The eerie theme song of American Horror Story can be recognized anywhere. The series is so different from everything else available today on television and streaming services that it only takes one scene for the audience to know they have been transported into Ryan Murphy's mind. The great TV anthology series has now completed its 11th season, with a 12th season, Delicate, on the way in 2023.
Since 2011, the horror show has taken viewers everywhere. The horrors in the basement of a cursed house, the secret corridors of a terrifying asylum, mysterious aliens and demonic possession, a coven of witches in New Orleans, and even an unusual circus back in the 1950s — all this happens in the first four seasons, alone.
After 11 years, it is no surprise that the series has a myriad of fans, peaking at an average of eight million viewers an episode in Season 4, and garnering many millions of views since streaming on Hulu. From iconic and innovative panels and exhibitions at Comic-Con to getting the spin-off series American Horror Stories, this show has created a cinematic universe of its own. It does help that the cast is basically the same all these years (including the amazing Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange), with a few additions, as well as some actors who took a break from the show. Overall, the fans know they will see familiar faces even before the cast for a new AHS season is officially announced.
American Horror Story has one of the best marketing teams working for television today, hooking people with creepy images and brilliant TV spots to create plenty of intrigue about the newest season. That, combined with spellbinding concepts and the ability to grasp the audience’s attention from the get-go, make this series so iconic, with some seasons being even more wildly popular than others. Here are all American Horror Story seasons, ranked.
Updated May 13, 2023: If you're a fan of American Horror Story or a newcomer who wants to know which are the best seasons to watch first, this list has been updated with additional content by Nikole Finger.
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11 Season 11: NYC
The latest season of American Horror Story disappointed many fans with a lackluster execution of an interesting story. Patrick Read, played wonderfully by Russell Tovey, is a police officer in New York City during the 1980s. His job takes a dark turn when the city is plagued by a serial killer who is targeting gay men. Unfortunately for Read, being in the closet isn't enough to keep him out of the line of fire.
The season delves into a very serious topic, and while the real-life events that inspired this season were horrifying, it does not quite fit in with the rest of the anthology. Much like Season 1 though, the ending of NYC is heartbreaking. The performances of Tovey and Joe Mantello, who plays Gino Barelli, Patrick's secret partner, sell the audience on the excruciating pain of losing everyone around you. However, the season ran at a very slow pace, causing many of the episodes to feel pointless. Perhaps the season would have functioned better as a stand-alone film.
10 Season 10: Double Feature
Even though this season was bifurcated into two separate stories, both ended with the feeling of not being able to achieve their goals. The boldness of trying such a different structure after nine seasons is appreciated, but the plot twists at the end of each story weren't worth the narratives which preceded them.
Related: Endings of Every Season of American Horror Story Explained
The first part of this season is called Red Tide and focuses on a new kind of vampire. Creative people who are looking for success can find them at a price: they can take a pill that will either enhance their talent or destroy them if their creativity was never paired with talent at all. While the first portion of this season felt promising to many viewers, the infamous ending was rightly criticized, causing many fans to take back the praise they had once dealt out.
Death Valley focuses on Area 51 and aliens, mixing them with real-life people and events. Needless to say, the two halves focus on very different subjects. Either way, the compelling aesthetics of both stories are not enough to sell most viewers, though it is undeniably very stylish.
9 Season 6: Roanoke
This season is based on the real story of a whole village disappearing in the 16th century. Roanoke had the potential of being an intriguing story. The sixth season of American Horror Story had a very different structure compared to other seasons: a mixture of a reality TV show and found footage. It started strong but lost itself in its own originality.
Even actress Sarah Paulson, who has been in the show since the beginning, said she didn't like this particular season. By the final episode, the ending is dark and emotional, but the confusing structure makes the ending seem rushed and not as big of a payoff as it would have been if it had been done differently. Much like Season 10, the finale was enough to turn audiences away from this season.
8 Season 8: Apocalypse
Apocalypse goes to show how much the creators of the series listen to its fans. Having the return of beloved characters from two previous seasons, Murder House and Coven, this season could have been so much more. Revealing interesting new information about the coven, however, becomes the highlight of this campy season.
This season of American Horror Story is more "story" than "horror," and doesn't focus on the horror itself, but rather the characters from previous stories who evoke different emotions from the audience. Because of that, and the desire to introduce certain characters and arcs, the plot often has to be contrived or manipulated to bring them about. This made a few moments dull rather than exciting, mainly because they served to move the plot forward for these characters to appear. Regardless, it's great to see the characters.
7 Season 7: Cult
The horror element of what makes Cult so terrifying is how factual the horror portrayed is. This season is a clear reaction by Murphy of how he (and many people) reacted to the rise of cults and extremist groups that have gained attention after the 2016 elections. It is scary how this season honestly doesn't need any supernatural elements to be completely terrifying.
A more satirical season of American Horror Story than usual, Cult is full of social criticism that has a few weak aspects but is great for those who like more contemporary or political horror.
6 Season 5: Hotel
With a compelling old Hollywood aesthetic and a performance by Lady Gaga, the fifth season of American Horror Story, Hotel, started with a bang. Murderers and vengeful ghosts walked the long hallways of The Hotel Cortez, inspired by the building built in Chicago by America’s first serial killer H.H. Holmes, known as "Murder Castle."
Secret passages and dinners hosted by dead serial killers are only a few things inside this hotel. Gaga, Kathy Bates, and the rest of the excellent cast start the fifth season off wonderfully, but by the middle of the season, the plot started to lose the force and violence it began with. However, the season is well worth a watch for anyone who loves a good ghost story.
5 Season 3: Coven
The third season of American Horror Story was the first one to tackle another genre that was, at the time, mostly unseen in the show: comedy. The season received a lot of backlash because of it, but after a few years, the New Orleans coven received more love than when it was released, so much so that the witches are seen once more in Apocalypse.
Mixing the fictional narrative elements with real female serial killer Madame LaLaurie, Coven certainly makes a bold statement while telling the story of this unusual coven of witches. There are rumors that the witches may return once more in a future season, proving just how well-loved they are by fans.
4 Season 1: Murder House
The story of the most famous haunted house of modern television, Murder House introduced viewers to AHS. Fans of the series go to the filming location almost every day in Los Angeles, and the first season of American Horror Story carries a lot of sentimental value for the fans. The first time the audience heard the opening song, with the tremendously frightening visuals along with it (so unlike anything else on television in 2011), this season remained a favorite due to the heartbreaking story it tells.
Dealing with mental health and abusive relationships, this story tricks the viewer into thinking the ending will be one thing and turns out to be completely different. While the audience starts anticipating the jump scares, Murder House develops into such a riveting series that it hardly matters, and audiences finished the last episode crying. It is a rollercoaster of emotions (or rather, a ghost ride). The house is so iconic that it made a comeback in the spin-off series American Horror Stories.
3 Season 2: Asylum
A fan favorite, the corridors of Briarcliff Manor will forever bear the screams and weeps of its unfortunate patients. A dark, gruesome story with a lot of awful sexual abuse and gory torture, this is definitely one of the most difficult watches in all of American Horror Story. Aliens, butcher doctors that delight in spilling blood, the devil, serial killers, Nazis — Asylum is definitely not for the faint of heart and proved that AHS didn't have any qualms going over the top.
Asylum finds a reporter infiltrating the titular asylum to report about its abuses until she finds herself trapped there as one of the inmates. Surrounded by demonic nuns, Nazi doctors, and mentally disturbed patients, the reporter has to fight to maintain her sanity in this intense, sad, and wild season. With a darker aesthetic that pleased the fans, Asylum is one of the best-constructed narratives of the series. With incredible performances by Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Lily Rabe, this story is as addictive as it is horrifying.
2 Season 4: Freak Show
The circus lullaby, the pastel colors, and the smell of popcorn fill the screen once the freak show is about to start. A controversial season regarding the representation of disabilities, Freak Show has nonetheless been a fan favorite from the start, thanks largely to the beginning of one of the most feared monsters in the American Horror Story universe: Twisty the Clown.
Related: American Horror Story: Every Evan Peters' Character, Ranked
Serial killers and crazy murderous clowns are only some of the charming elements of the show, though. The audience gets to see one character who won everyone's hearts inside the Briarcliff Manor of Asylum, Pepper (Naomi Grossman). Freak Show happens a few years before she goes to the asylum, showing the viewer new information about the character. It was also the first time a character came back in AHS. Freak Show was innovative due to various creative choices.
1 Season 9: 1984
The ninth season of American Horror Story takes on one of the most beloved horror sub-genres of all time: the slasher movie. There are clear homages to famous franchises, such as the Sr. Jingles' (John Carroll Lynch) backstory and the origin story of Jason from Friday the 13th. 1984 is arguably (and perhaps controversially) the best AHS season due to a few creative choices. While doing everything the audience loves about these movies (the blood and gore, the scenario, and the insane plot twists), it also deconstructs stereotypes associated with the subgenre (like what happens to the final girl, the lack of sexual content, and the revelation of the killer).
This season masters the art of mixing true-crime elements into the fictional narrative, like how serial killer Richard Ramirez sets in motion a lot of the plot. AHS 1984 makes a lot of homages to the movies that solidified this subgenre as one of the most prominent in the past decades, while also creating a narrative of its own, and it's this innovative fusion of hybrids that American Horror Story does so well.
FAQs
American Horror Story: Every Season, Ranked? ›
Yes, in order to get the most out of American Horror Story (AHS), it's important to watch it in order. The anthology series features different characters and stories each season and while they may not all be connected thematically, they are all part of the larger AHS universe.
What are the best seasons of American Horror Story ranked? ›- 1 'American Horror Story: 1984'
- 2 'American Horror Story: Coven' ...
- 3 'American Horror Story: Asylum' ...
- 4 'American Horror Story: Double Feature' ...
- 5 'American Horror Story: Apocalypse' ...
- 6 'American Horror Story: Freak Show' ...
- 8.) Coven – Season 3.
- 7.) Double Feature – Season 10.
- 6.) Murder House – Season 1.
- 5.) Hotel – Season 5.
- 4.) Roanoke – Season 6.
- 3.) Freak Show – Season 4.
- 2.) Asylum – Season 2.
- 1.) Cult – Season 7.
Yes, in order to get the most out of American Horror Story (AHS), it's important to watch it in order. The anthology series features different characters and stories each season and while they may not all be connected thematically, they are all part of the larger AHS universe.
What season of AHS is the least inappropriate? ›Violence & Gore (201) Roanoke is probably the most violent season, followed by Hotel. Coven is probably the least violent, as it was largely targeted to a teen audience. Two men are put into a decontamination room.
What is the most underrated AHS season? ›- Roanoke is by far the most overlooked and underrated American Horror Story season.
- Many people overlook the season when watching the series because the backstory of the characters fit into some one the same of the backstory for Murder House characters.
- 1 The Coat Hanger (Asylum, Episode 9)
- 2 Neighbors From Hell (Cult, Episode 3) ...
- 3 Piggy Piggy (Murder House, Episode 6) ...
- 4 Chapter 5 (Roanoke, Episode 5) ...
- 5 Checking In (Hotel, Episode 1) ...
- 6 Monsters Among Us (Freak Show, Episode 1) ...
- 7 Camp Redwood (1984, Episode 1) ...
The split timelines in Death Valley left each underdeveloped, the characters weren't gripping, the young casting called back to American Horror Stories' most common criticisms, and the finale had absolutely no stakes, twist, or excitement, all contributing to Death Valley's severely underwhelming premise following Red ...
Can I skip AHS season 6? ›If your question is about what order you should watch Roanoke in, with regards to the overall American Horror Story experience - it doesn't matter. It's unconnected (so far) to other AHS seasons, so can be watched as a standalone season, even if you haven't watched any of the others.
Is AHS season 10 a vampire? ›American Horror Story season 10 reintroduces vampires into the show's universe, though they differ from Hotel's season 5 vampiric villains.
Is it OK to watch American Horror Story out of order? ›
Even though all seasons are connected there are some that can benefit from being watched in a certain order. Asylum and Freak Show are great examples and should be watched back to back, Freak Show first, even if it is the fourth season and Asylum is the second.
Are all the AHS linked? ›American Horror Story stretched out the meaning of anthology series format with a standalone story each season. Since its fourth installment, each season became part of an interconnected universe, and characters and locations began to interact in some capacity, creating an overarching story.
Is season 11 of AHS connected? ›Every American Horror Story fan is aware that, although each season is a new and unique storyline, they all tie together.
Can you skip AHS seasons? ›Because "AHS" is an anthology series that reinvents itself with a new story and set of characters every season, fans don't necessarily have to watch all of the seasons, or all of them in order, to fully appreciate the ones they do get to see.
What age is AHS appropriate for? ›Is American Horror Stories suitable for kids? American Horror Stories is rated TV-MA, meaning that more often than not, you're likely to see a plethora of scary, disturbing, and graphic scenes that include sexuality, strong language, and violence.
What is the scariest episode of AHS Coven? ›Bitchcraft: Coven
"Bitchcraft" is the first (and best) episode of AHS: Coven, a season filled with powerful and vindictive witches, but the scariest person by far is Madame Delphine LaLaurie (Kathy Bates).
Sister Jude Martin ('Asylum')
There's arguably not an unfavorable character played by Jessica Lange, but of all the actress' AHS characters, it's Sister Jude Martin from American Horror Story: Asylum that takes the number one spot.
Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe have returned most frequently, with each having appeared in nine seasons, followed by Frances Conroy who appears in eight, with Denis O'Hare appearing in seven, and Emma Roberts set to appear in her sixth.
Who is the most powerful character in AHS? ›Michael Langdon is a formidable being
According to a poll on Reddit, Michael Langdon (Cody Fern) is the most powerful of all the magical characters in "American Horror Story" history, beating out other formidable beings like the deity Scathach (Lady Gaga) and witch Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) to earn the top spot.
The mutilation of Shelley in Asylum is one of the most disturbing deaths in American Horror Story history. Dr. Arden's hatred of the so-called nymphomaniac Shelley (portrayed by Chloe Sevigny) culminated in her brutal mutilation and dismemberment.
What is the best episode of AHS? ›
- 1 Return to Murder House (Apocalypse, Episode 6)
- 2 Bitchcraft (Coven Episode 1) ...
- 3 Gaslight (Double Feature, Episode 5) ...
- 4 Madness Ends (Asylum, Episode 13) ...
- 5 11/9 (Cult, Episode 4) ...
- 6 Boy Wonder (Apocalypse, Episode 8) ...
Parents need to know that American Horror Story's content is designed to shock, and you can expect a variety of scary, disturbing, and graphic scenes that include strong language, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and extreme violence.
Why was AHS season 11 so bad? ›The season consistently struggles with pacing problems, a lack of character development, and an unwavering commitment to realism that saps the life from every scene. In fact, to the dismay of many fans, Season 11 may be the worst season of the show to date.
When did American Horror Story get bad? ›For that reason, and others, the installment never managed to pick up with long-time fans of the series, and its ratings dropped by the time AHS: 1984 ended. One of the biggest reasons that many suggest AHS: 1984 is one of the worst seasons is due to Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson's keenly felt absence.
Why did Jessica Lange quit AHS? ›Speaking to Entertainment Weekly at the time, Jessica's explanation for her exit was simple – after four years on the project, she felt she'd run her course and struggled with the commitment every year. "This is a six-month commitment every year. That will be four years in a row," she told the magazine.
Why did AHS split the season? ›The creation of the spin-off show that tells a new story every week showed that the show was willing to experiment with telling shorter stories. Different seasons have had different episode lengths depending on how long the story they wanted to tell was.
Is Evan Peters in every season of AHS? ›Evan Peters has been in more seasons of FX's “American Horror Story” than any other male actor, appearing in all of them except for “AHS: 1984” (Season 9) and “AHS: New York City” (Season11). (Sarah Paulson matches his track record for female actors.)
What season is Tate Langdon in? ›Tate Langdon, also known as the Rubber Man, a major antagonist in the American Horror Story franchise. He is the main antagonist of the show's first season, Murder House, a minor yet pivotal character in the eighth season, Apocalypse, and a major antagonist in the spin-off series, American Horror Stories.
What is season 11 AHS based on? ›The eleventh season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled NYC, takes place in 1980s New York City, and focuses on a string of killings involving gay men and the emergence of a new virus.
What is AHS season 11 theme? ›On September 29, the official title was revealed as “American Horror Story: New York City.” The video trailer focuses on a dance club and teases that this is “the deadliest year” and “a season like no other.” It will be the first season to take place in the Big Apple.
What is AHS season 12 called? ›
The dozenth season of the show is titled “American Horror Story: Delicate” and is based on the thriller novel “Delicate Condition” by Danielle Valentine, to be released on August 1, 2023. This marks the first time an “AHS” season is based on a book.
Is it better to split up or stay together in a horror movie? ›Don't split up — even to go check something suspicious out.
If you're in a situation with one or more people, don't split up — for any reason. Slacktory posted a great supercut of several horror movie scenes from the 1970s through the 2000s that illustrates exactly why splitting up is very likely to get you killed.
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American Horror Stories, now with two seasons under its belt, follows the multi-story structure of AHS; however, it changes every episode, rather than every season. In many ways, it is a lot like its parent show. It has several of the same actors, characters, settings, time periods, etc.
Are there any recurring characters in AHS? ›Some characters have appeared in multiple seasons: Pepper (Naomi Grossman) was the first, appearing in Freak Show after having appeared in Asylum. Hotel, Roanoke, Cult and NYC also had characters from previous seasons making appearances.
Why does AHS use the same actors for different characters? ›Every season of American Horror Story has a different theme, and as a result, also has a different cast. Cocreator Ryan Murphy has his favorite actors — Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange and Angela Bassett, to name a few — which means the same performers often appear across seasons as different characters.
Is there an AHS spinoff? › Is Evan Peters in AHS season 10? ›Evan Peters has been in more seasons of FX's “American Horror Story” than any other male actor, appearing in all of them except for Season 9, “AHS: 1984,” and the upcoming Season 11, “AHS: New York City.” (Sarah Paulson matches his track record for female actors.)
Which seasons of AHS are connected to apocalypse? ›The eighth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Apocalypse, features the witches from the New Orleans coven as they battle the Antichrist and attempt to prevent the world from ending. The season is presented as a crossover between Murder House, Coven, and Hotel.
How accurate is AHS season 11? ›Though the events are fictional, they're based on real killings. Indeed, Village Voice columnist Arthur Bell devoted a number of pieces in the 1970s to unreported crimes against gay men that the police simply refused to investigate.
What season of AHS is the best? ›
It normally carves its own path in the horror genre, but 1984 is the big exception. 1984 is the best American Horror Story season and an homage to the beloved world of 1980s slasher movies, particularly Friday The 13th.
Is AHS season 2 good? ›Among critics and viewers, it's unanimously agreed that the second season of American Horror Stories is a significant improvement from its first. Season 2 separates itself from both season 1 of American Horror Stories and the original series, American Horror Story.
Is each AHS episode different? ›Each season is conceived as a self-contained miniseries, following a different set of characters and settings, and a storyline with its own "beginning, middle, and end".
Should I let my 12 year old watch horror movies? ›They may be ready for more than you think. Developmentally, teens can handle dramatic and psychological suspense, but kids under 16 still shouldn't see slasher horrors, especially those that feature kids in dire danger or that have lots of gore.
Is Orange is the new black appropriate? ›Parents need to know that Orange Is the New Black is a mature dramedy set in a women's prison with strong language and sexual situations. The women prisoners talk very frequently about race and may fling racial insults at each other. There are many four-letter words, usually used in a mocking or mild…
How scary is season 1 of AHS? ›There are a bunch of jump scares here, but memorable moments like Tate (Evan Peters) showing up to school with a gun and the scenes that follow really sell the horror impact of this season. The first season isn't all that scary at the end of the day, but it's emotional and tense with lots of shock value.
What is the least inappropriate season of AHS? ›Roanoke is probably the most violent season, followed by Hotel. Coven is probably the least violent, as it was largely targeted to a teen audience.
Which season of AHS is the longest? ›The longest season belongs to Asylum, Coven and Freak Show, which ran for 13 episodes each.
Who is the creepy bald girl in AHS? ›Naomi Grossman (born February 6, 1975) is an American actress, writer, and producer best known for her role as Pepper in the second and fourth season of the FX horror television series American Horror Story.
What season of AHS should I watch? ›Asylum and Freak Show are great examples and should be watched back to back, Freak Show first, even if it is the fourth season and Asylum is the second. Other ones are Murder House, Coven, and Apocalypse. The first, third, and eighth seasons are deeply connected and should be watched in the order they were released.
What is the best season to start watching American Horror Story? ›
Murder House is still the best and most coherent. You should watch it first to get a feeling about what AHS is about and what to expect in other seasons. As for the rest, all seasons are self-contained and independent of each other.
Is American Horror Stories season 2 better than 1? ›Season 1 of the horror spin-off revisited one of the most infamous locations from the original series, which severely influenced the way viewers interacted with the spin-off. Among critics and viewers, it's unanimously agreed that the second season of American Horror Stories is a significant improvement from its first.
Is AHS season 11 good? ›Season 11 Episodes
Easily one of the better seasons; unfortunately, the point has been missed by many. essa temporada começou meio confusa, lenta e pouco empolgante, nem parece que é AHS. This is season is really disappointing. It's not scary at all, it's barely a horror and more of a murder mystery.
- American Horror Story: Murder House (2011)
- American Horror Story: Asylum (2012)
- American Horror Story: Coven (2013)
- American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014)
- American Horror Story: Hotel (2015)
- American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016)
1984 (Season 9)
This season was AHS at its best, blending the style and camp of the '80s with some actually chilling moments. It felt like a love letter to the genre itself and a reminder that AHS can still hit high points almost a decade later.
Smouldering Children: Murder House
The original season of American Horror Story still very much holds up as one of the scariest that Ryan Murphy has created. The "Smouldering Children" is a particularly freaky episode that has the major revelation that Tate didn't save Violet.
Murder House connects to Coven, Apocalypse, and Hotel while Asylum connects to Freak Show, Cult, Roanoke, and 1984. Roanoke is the bridge we need between these two universes. One of the main antagonists of Season 6 is the immensely powerful witch Scáthach (Lady Gaga).
Can I skip season 2 of AHS? ›You can watch any season individually. Each season of AHS tells a different story and time period and they aren't interconnected to each other.
Who was in the most American Horror Story seasons? ›Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson and Lily Rabe have returned most frequently, with each having appeared in nine seasons, followed by Frances Conroy who appears in eight, with Denis O'Hare appearing in seven, and Emma Roberts set to appear in her sixth.
Why is American Horror Story different every season? ›Described as an anthology series, AHS chronicles fictionalized haunted locations, the living and the dead who interact within them. Each season has its own self-contained storyline and characters and it has been posed that each season will introduce a new location as well as new characters and storylines.
Is it worth watching season 3 of American Horror Story? ›
Season 3 was just a lot of fun, though, and that's something lacking in a lot of AHS seasons. Yes, it is a horror TV series, but some of the best horror movies are punctuated with levity and it's something I wish Murphy used more with this show.
Is AHS 11 connected? ›Every American Horror Story fan is aware that, although each season is a new and unique storyline, they all tie together.