Monster: The John Wayne Gacy Story

Monster: The John Wayne Gacy Story
Genre	Crime drama True crime Biographical drama
Based on	Crimes of John Wayne Gacy
Developed by	Jane Holloway
Written by	Jane Holloway
Directed by	Lena Ortega
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of episodes	8
Production
Production company	Horizon Television Studios
Original release
Network	HBO
Release	February 8 (2026-02-08) – March 29, 2026 (2026-03-29)

Monster: The John Wayne Gacey Story is an American crime drama television miniseries created by Jane Holloway for HBO. Initially announced under the working title Dark Pursuit, the project was revealed in September 2025 as part of the expanding Monster anthology series. The eight-episode miniseries is directed by Lena Ortega and dramatizes the life and crimes of John Wayne Gacy. It premiered on February 8, 2026.

Premise

The series depicts the double life of John Wayne Gacy, exploring how he was able to present himself as a respected community figure while concealing the murders he committed. The dramatization combines psychological tension with an examination of how Gacy’s crimes remained undetected for years.

Episodes

The series consists of eight episodes, airing weekly on HBO and streaming on Max.

No.	Title	Original air date
1	"The Clown"	February 8, 2026 (2026-02-08)
The episode opens in 1972 at a suburban Illinois street fair, where Gacy entertains children in clown costume while presenting himself as a businessman and political volunteer. His public charm is contrasted with ominous glimpses of his basement and private life. A teenage boy disappears after leaving one of Gacy’s events, but police dismiss the case, citing the boy’s “history of running off.” The narrative highlights how systemic oversights allowed his crimes to continue unchecked. The episode ends with Gacy removing his clown makeup at home as muffled cries echo from beneath the floorboards.
2	"House of Secrets"	February 15, 2026 (2026-02-15)
3	"Missing Boys"	February 22, 2026 (2026-02-22)
4	"The Double Life"	March 1, 2026 (2026-03-01)
5	"Buried Beneath"	March 8, 2026 (2026-03-08)
6	"The Search Tightens"	March 15, 2026 (2026-03-15)
7	"Confessions"	March 22, 2026 (2026-03-22)
8	"The Crawl Space"	March 29, 2026 (2026-03-29)

Production

The project was first announced by HBO in September 2025 under the title Dark Pursuit. Jane Holloway was set as creator and writer, with Lena Ortega attached to direct all episodes.

Later that month, the project was retitled Monster: The John Wayne Gacey Story to align it with the Monster brand of dramatized true-crime anthology series. The renaming was reported as a strategic shift to provide clearer marketing and thematic alignment with other entries in the franchise.

In September 2025, HBO confirmed the eight-episode count, episode titles, and release schedule. Filming began in early 2025 under tight secrecy, with a reported budget of $85 million.

Reception

Critical response

The premiere episode, "The Clown," received strong reviews from critics, who praised its restrained tension and unsettling authenticity. Reviewers noted that the production avoided sensationalism, instead focusing on the social and institutional failures surrounding Gacy’s crimes.

External links

• Monster: The John Wayne Gacey Story at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataTemplate:WikidataCheck