Netflix's newest limited series Dahmer, starring Evan Peters, scores the biggest premiere for the streamer since StrangerThings season 4.
Less than a week after its release, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is Netflix's biggest draw since Stranger Things season 4. The new limited series, which premiered on September 21, comes from American Horror Story creator Ryan Murphy as part of his five-year deal with the popular streaming service. Evan Peters takes on the titular role of Dahmer in the most prolific on-screen representation of the cannibalistic serial killer since Ross Lynch in 2017's My Friend Dahmer.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Unlike the Lynch-led film, which primarily follows Dahmer's life in high school before his killing spree, Monster covers the Milwaukee native's origins up to his eventual death inside the Columbia Correctional Institution. The Netflix limited series does differentiate itself from similar projects, however, by paying particular attention to Dahmer's victims and their families, attempting to humanize them instead of romanticizing the villain.
Why Dahmer's Success Could Be Problematic For Netflix The viewership numbers for Monster are both surprising and not. Peters is a massively popular TV star with undeniable talent, so watching him embody such an infamous figure is intriguing. At the same time, while true crime is a phenomenon for Netflix, initial expectations did not see Monster breaking into the upper echelon of viewership on the platform next to Stranger Things and other big hits.
Living relatives of the families that Dahmer directly impacted during his active years have already reported feeling re-traumatized by the show's portrayal of the gruesome murders. Monster's success, therefore, is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the viewership will inspire Netflix to continue funding true crime projects thanks to continual interest.