Ryan Murphy’s Monster: The Ed Gein Story hit Netflix on Oct. 3 — and the reviews were brutal. Critics called it “wildly unfocused” and “high on its own farts,” slashing the series to a deadly 22 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. But the Monster franchise has never needed critical approval to feast at awards time. Charlie Hunnam and Laurie Metcalf are still generating heat, and the show’s bloody reputation may once again prove irresistible to voters.

If history is any indication, negative reviews won’t stop Monster: The Ed Gein Story from becoming an awards-season fixture. The first installment, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, earned a 57 percent critics score but a much stronger 82 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes — proof that viewers and voters often see Murphy’s work differently than reviewers do. It went on to score 13 Emmy nominations, including Best Limited Series, and a Supporting Actress win for Niecy Nash. Evan Peters and Richard Jenkins also earned acting nominations, cementing Monster as a magnet for Television Academy attention.

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The follow-up, Monster: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, fared even worse with critics (45 percent) and audiences (58 percent), yet it still racked up 11 Emmy nominations, including another Best Limited Series nod, and won for Best Editing. Its cast again broke through with nominations for Cooper Koch (Actor), Javier Bardem (Supporting Actor) and Chloë Sevigny (Supporting Actress).

The pattern held at the Golden Globes, where Dahmer earned four nominations — including a Best Actor win for Peters — while Menendez picked up three. Nash, Peters and Bardem were also nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, solidifying the franchise’s popularity among actors, even without wins.

Now, The Ed Gein Story faces steeper critical headwinds, plunging to just 22 percent with critics and 54 percent from audiences. But the question remains: will that dip finally impact its awards chances, or will industry voters once again ignore the reviews and reward Murphy’s latest grisly chapter? Given the Golden Globes and Emmys’ history — and their enduring affection for both Netflix and Murphy’s star-powered casts — Hunnam and Metcalf still look like major contenders in this year’s race. The series itself currently ranks fourth for Best Limited Series in Gold Derby’s Golden Globe odds.

TV Limited Series/Movie

Contender

Odds

Adolescence

98.6%

Dying for Sex

96.6%

Task

94.8%

Monster

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

88.8%

Sirens

67.2%

For Hunnam, The Ed Gein Story marks a career-best showcase. Despite a long television résumé, including two Critics Choice Awards nominations for his breakout role in Sons of Anarchy, Hunnam has never been nominated for an Emmy or Golden Globe. But Monster could change that. As Ed Gein, he delivers a haunting, layered performance that captures both the psychological torment and eerie persona of the serial killer. Even critics who dismissed the series have singled out his work, and Murphy’s own declaration that Episode 7, titled “Ham Radio,” features “one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen,” could carry weight with voters. Hunnam is currently ranked third in Gold Derby’s Golden Globe predictions.

TV Limited/Movie Actor

Contender

Odds

Stephen Graham

Adolescence

98.3%

Mark Ruffalo

Task

96.8%

Charlie Hunnam

Monster: The Ed Gein Story

92.2%

Brian Tyree Henry

Dope Thief

90.5%

jason bateman

Jason Bateman

Black Rabbit

78.6%

Paul Giamatti

Black Mirror

24.9%

If Hunnam is seeking an awards breakthrough, Metcalf is pure pedigree. As Gein’s domineering mother, Augusta, she delivers a chilling portrait of religious fanaticism and repression that drives much of the series’ emotional power. An Oscar nominee for Lady Bird, Metcalf is one of television’s most decorated actors, with 12 Emmy nominations and four wins spanning Roseanne and Hacks. On Broadway, she’s a six-time Tony nominee and two-time winner, and she’s been recognized three times by the Golden Globes. That cross-medium respect makes her exactly the kind of performer awards voters love to celebrate — especially when paired with a complex, commanding role in a Ryan Murphy limited series. Still, she’s currently outside the Top 10 in Gold Derby’s latest odds for the 2026 Golden Globes, facing stiff competition in the all-encompassing Supporting TV Actress category, which combines drama, comedy, and limited series contenders into a single race. Her shot may have to wait for next year’s Emmys.

Between Hunnam’s transformative turn and Metcalf’s veteran gravitas, Monster: The Ed Gein Story remains very much alive in the race — and could haunt awards season all the way to the finish line.

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