Thirty years after their murder trial became a real-life drama, a new Netflix documentary tells the story of the Menendez brothers in their own words. The documentary, titled “The Menendez Brothers” and premiering on October 7, will include interviews with the Menendez brothers, Erik and Lyle, and those involved in the trial of the brothers, who were sentenced to life in prison for the murder of their mother and father, José and Kitty Menendez.

Eric and Lyle Menendez, currently incarcerated at the Donovan Correctional Facility in California, were interviewed by phone about the well-publicized trial, and clips from the recorded calls were included in the trailer for the documentary, released on September 23, 2024. 'In the film's trailer,' Lyle says. 'Maybe now we can all understand the truth.'

Eric adds, “What happened that night is very well known, but there is so much that has not been told.” [In 1996, Lyle and Eric Menendez were convicted of murdering their parents in what became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century. The trial, which shocked the nation, is portrayed again for the first time in 30 years and in the brothers' own words. Through extensive audio interviews with Lyle and Eric, lawyers involved in the trial, journalists who covered the trial, jurors, family members, and other well-informed people, acclaimed Argentine director Alejandro Hartmann (“Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta?”, “Cameraman The Murder of Pinamar) offers new insights and fresh perspectives on a case that people only think they know”

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The documentary, which premieres just weeks after Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Eric Menendez, first aired on September 19, quickly gained popularity and quickly became controversial. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the limited series dramatizes the events before, during, and after a murder. The new show is the latest entertainment project to delve into the trial of what has become one of the most famous cases in the true crime genre. On the day of the release of [Monsters], Eric Menendez issued a statement condemning Netflix and Murphy, claiming that the series “dishonestly portrays the tragedy surrounding [the brothers'] crime.”

“We created a caricature of Lyle rooted in the horrific and blatant lies that run rampant in the show, and believed we had gone beyond Lyle's lies and devastating characterization,” Eric wrote in the statement. 'I can only assume he did so on purpose. We believe that Ryan Murphy could not be so naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives that he would do this without malice.” Eric wrote in a statement.