The series rose to the number one spot on Netflix in the first week of its release. [13] In the second week of its release, Netflix announced that Dahmer was its ninth most popular English-language TV show of all time, with 56 million households having viewed all 10 episodes. [14] [15] [16] The series remained number-one for weeks and became Netflix's second most-viewed English Netflix series of all time, and the fourth highest across any language with 701.37 million hours viewed in 21 days. [4] The series amassed more than 865 million hours viewed in the first 28 days of its release. [17] In 60 days it became the third Netflix series to pass 1 billion views. [18]

O'Connor, Roisin (March 26, 2021). "Ryan Murphy's Jeffrey Dahmer series has found an actor to play the notorious serial killer". The Independent. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022 . Retrieved January 14, 2022. Extremely well-acted, written, and directed series. Presenting Dahmer's case in a thoroughly cohesive and provocative way. Jumping around the chronology of the events sheds light on many other controversies. Such as how he could get away with this for so long and his whole ambiguous reasoning for continuing on despite being acutely aware of what monster he had become. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 13, 2022.

Cobb, Kayla (September 21, 2022). " 'Dahmer' Netflix Review: Stream It or Skip It?". Decider. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022 . Retrieved September 25, 2022. Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media . Retrieved December 13, 2022. Nordyke, Kimberly (January 15, 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023 . Retrieved January 16, 2023.

Piña, Christy (December 6, 2022). "People's Choice Awards: 'Doctor Strange 2,' 'Don't Worry Darling' Take Top Prizes". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022 . Retrieved January 11, 2023.Ryan Murphy's Controversial 'Monster' Series Is Getting Two More Seasons". Them. November 7, 2022. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023 . Retrieved February 14, 2023. Fienberg, Daniel (September 23, 2022). " 'Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story' Review: Ryan Murphy, Netflix, Rinse, Repeat". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022 . Retrieved September 25, 2022. Without doubt, the conversation around it lends itself to a wider discussion about the whole nature of what we watch, or should watch, when it comes to true-crime drama and beyond. First of all, it raises the question of focus: is giving a serial killer a narrative platform in itself an act of mythologising and glorification? That has been an increasing feeling within the cultural ether, as a range of works, from books to documentary and docudrama series and films, have made a concerted effort to instead refocus narratives away from notorious murderers and onto their targets. By the same token, in citing evidence for the corruptive consequences of serial killer-centred narratives, some have pointed to the Dahmer-related Tik Toks that have sprung up in the show's wake, in which users have apparently expressed sorrow or sympathy for Dahmer or created "romantic" edits of scenes with him. Hailu, Selome (December 5, 2022). " 'Monster: Dahmer' Becomes Netflix's Third Title Ever to Cross 1 Billion Hours Viewed in 60 Days". Variety. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022 . Retrieved December 7, 2022. Winners Announced for the 3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards". Critics Choice Association. March 16, 2023. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023 . Retrieved June 2, 2023.