Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Review (2026): The True Story, Cast & Roles, Episodes and Runtime — No Spoilers
A wealthy family. A hatchet. A verdict that never settled anything.
In 1892, a wealthy couple were killed in their own home in Massachusetts, and their daughter stood trial for it. More than 130 years later, Netflix's Monster anthology turns that case into an eight-episode Victorian nightmare starring Ella Beatty. Below you will find the real history first, then an official watch link, then a spoiler-free breakdown of the cast, roles, story setup, episodes and our honest rating.
🪓 The True Story Behind Lizzie Borden
Lizzie Andrew Borden was born on July 19, 1860, and grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts, in the household of her father, Andrew Borden, a successful and famously frugal businessman. Her mother died when she was a small child, and her father later married Abby Durfee Gray. Lizzie lived at home with her older sister Emma, her father, her stepmother and the family's Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan.
On the morning of August 4, 1892, Andrew Borden, aged about 69, and Abby Borden, aged about 64, were found dead in the family home on Second Street. Abby was found in an upstairs guest room and Andrew on a sofa downstairs, both killed with a hatchet-type weapon. Lizzie, then 32, was arrested and charged with both murders.
Her trial took place in New Bedford in June 1893 and became one of the first media sensations in American history. After roughly an hour and a half of deliberation, the jury found her not guilty. No one else was ever charged, and the case is still officially unsolved. Lizzie stayed in Fall River, later moved with Emma into a large house, and died on June 1, 1927. The old family home now operates as a museum and bed and breakfast.
The famous rhyme about "forty whacks" is memorable but inaccurate: by most accounts Abby received around 19 blows and Andrew around 10 or 11.
🔍 See Lizzie Borden's historical photo on Google ImagesOpens a Google Images search for the real Lizzie Borden. Old photographs only, not images from the series.
▶️ Watch Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story Officially
The series streams exclusively on Netflix, and all eight episodes have been available since September 17, 2026. Here is the official trailer, followed by the official watch button.
Trailer not loading? Watch it on YouTube.
▶ Watch Officially on NetflixOfficial Netflix page. A Netflix subscription is required. More info on Netflix Tudum.
📋 Series at a Glance
📖 What the Series Is About (No Spoilers)
Lizzie (Ella Beatty) is a young heiress stuck in a strict, cold Victorian household, tormented by a sharp-tongued stepmother and a controlling father. Her world changes when an unconventional new maid, Bridget "Maggie" Sullivan, joins the family. From there the show follows the pressure building inside the house, the events of August 1892, the investigation, and the national spectacle of the trial.
Rather than a plain whodunit, the season asks the question that runs through the whole Monster anthology: is a killer born or made? It is the first season to centre on a woman, and it uses Lizzie's story to explore repression, class, money and female rage. It also reaches beyond her lifetime, with a storyline involving another notorious woman, Aileen Wuornos.
🎭 Cast and Roles
Performances: acting is the season's strongest card. Rebecca Hall's heightened, vicious Abby is the most praised performance, Ella Beatty carries the show with a tightly controlled lead, and Vicky Krieps brings an unpredictable energy that makes Maggie hard to look away from. Charlie Hunnam adds weight to a father who could easily have been a cliché.
🎞️ Episodes and Runtime
All eight episodes were released together on September 17, 2026. Runtimes below follow published episode listings and may differ by a minute or two on Netflix.
How many hours? About 392 minutes, or roughly 6.5 hours, so it fits one long weekend of bingeing.
⚖️ What Is Real and What Is Invented
Real: the Borden family, the maid Bridget Sullivan, sister Emma, Uncle John Morse, actress Nance O'Neil, the August 1892 murders, the 1893 trial and the acquittal.
Invented or heavily dramatized: the romantic relationship between Lizzie and Bridget (there is no historical evidence for it, or for Bridget helping with the crime), Aileen Wuornos's fascination with the Borden case, and the Elizabeth Báthory material. Treat the show as gothic fiction inspired by a real case, not as a history lesson.
🧠 Our Personal Verdict: 7.9/10
Script and style: the dialogue is theatrical, darkly funny and full of memorable lines, and the anachronistic music keeps the Victorian setting from feeling dusty. The production design is superb, from the recreated Borden home to Fall River itself. The weak point is length: once the central events are on screen, some subplots feel stretched, and several critics say a shorter season would have hit harder.
This is our personal score. Critics are divided: at launch the series held roughly 36–50% on Rotten Tomatoes, with lower audience scores, though it still reached Netflix's No. 1 TV spot within days.
Pros
• Excellent lead and supporting performances
• Lavish, believable Victorian production design
• Sharp writing, dark humour and bold music
• Interesting themes about women, class and rage
• Easy to binge at about 6.5 hours
Cons
• Some plotlines feel stretched
• Many invented storylines and historical liberties
• Graphic violence, not for everyone
• Divisive reviews from critics and viewers
Who should watch it? Fans of the Monster anthology, gothic period dramas and character-driven true crime. Who should skip it? Anyone who wants strict historical accuracy or dislikes graphic violence.
💬 Your Questions, Answered
Is it a movie or a series?
It is an 8-episode limited series, the fourth season of Netflix's Monster anthology.
How long is it?
Roughly 6.5 hours across eight episodes of 39 to 63 minutes.
Is it a true story?
Yes, it is based on the real 1892 murders and the 1893 trial, but large parts are invented for drama.
Did the real Lizzie Borden do it?
She was found not guilty, and nobody else was ever convicted. The show takes its own position, but history has never settled the question.
Where can I watch it?
Only on Netflix. All episodes are available now.
Do I need to watch the earlier Monster seasons first?
No. Each season is a separate story, so Lizzie Borden works as a starting point.
Is it suitable for kids?
No. It is rated TV-MA for graphic violence, abuse, sexual content and strong language.
Final call: watch it for the acting, the atmosphere and the audacity, and skip it if you need historical accuracy. Ready to judge for yourself? Tell us in the comments whether you think Lizzie did it.