The film that 'inspired the Menendez brothers to kill their parents' immediately after watching it

Lyle and Erik Menéndez famously murdered their parents in 1989 and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The American brothers were tried once separately, and a second time together, finally being convicted in 1996.

Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53, claimed their father sexually abused them and threatened to kill them if they spoke out – so they killed him in pre-emptive self defense.

However, doubt was cast over the brothers’ claims when it was revealed their father José and their mother Mary had a multimillion-dollar estate.

During the lengthy trials, one of the witnesses claimed that Lyle and Erik were inspired to commit the double parricide by a 1987 film.

Lyle and Erik Menéndez famously murdered their parents in 1989 and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole

Lyle and Erik, now 56 and 53, claimed their father sexually abused them and threatened to kill them if they spoke out – so they killed him in pre-emptive self defense

During the three-year trials, one of the witnesses claimed that Lyle and Erik were inspired to commit the double parricide by 1987 film Billionaire Boys Club, starring Judd Nelson (pictured)

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story stars Javier Bardem as the brothers’ father, and Chloë Sevigny as their mother

The film was two-parter Billionaire Boys Club, led by Judd Nelson, which aired on NBC.

Based on a true story, Billionaire Boys Club follows the highly illegal and immoral exploits of Joe Hunt (Judd), a ruthless investor out to amass a fortune through various schemes.

When con man Ron Levin (Ron Silver) becomes involved with Hunt’s shady organization, things quickly sour between the two underhanded men.

Soon, Levin is dead, and Hunt thinks he’s gotten away with murder.

Eventually, Hunt’s ambition and greed threaten to get the best of him.

This theory is explored in the nine-part Netflix biopic Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, which was released on Thursday.

According to the Los Angeles Times at the time, the chief witness for the prosecution caused confusion when they said that Lyle and Erik got the idea to murder their parents ‘on the BBC’.

At first, people had assumed they had meant the BBC as in the British Broadcasting Corporation, but they’d actually meant Billionaire Boys Club.

Psychologist L. Jerome Oziel, the Menendezes’ therapist, claimed that Erik confessed that the film inspired him during a session, which he then told the mistress who in turn told the police.

Psychologist L. Jerome Oziel, the Menendezes’ therapist, claimed that Erik confessed that the film inspired him during a session, which he then told the mistress who in turn told the police

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story comes after the success of 2022’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starring Evan Peters

The LA Times reported that Jerome tried to persuade the court to allow the film to be played to the jury – but this was denied.

Lyle and Erik narrowly avoided the death penalty and were sent to separate maximum security prisons for 22 years.

However, they were reunited in 2018 when Lyle was moved to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where Erik already was.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story stars Javier Bardem as the brothers’ father, and Chloë Sevigny as their mother.

The show is the second installment of anthology series Monster which adapts true crime stories into dramas.

Monster was created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan who previously collaborated on Glee and Scream Queens.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story comes after the success of 2022’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, starring Evan Peters.

All episodes of both series are available to watch on Netflix now.