Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is a Netflix original limited series that premiered on September 21, 2022.
Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the show explores the life of notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, portrayed by Evan Peters. It delves into Dahmer's gruesome crimes and the systemic failures that allowed him to continue his killing spree for over a decade.
The series features a talented cast, including Richard Jenkins as Lionel Dahmer (Jeffrey's father), Niecy Nash as Glenda Cleveland (a neighbor who raised alarms about Dahmer), and Molly Ringwald as Shari Dahmer (Jeffrey's stepmother). Evan Peters' portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer has been widely praised for its depth and complexity, capturing both the killer's disturbing nature and the societal factors that contributed to his actions.
Upon its release, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story quickly became a commercial success, reaching the number one spot on Netflix in its first week. The show has been noted for becoming Netflix's second most-watched English-language series of all time within 28 days and one of only three titles to surpass one billion hours viewed in its first 60 days. This remarkable achievement underscores the series' ability to captivate audiences and shed light on a dark chapter in history.
The show has also garnered critical acclaim, receiving four nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, with Evan Peters winning Best Actor. It also earned six nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, with Niecy Nash winning for Outstanding Supporting Actress. These accolades recognize the series' storytelling prowess and the performances of its cast.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has been praised for its ability to give voice to the victims and their families, addressing issues of systemic racism and homophobia that contributed to the failures of law enforcement during Dahmer's active years. By humanizing the victims and exploring the societal factors that enabled Dahmer's crimes, the series offers a thought-provoking and impactful examination of a complex and disturbing case.