Explore the true story behind Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix! Separate historical fact from fiction in Ryan Murphy's crime series. Stream now.
Television powerhouse creators Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan have officially launched Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, the fourth installment in their blockbuster true-crime anthology series. Streaming globally on Netflix, the eight-episode season stars Ella Beatty (Feud: Capote vs. The Swans) as the notorious headline-maker Lizzie Borden alongside Vicky Krieps as housemaid Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, with Charlie Hunnam and Rebecca Hall playing her father Andrew and stepmother Abby. The dark historical drama dramatizes the gruesome 1892 Fall River axe murders while examining the stifling social expectations placed on 19th-century women.
Key Information
- Series Title: Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story (Season 4)
- Creators & Showrunners: Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan
- Streaming Platform: Netflix Official Site
- Release Date: September 17, 2026
- Episode Count: 8 Episodes
- Lead Cast: Ella Beatty (Lizzie Borden), Vicky Krieps (Bridget Sullivan), Charlie Hunnam (Andrew Borden), Rebecca Hall (Abby Borden), Billie Lourd (Emma Borden), Jessica Barden (Nance O'Neil), Sarah Paulson (Aileen Wuornos)
- Genre: Biographical Crime Drama, Historical Thriller, Anthology
- Official Social Accounts: Netflix Official X Account, Netflix Instagram
What Is the Real True Story Behind Netflix's Lizzie Borden Series?
The real-life murder mystery surrounding Andrew and Abby Borden remains one of the most famous unsolved crime cases in American legal history.
- The 1892 Fall River Murders: On August 4, 1892, wealthy businessman Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, were brutally killed in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. While the infamous nursery rhyme claims Abby received 40 hatchet blows and Andrew received 41, historical records confirm Abby was struck 19 times and Andrew was hit 11 times.
- The Trial and Acquittal: 32-year-old Lizzie Borden was identified as the prime suspect due to her presence in the home and escalating tensions regarding her father's fortune. However, following a sensational two-week trial in 1893, a jury acquitted her due to circumstantial evidence, leaving no one legally convicted for the double homicide.
- Ella Beatty's Preparation: To capture the ambiguous mindset of her character, star Ella Beatty extensively listened to historical true-crime podcasts and analyzed archival trial notes before filming began.
What Changes Does Netflix's Monster Make to the Historical Record?
While maintaining the core timeline of the trial, Murphy and Brennan incorporate significant creative liberties and speculative theories to explore broader themes of female agency and societal repression.
- Expanded Relationship with Bridget Sullivan: The series heavily leans into speculation that Lizzie and the family's live-in Irish housemaid, Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan (Vicky Krieps), shared a romantic relationship and conspired together.
- Timeline Adjustments with Nance O'Neil: Actress Jessica Barden portrays stage performer Nance O'Neil. In the show, O'Neil acts as a mentor during the trial process, whereas historical records show the real-life pair became close friends several years after the acquittal.
- Thematic Connections to Aileen Wuornos: In a signature narrative twist, the season includes Sarah Paulson as modern serial killer Aileen Wuornos, drawing thematic connections between historical and contemporary female violence within rigid social constraints.
Stream all eight episodes of Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story today on Netflix.