall, Sarah Paulson, Billie Lourd, Vicky Krieps, and more, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story is streaming now on Netflix.
Rahul Majumdar is an Entertainment Writer for Evolve Media, specializing in film, TV, and video games since 2017. His passion lies in exploring cinematic universes, with a particular fondness for superhero franchises.