The newest entry in the “Monster” series has been harshly criticized, holding a dismal 17% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of writing. Critics argue that the series lacks sufficient content to sustain its eight episodes, resulting in unnecessary plot embellishments that fail to enhance the narrative. Murphy’s approach, which takes significant creative liberties, ends up sensationalizing the tragedy rather than respecting the gravity of the events. This pattern is not new to Hollywood, where true crime adaptations often miss the mark.

The first two seasons of “Monster,” focusing on infamous figures like Jeffrey Dahmer and the Menendez brothers, also faced backlash. They drew ire from critics and those personally connected to the stories. The inaugural season, featuring Evan Peters as Dahmer, stirred controversy and distress among victims’ families. They alleged that Netflix exploited their personal tragedies for profit without consulting them during production.

Rita Isbell, the sister of Dahmer victim Errol Lindsey, expressed her dismay in a Business Insider article, lamenting that the show offered no benefit to the victims’ families, which made it feel harsh and insensitive. Shirley Hughes, mother of Tony Hughes, voiced her concerns to The Guardian, questioning the ethicality of using their names and stories. Murphy later commented that his team had reached out to about 20 individuals but received no responses.

Beyond “Monster,” recent years have seen a slew of poorly received true crime films about infamous murderers. Zac Efron’s portrayal of Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” faced criticism for glamorizing the serial killer, while Hilary Duff’s “The Haunting of Sharon Tate” was accused of exploiting the horror of Tate’s murder by Charles Manson’s followers. Similar critiques were aimed at “The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson,” described as “as gross as it sounds” by the Charleston City Paper. For additional insights into these criticized Hollywood true crime adaptations, Looper’s video offers further exploration.

“The victims have children and grandchildren,” Rita Isbell, sister of Errol Lindsey, wrote in a piece for Business Insider. “If the show benefited them in some way, it wouldn’t feel so harsh and careless. It’s sad that they’re just making money off of this tragedy.” Shirley Hughes, mother of Tony Hughes, spoke with The Guardian on her feelings about the series. “I don’t see how they can do that,” she said. “I don’t see how they can use our names and put stuff out like that out there.” Murphy eventually broke his silence over the matter, stating that his team reached out to around 20 individuals but never heard back from anyone.

Away from “Monster,” there have been a spate of bad true crime movies about notorious murderers that have drawn a lot of criticism in recent years. Zac Efron’s Ted Bundy film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” was called out for romanticizing the serial killer and rapist, while Hilary Duff’s “The Haunting of Sharon Tate” was accused of exploiting the tragedy of Tate’s murder at the hands of Charles Manson’s followers. Similar allegations were levied at the film “The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson,” with the Charleston City Paper calling it “as gross as it sounds.” For more details on these bad Hollywood true crime movie adaptations, check out Looper’s video.