The story of The Menendez Brothers
The Menendez Brothers is a 2024 documentary that revisits one of the most sensational murder cases in American history. Directed by Alejandro Hartmann for Netflix, the film centers on Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers currently serving life sentences for the 1989 murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez. What makes this particular documentary compelling isn't just the crime itself—it's that after three decades behind bars, the brothers are finally given extended time to explain their version of events. The film doesn't shy away from the brutality of what happened that August night in Beverly Hills, but it also creates space for a more complex conversation about what led two young men to commit such a horrific act.
The documentary's hook is right there in its tagline: "30 years after the murders, the brothers tell their story." That's the whole draw. We've heard from prosecutors, journalists, and true crime podcasters for decades, but hearing directly from Lyle and Erik—watching their faces, hearing the inflection in their voices as they recount painful memories—adds a dimension that previous coverage simply couldn't capture. At 116 minutes, the film doesn't meander; it's constructed to move viewers through the crime, the arrest, the trials, and the brothers' reflections on three decades of incarceration.
Behind the making of The Menendez Brothers
Campfire Studios produced The Menendez Brothers with Alejandro Hartmann directing, and that's a pairing worth noting. Hartmann has built a reputation for crafting intimate true crime documentaries that avoid sensationalism while still respecting the gravity of the subject matter. The decision to give the brothers themselves the primary voice—rather than relying on talking heads and archival footage—was a deliberate creative choice that shapes how the entire narrative unfolds. Netflix's involvement as the distribution platform gave the production the resources to conduct extended interviews and assemble archival materials that paint a fuller picture than what's available in most true crime quick-hits.
The film carries a TV-MA rating, which makes sense given the graphic nature of the crime and some of the psychological material discussed. The documentary doesn't sanitize the murders themselves, but it also isn't exploitative in its presentation. The runtime of 116 minutes suggests Hartmann and his team had enough material to tell the story without padding—a refreshing approach in an era where some true crime projects feel stretched thin across multiple episodes. The IMDb rating of 7/10 from over 10,000 votes indicates the film has found an audience that appreciates its approach, even if it hasn't achieved the kind of universal critical consensus that surrounds some prestige documentaries.
When Variety covered the film's release, there was recognition that Netflix's decision to center the brothers' voices represented a shift in how streaming platforms were handling true crime material—moving away from the narrator-as-authority model toward something more participatory and, arguably, more ethically complex.
What makes The Menendez Brothers stand out
There's something genuinely unsettling about watching two men who've spent most of their adult lives in prison try to articulate why they did what they did. The Menendez Brothers doesn't offer easy answers, and that's precisely what makes it work. What's striking is how the documentary holds space for multiple truths simultaneously—the brothers clearly murdered their parents in a brutal fashion, yet their accounts of abuse, fear, and psychological desperation feel genuinely rendered rather than performed. That tension, that refusal to let viewers settle into a comfortable narrative, is where the film's power lies.
Hartmann's direction favors close-ups and extended takes. There's a scene where Erik describes a particular moment from their childhood, and you watch his face cycle through emotions—pain, shame, something like resignation—without the film cutting away or underlaying it with dramatic music. That restraint matters. It trusts the audience to sit with discomfort. The brothers don't come across as sympathetic in a manipulative way; they come across as human, which is perhaps more troubling than if they'd been portrayed as straightforward monsters. And that complexity is what lingers after the credits roll.
The documentary also benefits from not pretending the legal system handled this case cleanly. The trials themselves were media circuses, and The Menendez Brothers acknowledges that the brothers' attorneys—particularly their defense strategy around abuse allegations—became as much a part of the cultural conversation as the crime itself. For anyone tracking how true crime stories get told and retold across decades, this film is a fascinating case study in how narrative shifts when the subjects themselves get to participate in the telling.
Where to stream The Menendez Brothers online
The Menendez Brothers is available on Netflix, the primary platform distributing this Campfire Studios production. If you're looking to check current availability across other major streaming services, Movie OTT tracks where this title and thousands of others are currently streaming in your region. The "Where to Watch" widget at the top of this page will show you every platform carrying the film right now, which is helpful since streaming rights shift frequently. Netflix remains the home for this particular documentary, and since it's a Netflix original, it'll likely stay there as your primary viewing option.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is The Menendez Brothers based on a true story?
Yes, completely. The documentary covers the actual 1989 murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their sons Lyle and Erik, who are currently serving life sentences. The film features interviews with the brothers themselves reflecting on the crime and the trials that followed.
Q: Who directed The Menendez Brothers?
Alexandro Hartmann directed the documentary for Campfire Studios and Netflix. Hartmann is known for his thoughtful approach to true crime storytelling that prioritizes nuance over sensationalism.
Q: How long is The Menendez Brothers?
The documentary runs 116 minutes, allowing Hartmann enough time to explore the crime, the legal proceedings, and the brothers' reflections without unnecessary padding or filler.
Q: What's the IMDb rating for The Menendez Brothers?
The film has a 7/10 rating on IMDb based on over 10,000 votes, suggesting it's found an engaged audience that appreciates its approach to the subject matter.
Q: Where can I watch The Menendez Brothers?
The film is available on Netflix. You can check current availability on other platforms using the streaming guide at the top of this page or by visiting movieott.com to see where it's streaming in your area.
Final thoughts on The Menendez Brothers
This isn't a documentary that wraps everything up neatly or tells you exactly what to think. The Menendez Brothers trusts viewers to grapple with difficult questions about culpability, trauma, and whether understanding why someone committed a terrible crime makes that crime any less terrible. It's the kind of film that'll stick with you—not because it's sensational, but because it refuses to let you look away from the human complexity at the heart of a horrific act. If you're drawn to true crime that challenges rather than confirms your assumptions, it's worth your time.