Netflix is about to get a whole lot bloodier. The streaming platform is home to myriad horror series, including notable works by Mike Flanagan, such as The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. However, while Mike Flanagan’s horror shows are mostly critical darlings, Netflix also has one of the genre’s most controversial series in its catalog.
Premiering in 2022, Ryan Murphy’s <em>Monster </em>is an anthology series that dramatizes real-life, high-profile murder cases. The inaugural season centered on Jeffrey Dahmer; season 2 on the Menendez brothers; season 3 on Ed Gein; and the upcoming Monster season 4 tells the story of Lizzie Borden, who in 1892 was accused of brutally murdering her father and stepmother, Andrew and Abby, with an axe.
Due to its hyperviolent, sensationalized depiction of real people and crimes, Monster has drawn swift backlash, particularly from those attached to the stories, like family members of the murder victims, or even the subjects themselves, as is the case with the Menendez brothers. However, this controversy has not stopped Monster from being a ratings juggernaut. If anything, it’s helped the show, with the most recent season, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, dominating streaming charts. We’ll see if Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story continues that trend when it premieres on September 17, 2026.
Monster Season 4 Comes To Netflix Less Than A Year After Season 3’s Ed Gein Story
One of the downfalls of the streaming era is that there’s no standardized release calendar like on traditional network TV, and as a result, it can often take a long time between seasons. Netflix has been a particular offender, with three-year wait gaps for new seasons of popular shows like Stranger Things.
However, that’s certainly not the case for Monster season 4, as it will release less than one year after The Ed Gein Story‘s premiere in October 2025. This is in keeping with the show’s release strategy, as since season 2, Monster has released a new installment every year, reliably in September or October.
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Monster Season Release Dates |
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|---|---|---|
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Season 1 |
Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story |
September 21, 2022 |
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Season 2 |
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story |
September 19, 2024 |
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Season 3 |
Monster: The Ed Gein Story |
October 3, 2025 |
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Season 4 |
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story |
September 17, 2026 |
Releasing in September allows Monster to get a jump on the “spooky season” momentum and build word-of-mouth while leaving October for more traditional horror offerings. For example, this year, Flanagan’s highly anticipated Carrie miniseries premieres on October 7. Like The Lizzie Borden Story, Carrie is also about an abused young woman who seeks bloody revenge on her tormentors, so by premiering in September instead, Lizzie Borden has a head start.
Monster Season 4’s Lizzie Borden Focus Gives The Franchise A Major First
NetflixThe Lizzie Borden Story is a massive departure from Monster‘s previous seasons, as it will be the first that the show focuses on a woman. Not only that, but out of all of the show’s subjects, Lizzie Borden is the only one who was acquitted of the crimes she was accused of. This shifts the focus of Monster season 4 from “how he was caught” to “Did she do it?“
The new season also marks a dramatic shift in tone for the anthology series. The previous three Monster seasons seemed to revel in their grit and bleakness, but The Lizzie Borden Story‘s trailer indicates that the latest installment will be a darkly comedic yet vibrant Gothic romance and tale of female rage.
While Monster season 4 certainly promises to be a bloody affair, it’s very possible that it will be less controversial than its predecessors. The cases of Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, and Gein all took place in the 20th century, and many of those who remember and were connected to or involved in the crimes are still alive. However, the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden took place over 100 years ago. With that much distance, it will be easier to examine the themes of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story rather than the still-raw wounds of the people hurt by the crimes.
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