Full Breakdown
Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story – Netflix’s New True-Crime Anthology
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The fourth installment of Netflix’s “Monster” anthology, titled “The Lizzie Borden Story,” premieres on September 17. The eight-episode season dramatizes the 1892 Fall River axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden and centers on Lizzie Borden, portrayed by Ella Beatty. Charlie Hunnam plays Andrew Borden, and Rebecca Hall plays Abby Borden. The series is created and executive-produced by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, with Max Winkler directing.
Background & Context
Lizzie Borden was tried and acquitted in 1893 for the murders of her father and stepmother, a case that remains an “unsolved mystery.” Prior seasons of “Monster” examined male killers; this season is the anthology’s first focus on a woman and is framed around “female rage and repression.” The creators also interweave a contemporary storyline featuring Sarah Paulson as serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
Timeline
- August 20 2026: Netflix’s Tudum announced the series will arrive on September 17, with all eight episodes released simultaneously.
- September 17: Official premiere of “The Lizzie Borden Story” on Netflix.
Key Figures & Groups
- Ryan Murphy – creator, executive producer.
- Ian Brennan – writer, executive producer.
- Max Winkler – director, executive producer.
- Ella Beatty – leads as Lizzie Borden.
- Charlie Hunnam – returns as Andrew Borden.
- Rebecca Hall – portrays Abby Borden and describes the tone as “punk-rock period piece.”
Data & Statistics
- Eight episodes comprise the season, all released at once.
- The series is the fourth entry in the “Monster” anthology.
Why It Matters / Impact
By centering a historically acquitted woman, the series shifts the anthology’s lens from male pathology to gendered power dynamics. Murphy has said the Borden case allows an examination of “women and society” in contemporary terms. Critics note that the show’s approach could influence future true-crime dramatizations of unresolved cases.
Official Statements & Responses
- Rebecca Hall characterized the season’s tone as “irreverent, punk-rock period piece” and noted the show’s “villainous… archetypal” stepmother.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the series’ stance toward Borden’s guilt. No definitive confirmation of the series’ narrative conclusion is available.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is sort of [an] irreverent, punk-rock period piece,” — Rebecca Hall
- “She is also a kind of archetypal villain that you love to hate, because she’s really funny and she’s really out there and she behaves a little extra,” — Rebecca Hall