A new series, similar in spirit to Tiger King, will premiere on HBO Max on August 6, 2026. It promises to reveal even more about the strange and sometimes disturbing world of exotic animal ownership and trading. Many remember the original Tiger King documentary on Netflix as a major distraction when the COVID-19 pandemic first began in 2020.
The captivating and often bizarre story of Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and Doc Antle, along with their collections of big cats, drew a huge audience. In 2024, filmmaker Eric Goode continued to explore similar themes with Chimp Crazy, a four-part HBO documentary focusing on Tonia Haddix and her complicated connection with her chimpanzees.
Investigative journalist Tim Goode is continuing his exploration of the exotic pet trade and animal smuggling. His new five-part HBO series, Monsters of God, premieres in August and will reveal the surprisingly profitable and vibrant world of reptiles being bought and sold. Goode reconnects with key figures involved in this illicit activity, exposing a billion-dollar industry that has its roots in the 1973 Endangered Species Act (according to WBD).
This documentary features individuals obsessed with collecting rare animals, those who illegally hunt them, and traders looking to profit – all contributing to the extinction of species. Monsters of God explores how a seeming passion for animals fuels this destructive trade, and uncovers the hidden figures funding it.
In past films, Goode typically focused on animal sanctuaries that were already failing, simply documenting their decline. But unlike those projects, the animal operations featured in Monsters of God are still going strong. Unless there’s a shocking twist at the end, it’s unlikely anyone involved will face legal consequences by the fifth episode.
This investigation is larger in scope than anything Goode has done before. Instead of focusing on just a handful of individuals, as he did with Tiger King and Chimp Crazy, this project examines an entire network of people and their connections. It’s his most ambitious work yet, but it’s still uncertain if that will make for a compelling documentary.
Other Tiger King Follow-Up Projects Have Failed To Capture The Same Mass Appeal
While Chimp Crazy had some initial success, it didn’t become as popular as Tiger King. Later seasons of Tiger King actually performed even worse. Tiger King was a unique phenomenon, largely thanks to the outlandish character of Joe Exotic.
These documentaries about animal cruelty present a difficult balance. While showing the animals’ suffering is important for raising awareness, it’s often upsetting and makes the films hard to watch. This can make them less appealing for casual viewing, even though highlighting these issues is crucial.
These documentaries can be captivating when they highlight the unusual individuals featured within them, but this focus sometimes distracts from the bigger issues they aim to explore. Even more concerning, they risk becoming just as exploitative as the behavior they criticize in people like Joe Exotic and Tonia Haddix – essentially doing the very thing they condemn.
The show Tiger King was a hit because it featured fascinating people and shined a light on a strange, hidden side of American life. Other similar shows haven’t quite captured that same magic. Now, Monsters of God faces the challenge of portraying the genuinely disturbing aspects of its subject matter while also showcasing the unusual personalities involved.
2026-07-22 16:28