American Horror Stories

American Horror Stories

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	July 15, 2021 (2021-07-15)
Founder	Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
Headquarters	United States
Area served	United States, International (via Disney+ Star)
Products	Television series
Website	www.fxnetworks.com/shows/american-horror-stories

American Horror Stories is a horror anthology television series from the United States, developed by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for FX on Hulu. Serving as a direct spin-off and companion piece to American Horror Story, it represents the third chapter within the American Story franchise. In contrast to American Horror Story, which presents a different narrative each season, American Horror Stories delivers a unique storyline in every episode, with the exception of the two-part premiere and the interconnected finale of its first season.

Several actors from the original series return, frequently portraying new characters. These include Matt Bomer, Celia Finkelstein, Naomi Grossman, John Carroll Lynch, Charles Melton, Billie Lourd, Chad James Buchanan, Cody Fern, Dylan McDermott, Jamie Brewer, Denis O'Hare, Matt Lasky, Gabourey Sidibe, Max Greenfield, Austin Woods, Seth Gabel, Rebecca Dayan, Cameron Cowperthwaite, Spencer Neville, Teddy Sears, Jeff Hiller, Casey Thomas Brown, and Nick Jacobs.

The series debuted on Hulu on July 15, 2021, achieving the most successful launch in FX on Hulu's history. Its second season premiered in July 2022, followed by a third season released in two segments during October 2023 and October 2024.

Premise

American Horror Stories is structured as a weekly anthology featuring standalone horror episodes. Some installments tie back to earlier seasons of American Horror Story, including "Rubber(wo)Man Part One," "Rubber(wo)Man Part Two," and "Game Over," which connect to American Horror Story: Murder House, as well as "Dollhouse," which relates to American Horror Story: Coven.

Development

On May 11, 2020, Murphy revealed plans for the spin-off series American Horror Stories, which differs from American Horror Story by focusing on individual episode stories rather than season-long plots. The inaugural season comprises seven episodes. On August 13, 2021, FX confirmed renewal for a second season consisting of eight episodes.

The subsequent installment was announced in May 2023 but faced delays due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. In August, it was disclosed that four episodes would launch on October 26 as part of a "Huluween" event. A further five-episode segment was announced for September 2024 with an October 15 premiere, also branded as a "Huluween" event and considered by The Hollywood Reporter as the fourth season.

Casting

The first two episodes featured performances by Matt Bomer, Gavin Creel, Sierra McCormick, Paris Jackson, Belissa Escobedo, Merrin Dungey, Selena Sloan, Ashley Martin Carter, Valerie Loo, Kaia Gerber, Aaron Tveit, and Celia Finkelstein. Additional returning actors from American Horror Story in season one include Naomi Grossman, John Carroll Lynch, Charles Melton, Billie Lourd, Chad James Buchanan, Cody Fern, Dylan McDermott, and Jamie Brewer. Newcomers featured Rhenzy Feliz, Madison Bailey, Ben J. Pierce, Leonardo Cecchi, Brandon Papo, Amy Grabow, Adrienne Barbeau, Kevin McHale, Nico Greetham, Dyllón Burnside, Taneka Johnson, Danny Trejo, Ronen Rubinstein, Virginia Gardner, Vanessa E. Williams, among others.

For the second season, returning performers included Nico Greetham and Cody Fern alongside familiar faces from American Horror Story such as Denis O'Hare, Matt Lasky, Gabourey Sidibe, Max Greenfield, Austin Woods, Seth Gabel, and Teddy Sears. New cast members introduced were Kristine Froseth, Houston Towe, Abby Corrigan, Simone Recasner, Maryssa Menendez, Emily Morales-Cabrera, Caitlin Dulany, Lily Rohren, Vince Yap, Nancy Linehan Charles, Bella Thorne, Anthony De La Torre, Billie Bodega, Julia Schlaepfer, among others.

In the third season, Seth Gabel, Cameron Cowperthwaite, and Dyllón Burnside returned. Actors affiliated with American Horror Story: NYC, including Jeff Hiller, Casey Thomas Brown, and Nick Jacobs also appeared. Newly added cast members encompassed Jessica Barden, Emma Halleen, Amrou Al-Kadhi, Allius Barnes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reid Scott, Annie Hamilton, Christopher Fitzgerald, Maury Ginsberg, Lisa Rinna, Laura Kariuki, Rob Yang, Hazel Graye, Raúl Castillo, Emily Browning, Havana Rose Liu, Susan Pourfar, Jeff Adler, Drew Moore, Patrick Breen, Maria Tucci, Laila Robins, Michael Imperioli, Matthew Maher, David Pittu, Natalie Gold, Victor Garber, Guy Burnet, Dagmara Domińczyk, Mia Isaac, Jennifer Ferrin, Kate Eastman, Henry Winkler, Henry Eikenberry, Hudson Oz, Daniel Zolghadri, Angel Bismark Curiel, Billy Carter, Michael Cyril Creighton, June Squibb, Debby Ryan, Melanie Field, Melonie Diaz, Matthew Del Negro, Frank Pando and Matthew Holcomb.

Filming

On August 4, 2020, it was revealed that Sarah Paulson was scheduled to direct an episode of the series; however, she ultimately did not participate in directing. The third season was filmed in New Jersey in 2023.

Title sequences

Every installment presents a distinct title sequence, except for the first two episodes which share one, emphasizing their linked storylines. Designed by Elastic—the creative team behind the Game of Thrones titles—the series retains the same theme music and typography as American Horror Story. The episode "The Naughty List" features a high-pitched remix of the theme from American Horror Story: 1984. Starting with season three, the show introduced a fresh logo and updated font style.

Release

Originally planned to premiere on FX, American Horror Stories was later announced on June 22, 2020, to stream exclusively on FX on Hulu. The series debuted on July 15, 2021. For international audiences, it became accessible via Disney+ through the dedicated streaming hub Star starting August 25, 2021.

Viewership

According to Whip Media, which monitors television viewership through over one million daily users of its TV Time app, American Horror Stories ranked as the second most eagerly awaited new series for July 2021. When renewed for its second season, FX disclosed that it had achieved the most successful launch among all FX on Hulu titles at that time. By July 2022, Whip Media reported it as the second most anticipated returning show. The series consistently appeared among the top ten most-streamed original programs in the U.S. from August 7 to 28 and maintained a top-five position during the week of September 4–11. Parrot Analytics documented an 80% surge in demand between seasons one and two, reflecting a notable increase in viewer engagement.

During October 23–29, 2023, Nielsen Media Research reported that viewers streamed American Horror Stories for a total of 327 million minutes, ranking it ninth among original U.S. streaming series. Whip Media also ranked it ninth in streaming popularity from October 29 to November 3, 2023. When season three premiered in 2024, it debuted at number one on Hulu's "Top 15 Today" list during its opening week and again placed ninth among most-streamed originals for the week ending October 20, 2024. In January 2025, Parrot Analytics noted a demand increase of 5.6%, reaching an audience demand level of 13.9 times the average in the U.S., placing it within the 98.2nd percentile for drama and ranking number 474 overall. The series also demonstrated strong international interest, particularly in Spain.

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, American Horror Stories holds an overall approval rating of 66%.

Season 1

The inaugural season earned a score of 52% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 10 based on 39 critiques. The critical consensus highlights inconsistent storytelling quality and insufficiently frightening moments. On Metacritic, it received a score of 54 out of 100, signifying "mixed or average reviews."

Inkoo Kang of The Washington Post commended the spinoff for reinvigorating the franchise with a promising launch, especially praising the two-part premiere "Rubber(wo)Man," which revisits themes from the original American Horror Story's "Murder House." Despite budget constraints, these episodes successfully capture the spirit of the first season through satirical tones and a compelling teenage romance driving the plot. Phil Owen from TheWrap observed that by presenting self-contained shorter stories, the series addresses earlier narrative inconsistencies while avoiding overstaying its welcome despite familiar tropes.

Erin Maxwell of LA Weekly remarked that American Horror Stories preserves Ryan Murphy's characteristic chaotic and grotesque aesthetic, focusing heavily on graphic violence and macabre elements while steering clear of meandering narratives. Joel Keller from Decider noted that condensing stories into shorter formats sharpens Murphy and Falchuk's usual indulgences, resulting in a more concentrated viewing experience appealing to franchise enthusiasts.

Cheryl Eddy of Gizmodo described the show as a "dark and twisted delight," applauding its energetic episodes that align with the franchise’s trademark explicit content involving sex and gore, prioritizing shocks and surprises over moralizing messages. Dan Auty from GameSpot included it among "16 Best Horror Shows To Watch On Hulu," emphasizing its anthology-style episodes blending eerie horror with surreal humor and melodrama consistent with the original series.

Conversely, Kristen Lopez of IndieWire assigned season one a grade of "D," criticizing underutilization of a talented cast including Matt Bomer, Danny Trejo, and Adrienne Barbeau. Lopez described the series as lacking depth—comparable to empty calories: entertaining but ultimately unsatisfying. Angelica Guarino from Common Sense Media gave it two out of five stars, noting its continuation of Ryan Murphy’s mix of horror-comedy featuring graphic violence and disturbing depictions of teenage sexuality and aggression.

Season 2

The second season holds an approval rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 6.30 out of 10 based on five reviews.

Swara Ramaswamy from The Michigan Daily highlighted several standout episodes in season two, noting that it compensates for limited information about American Horror Story season eleven. While episode quality varied somewhat, they remained engaging and accessible; some delivered classic franchise suspense effectively. Ramaswamy praised creators Murphy and Falchuk for balancing plot development, performances, and fan-favorite callbacks adeptly. Johnny Loftus at Decider appreciated the show's streamlined pacing, humor, and subtle connections to the wider AHS universe. Vanessa Maki from The Mary Sue regarded season two as a significant improvement over its predecessor with most episodes excelling and resolving previous shortcomings.

Robert Vaux at Comic Book Resources observed that while season one struggled with over-reliance on references to "Murder House," season two improved by minimizing callbacks and focusing on strong storytelling. Brecken Hunter Wellborn from Collider praised Nico Greetham’s performance in "Drive," suggesting his increased presence would benefit the franchise. Nick Perry, Michileen Martin, and Blair Marnell at Digital Trends included American Horror Stories among their "Best Hulu Original Series" selections for October 2022.

Accolades

The series was recognized with the ReFrame Stamp (2022–2023), awarded by gender equity coalition ReFrame and IMDbPro, honoring productions demonstrating gender-balanced hiring practices—especially women of color occupying key production roles.

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
2022	Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards	Television Series, Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series – Best Contemporary Make-Up	Tyson Fountaine, Melissa Buell, Ron Pipes, Gage Munster	Template:Won
		Television Series, Limited or Miniseries or Television New Media Series – Best Special Makeup Effects	Jason Hamer, Cale Thomas, Hiroshi Yada, Cary Ayers	Template:Nom
	Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling	Valerie Jackson, Lauren Poole, Roma Goddard, Allison Keck (for "Game Over")	Template:Nom
		Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)	Tyson Fountaine, Elizabeth Kellogg, Elizabeth Briseno, Ron Pipes, Gage Munster, Heather Cummings, Michael Johnston, Lufeng Qu (for "Rubber(wo)Man: Part One" and "Rubber(wo)Man: Part Two")	Template:Nom
	Set Decorators Society of America Awards	Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a One Hour Fantasy or Science Fiction Series	Sandra Skora and Eve McCarney	Template:Nom
2023	Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards	Best Contemporary Hair Styling - Television Series, Limited Series or Movie for Television	Valerie Jackson, Lauren N. Poole, Suzette Boozer	Template:Nom
		Best Makeup - Commercials and Music Videos	Kerry Herta, Jason Collins, Alyssa Morgan, Christina Kortum	Template:Won
		Best Hair Styling - Commercials and Music Videos	Joe Matke, Tiphanie Baum, Jerilynn Stephens, Johnny Lomeli	Template:Won
	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Guest Performance	Gabourey Sidibe	Template:Nom
	Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards	Outstanding Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic)	Ron Pipes, Gage Munster, Heather Cummings, Natasha Marcelina, Michael Johnston (for "Bloody Mary")	Template:Nom

|- | rowspan="2"|2025 |Golden Trailer Awards | Best Music - TV/Streaming Series |'American Horror Stories' | Template:Nom |- |Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Contemporary Costumes for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Sara O'Donnell, Laura McCarthy, Alyssa Bracken, Ashley Holvick (for "Backrooms") | Template:Nom |}

Impact

The third episode from season three titled "Tapeworm" attracted attention due to its unsettling subject matter. This installment delves into body dysmorphia within the fashion world by following aspiring model Vivian Lee Finch’s extreme weight-loss method involving a tapeworm parasite. The storyline exposes the harmful consequences associated with this practice while underscoring dangers linked to disordered eating behaviors. Media coverage framed "Tapeworm" as a critique targeting modeling industry standards known for their severity and highlighting unhealthy measures individuals may resort to achieve success.