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Season 1 – Monsters of God

Play trailer 2:10 Poster for Season 1 – Monsters of God Next Ep Aug 13 Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Filmmaker Eric Goode follows his first love – reptiles – into the dark and gonzo underworld of exotic animal smuggling. In this global network, everyone is chasing the ultimate prize, whether it be owning the rarest of species, claiming the biggest fortunes, or taking down the most elusive criminals. The billion-dollar criminal enterprise is fueled by extreme obsession for these creatures, driving many to push the boundaries of laws and environmental ethics. As he digs deeper, Goode uncovers a labyrinth of outlaw traffickers, bombastic collectors, and the dogged law enforcement agents on their tails.
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Monsters of God — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Hannah J Davies Guardian 1h
3/5
It does feel like Monsters of God could have been a two-parter, but then maybe it’s simply too hard to kill your darlings when you have so many of them. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal 1h
One man’s fixation is another man’s repulsive, venomous puff adder. But Eric Goode’s five-part “Monsters of God,” about the largely illegal and enormously lucrative global trade in reptiles, asks the questions nonetheless. Go to Full Review Daniel Fienberg The Hollywood Reporter 22h
Given how Goode’s documentaries are becoming increasingly reasonable and less outsized, Monsters of God led me to wonder if this has been the long game and Goode is getting ready for a look at ordinary everyday pet shops. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 1h
Monsters Of God shows that Eric Goode has cornered the market on docuseries that concentrates on the colorful personalities that surround the illegal possession of exotic animals, and those personalities are fascinating to watch. Go to Full Review Karina Adelgaard Heaven of Horror 1d
4/5
Just when you think it can’t get any crazier, there’s a new layer exposed. As always, these types of documentaries are scarier than horror. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Monsters of God — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Eric Goode

Director

James Liu

Producer

Lissa Rivera

Producer

Callie Barlow

Producer

Charles Divak

Producer

Adrienne Gits

Producer

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 6, 2026 The Fever The obsessive “fever” to own rare and dangerous animals sends the illegal reptile trade increasingly underground, fueling a dark, billion-dollar smuggling industry populated by notorious and ruthless dealers. The story begins with a fierce rivalry between reptile dealers Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield, whose animosity escalates to a macabre iguana trafficking case, as early efforts of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service pursuit begins to take shape. Details Episode 2 Airs Aug 13 Operation Cobra Florida reptile dealer Ray Van Nostrand enters the fray and takes the trade business into the dark underworld of Miami drug smuggling and gun running with his connection to known cocaine cowboy Mario Tabraue. As the operation grows more dangerous and complex, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) begins closing in to bring the operation down. Details Episode 3 Airs Aug 20 Smuggler’s Inn Ray’s son Mike Van Nostrand attempts to legitimize and capitalize on the family business by building a massive import and export empire that turns reptiles into a booming global commodity. But when his father re-enters the picture, Ray pulls Mike back into illicit trade and ups the stakes, this time involving even more exotic creatures and dangerous international dealer Anson Wong. Details Episode 4 Airs Aug 27 Operation Chameleon Fresh out of prison, Tommy Crutchfield re-emerges during a new era of high-end, ostensibly legal reptile dealing – the breeding of genetically modified rare animals that can command enormous prices. As the lure of illegal smuggling proves too great, U.S. authorities launch “Operation Chameleon” and uncover a vast trafficking network that entangles dealers and major zoos institutions in the global wildlife trade. Details Episode 5 Airs Sep 3 Head of the Snake Malaysian kingpin Anson Wong emerges as a shadowy force at the center of the global reptile trade; a U.S. agent goes under cover to penetrate Wong's inner circle. Details
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Monsters of God — Season 1

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Monsters of God — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Eric Goode
Executive Producer
Jeremy McBride, Eric Goode, Harry Go, Emily Osborne, Nicole Stott, Ronald Bronstein, Eli Bush, Josh Safdie, Kevin Turen, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Tina Nguyen
Network
HBO
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 6, 2026
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