Netflix’s true-crime anthology has once again claimed the top spot on the streaming charts, as Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story debuted at #1 globally. For the week of September 14, 2026, the fourth installment of the franchise garnered 12.1 million views, securing its position as the most-watched series on the platform.
The latest season, which premiered on September 17, 2026, stars Ella Beatty as the titular Lizzie Borden and Vicky Krieps as Maggie Sullivan. While the debut marks a successful start for the production, it also highlights a remarkably consistent viewership trend for the Monster brand, which appears to have established a reliable audience “floor” regardless of critical reception.
Consistency Across the Monster Franchise
The 12.1 million views for the Borden story align closely with the opening performances of the previous two seasons. Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Season 3) debuted in October 2025 with 12.2 million views, while Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Season 2) saw a slightly higher 12.3 million views during its first week.
While these figures remain below the massive breakout numbers of the series’ first season, Dahmer—which achieved an estimated 22 million views when converted to Netflix’s current reporting standards—the franchise has standardized its success. Despite a slight downward trajectory in opening-week totals, the narrow margin between the three most recent seasons suggests a stable, dedicated viewership base for Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true-crime explorations.
The Critical and Audience Divide
The Monster anthology continues to face a divide between viewership numbers and critical acclaim. The Lizzie Borden Story currently holds a 42% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 57%. This pattern of “Rotten” critical ratings has become a hallmark of the series; Season 3 also received mixed reviews, illustrating that audience engagement often persists despite critical pushback.
One factor influencing these debut figures is the specific release schedule. The 12-million-view threshold remains a significant benchmark for the franchise’s “critic-proof” status.
Current Netflix Chart Context
Lizzie Borden’s rise to the top of the charts comes during a competitive month for Netflix. The series is currently outperforming The Gentlemen Season 2, which debuted earlier in September and remains in the Top 5 alongside its first season. Additionally, the streaming giant’s live sports programming continues to hold a steady presence in the Top 10, as WWE Raw remains a consistent performer following its move to the platform in early 2025.
As of late September 2026, Netflix has not officially announced a fifth season for the anthology. However, current trends and the franchise’s ability to maintain a #1 global ranking suggest the series remains a cornerstone of Netflix’s content strategy.
