Summary (tl;dr)

"Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story," the highly anticipated fourth season of Netflix's biographical crime drama anthology, premiered on September 17, 2026, causing a surge in public interest in the infamous 1892 axe murders. The series stars Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden and also features Rebecca Hall and Sarah Paulson, the latter portraying serial killer Aileen Wuornos, drawing thematic parallels between historical and modern "female monsters."

Essential Background

Lizzie Borden became a notorious figure in American history after being accused of the brutal axe murders of her father, Andrew Borden, and stepmother, Abby Borden, on August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Despite a sensational trial that garnered national attention, Borden was acquitted of the crimes in 1893, and no one else was ever charged. The unsolved nature of the case, along with a popular folk rhyme, has kept the Lizzie Borden mystery a subject of fascination for over a century, inspiring numerous books, films, and television shows.

The Full Story

The recent spike in searches for "lizzie borden netflix" is directly tied to the global release of "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story" on September 17, 2026. The eight-episode series, part of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's "Monster" anthology, delves into the Victorian-era case with Ella Beatty in the titular role, alongside Vicky Krieps, Charlie Hunnam, and Rebecca Hall as Lizzie's stepmother, Abby Borden. Notably, the season also features Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos, exploring a fictionalized connection between Borden and other female serial killers and their motivations, examining a "legacy of female rage." The series is the first installment of the anthology to focus on an alleged female perpetrator and offers a fictionalized account that includes a torrid relationship between Lizzie and her maid, Bridget Sullivan (Vicky Krieps).

Why It Matters

The renewed interest in Lizzie Borden highlights the enduring public fascination with unsolved true crime mysteries and the psychological exploration of notorious figures. The Netflix series attempts to recontextualize Lizzie Borden's story through the lens of female repression and societal constraints of the 19th century, drawing contemporary relevance by connecting it to other historical and more recent female "monsters" like Aileen Wuornos. This approach aims to not only entertain but also provoke discussion about the societal factors that might contribute to extreme acts of violence, making the centuries-old case resonate with a modern audience.

Geographic Location

• Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States (location of the 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, and Lizzie Borden's residence)
• New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States (location of Lizzie Borden's trial)