‘Monsters of God’ Episode 5 Release Date and Air Time

HBO’s reptile smuggling docuseries is nearing its conclusion. ‘Monsters of God’ is a 2026 documentary series directed and executive produced by Eric Goode, exploring the underworld of exotic reptile smuggling, based on Bryan Christy’s nonfiction book “The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World’s Greatest Reptile Smugglers.”

As the five-part season wraps up, the finale promises to spotlight one of the show’s most infamous real-life villains. Here’s everything you need to know about when the finale airs, what it covers, and how to stream it.

The first episode of the five-episode series premiered on a Thursday at 9 PM ET and PT on HBO, with new episodes releasing weekly at the same time. This schedule continues with Episode 5, titled “Head of the Snake,” which will debut on September 3.

The episode will maintain a runtime consistent with the rest of the season. Fans who have been following since the August 6 premiere can expect it to drop in the same late-night HBO slot, right after the network’s Thursday primetime lineup concludes.

The finale shifts focus from the American smugglers featured in the first four episodes to an international kingpin. Malaysian trafficker Anson Wong takes center stage as U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent George Morrison goes undercover to dismantle his network.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the episode highlights the Malaysian kingpin as a shadowy figure at the heart of the global reptile trade, while a U.S. agent infiltrates his inner circle. This final chapter is a fitting culmination of a series that has spent four episodes detailing the domestic side of the trade before expanding its view to the international scale of the crisis.

This international pivot aligns with the show’s overarching theme. ‘Monsters of God’ has been tracing the evolution of the reptile trade as it circumvents the Endangered Species Act of 1973, transforming into a clandestine, high-stakes world of backroom dealings and fervent collectors.

The season has already explored significant ground before reaching Wong’s narrative. Episode 1 introduced the rivalry between reptile dealers Hank Molt and Tommy Crutchfield, escalating into an iguana trafficking case as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated an investigation. Episode 2 connected Florida dealer Ray Van Nostrand to the reptile trade’s ties with Miami drug and gun trafficking through cocaine dealer Mario Tabraue.

The series is an HBO exclusive for now. ‘Monsters of God’ premiered on HBO and is available for streaming on HBO Max, officially rated NC16, making it suitable for older teens and adults rather than family viewing.

For viewers without a subscription, there’s still an opportunity to watch. New subscribers might access ‘Monsters of God’ for free by signing up for Hulu and adding the Max add-on during an eligible free trial. This allows access to the finale even for those who haven’t subscribed to HBO Max throughout the season, though anyone wanting to catch up on all five episodes before Wong’s story airs should start the trial with adequate lead time.

The show has also gained recognition on the festival circuit prior to its streaming debut. ‘Monsters of God’ had its world premiere at the 2026 South by Southwest Film and TV Festival on March 13, 2026, where it won the Audience Award in the TV Premiere section, months before it aired on HBO on August 6, 2026.

Part of the excitement surrounding the finale stems from its impressive pedigree. Filmmaker Eric Goode delves into the underworld of exotic animal smuggling, revealing a web of outlaw traffickers, passionate collectors, and the law enforcement agents pursuing them. Goode is well-versed in true crime narratives, having previously transformed wildlife subcultures into compelling television.

Critics who previewed the entire season have shared their thoughts on how the story unfolds as Wong enters the scene. One reviewer noted that ‘reptile people’ operate on a different wavelength, highlighting how the series immerses viewers in a world where handling deadly snakes and giant lizards or salvaging roadkill for pet alligators is considered normal.

The production boasts significant industry talent behind the scenes. Josh Safdie, Ronald Bronstein, and Eli Bush are among the executive producers, with A24 producing the series.

With Anson Wong’s downfall set to conclude the season and an undercover federal agent’s mission reaching its climax, how do you think the reptile trade’s most notorious kingpin will meet his end in “Head of the Snake”?