American Horror Story (2011 — 2024)

American Horror Story (2011–2024) is an anthology TV series by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk on FX. It’s part of the American Story franchise, with each season being a standalone miniseries set in a different location within the shared fictional universe. Some seasons also feature crossovers and tie-ins with the spin-off series, American Horror Stories. Each season has its own unique storyline, drawing inspiration from real events. The cast includes familiar faces who may return as new or recurring characters, sometimes taking on multiple roles in a single season.

1) Murder House (2011). Taking place in 2011, the storyline centers around the Harmons: Vivien, her husband Ben – a psychiatrist, and their teenage daughter Violet. In an attempt to start anew following Vivien’s miscarriage, the family relocates from Boston to Los Angeles. Tragically, before the move, Ben engages in an extramarital relationship with one of his students, causing turmoil within their household. Cast: Connie Britton (Vivien Harmon), Dylan McDermott (Dr. Ben Harmon), Evan Peters (Tate Langdon), Taissa Farmiga (Violet Harmon), Denis O’Hare (Larry Harvey), Jessica Lange (Constance Langdon), Zachary Quinto (Chad Warwick).

2) Asylum (2012 – 2013). Taking place in 1964, the upcoming season delves into the lives of those residing at Briarcliff Manor, a mental institution owned by the church. Situated in a mysterious town in Massachusetts, it was originally established to provide care for the criminally insane. Among its patients is Kit Walker, accused of being the notorious “Bloody Face” after his wife Alma vanished. Despite his insistence that she was taken by extraterrestrials, Kit remains confined within Briarcliff’s walls. The arrival of determined lesbian reporter Lana Winters only adds to the intrigue as she searches for her next big scoop. Cast: Evan Peters (Kit Walker), Jessica Lange (Sister Jude Martin), Zachary Quinto (Dr. Oliver Thredson), Joseph Fiennes (Msgr. Timothy Howard), Sarah Paulson (Lana Winters), Lily Rabe (Sister Mary Eunice McKee), Lizzie Brocheré (Lizzie Brocheré), James Cromwell (Dr. Arthur Arden).

3) Coven (2013 – 2014). Taking place in 2013, this season follows the descendants of the witches who survived the Salem witch trials as they face challenges in concealing their lineage in modern times. Those who possess this inherited trait are under attack from external sources, including voodoo practitioners. After a tragic incident that results in the death of her boyfriend, Zoe Benson, an unaware teenager, learns of her connection to the Salem witches. She is then sent to a New Orleans boarding school specifically for young women with this bloodline, providing them safety and shelter from potential threats beyond its walls. Cast: Evan Peters (Kyle Spencer), Taissa Farmiga (Zoe Benson), Denis O’Hare (Spalding), Jessica Lange (Fiona Goode), Sarah Paulson (Cordelia Goode), Lily Rabe (Misty Day), Frances Conroy (Myrtle Snow), Emma Roberts (Madison Montgomery), Kathy Bates (Delphine LaLaurie).

4) Freak Show (2014 – 2015). Taking place in 1952, the story centers around a troubled freak show run by Elsa Mars in the quiet town of Jupiter, Florida. It has been many years since the audience found amusement in freak shows, but Elsa remains determined to provide a sanctuary for her “monsters” and achieve fame and wealth for herself. Her troupe also includes Jimmy Darling, known as ‘Lobster Boy’, who longs for a typical existence, and Ethel, a bearded lady who serves as Elsa’s right-hand woman by keeping order within the group. Cast: Evan Peters (Jimmy Darling), Denis O’Hare (Stanley), Jessica Lange (Elsa Mars), Sarah Paulson (Bette Tattler / Dot Tattler), Lily Rabe (Sister Mary Eunice McKee), Frances Conroy (Gloria Mott), Emma Roberts (Maggie Esmerelda), Kathy Bates (Ethel Darling), Michael Chiklis (Dell Toledo), Finn Wittrock (Dandy Mott), Angela Bassett (Desiree Dupree).

5) Hotel (2015 – 2016). Taking place in 2015, the season delves into the unsettling events occurring at the vintage Hotel Cortez, located in downtown Los Angeles, California. This establishment was originally constructed by founder James Patrick March as a covert torture chamber meant to fulfill his violent cravings. On the scene is Detective John Lowe, led there by an anonymous informant, tasked with looking into a disturbing series of killings, each representing one of the Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, John has grown distant from his wife Alex and their daughter Scarlett due to their son Holden vanishing five years prior and Alex’s battle with depression. Cast: Evan Peters (James Patrick March), Denis O’Hare (Liz Taylor), Sarah Paulson (Sally McKenna / Billie Dean Howard), Kathy Bates (Iris), Angela Bassett (Ramona Royale), Wes Bentley (Det. John Lowe), Matt Bomer (Donovan), Chloë Sevigny (Dr. Alex Lowe), Cheyenne Jackson (Will Drake), Lady Gaga (The Countess).

6) Roanoke (2016). Taking place from 2014 to 2016, the season centers on supernatural occurrences in a renovated farmhouse located in North Carolina. This land was once the new home of the Roanoke Colony after their disappearance in the 1580s. Fast forward to 2015, where Shelby Miller, her husband Matt, and Matt’s sister Lee Harris recount their terrifying experiences living in the farmhouse just one year prior. Their story is featured in a popular documentary series called My Roanoke Nightmare. Throughout the series, they share their encounters with vengeful ghosts from the house’s past, including members of the Roanoke Colony, as well as a cannibalistic family known as the Polks who reside nearby. Additionally, they also reveal their interactions with Scathach, an alluring English witch. Cast: Evan Peters (Edward Philipe / MottRory Monahan), Denis O’Hare (Dr. Elias Cunningham / William van Henderson), Sarah Paulson (Shelby Miller / Audrey Tindall / Lana Winters), Lily Rabe (Shelby Miller), Kathy Bates (The Butcher / Agnes Mary Winstead), Angela Bassett (Lee Harris / Monet Tumusiime), Wes Bentley (Ambrose White / Dylan), Cheyenne Jackson (Sidney Aaron James), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Matt Miller / Dominic Banks), André Holland (Matt Miller).

7) Cult (2017). Taking place in 2016 and 2017, the fictional town of Brookfield Heights, Michigan becomes deeply divided after Donald Trump is elected as president. As a result, local restaurateur Ally Mayfair-Richards and her wife Ivy are both left overwhelmed. With the assistance of her therapist, Dr. Rudy Vincent, Ally’s mental state deteriorates as her repressed fears resurface and impact her relationships with Ivy and their son, Oz. Meanwhile, over in another part of town, Kai Anderson revels in the election outcome and uses it as motivation to enter politics by running for city council. Cast: Evan Peters (Kai Anderson), Sarah Paulson (Ally Mayfair-Richards / Susan Atkins), Cheyenne Jackson (Dr. Rudy Vincent), Billie Lourd (Winter Anderson / Linda Kasabian), Alison Pill (Ivy Mayfair-Richards).

8) Apocalypse (2018). In the not-too-distant future, Michael Langdon, known as the Antichrist, triggers the end of the world through nuclear warfare. The lucky few who survive include rich heiress Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt, her assistant Mallory, hairstylist Mr. Malcolm Gallant and his grandmother Evie, talk show host Dinah Stevens and her son Andre, as well as young adults Timothy Campbell and Emily. Seeking safety from the devastation, they find shelter in a bunker called ‘Outpost 3’, which is ruled with an iron fist by Wilhemina Venable and Miriam Mead alongside a tough female guard known as The Fist. Cast: Evan Peters (Mr. Gallant / James Patrick March / Tate Langdon / Jeff Pfister), Sarah Paulson (Wilhemina Venable / Cordelia Goode / Billie Dean Howard), Emma Roberts (Madison Montgomery), Kathy Bates (Miriam Mead / Delphine LaLaurie), Cheyenne Jackson (John Henry Moore), Billie Lourd (Mallory), Adina Porter (Dinah Stevens), Leslie Grossman (Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt), Cody Fern (Michael Langdon).

9) 1984 (2019). Taking place in the eponymous year of 1984, this season tracks Brooke Thompson’s journey to a recently reopened summer camp called Camp Redwood. After a terrifying encounter with serial killer Richard Ramirez, she decides to work as a counselor there. Joining Brooke are her companions: the preppy Xavier Plympton, athletic Chet Clancy, laid-back Ray Powell, and spirited Montana Duke. Upon their arrival, they meet the camp’s proprietor, Margaret Booth. A former camper herself, Margaret is deeply religious and has her own story of surviving a killer. Cast: Emma Roberts (Brooke Thompson), Billie Lourd (Montana Duke), Leslie Grossman (Margaret Booth), Cody Fern (Xavier Plympton), Matthew Morrison (Trevor Kirchner), Gus Kenworthy (Chet Clancy), John Carroll Lynch (Benjamin Richter), Angelica Ross (Donna Chambers), Zach Villa (Richard Ramirez).

10) Double Feature: Red Tide (2021). In 2020, a writer facing difficulties, his pregnant spouse, and their child relocate to a secluded coastal village for the winter. As they adjust to their new surroundings, the town’s original inhabitants gradually reveal themselves. A simple solution for Harry’s creative block has unanticipated consequences. Two peculiar locals extend assistance to Harry. The season will consist of two distinct segments: Red Tide, set ‘by the sea’, and Death Valley, situated ‘by the sand’. Cast (Red Tide): Sarah Paulson (TB Karen), Evan Peters (Austin), Lily Rabe (Doris Gardener), Frances Conroy (Belle Noir), Finn Wittrock (Harry Gardener), Billie Lourd (Lark), Leslie Grossman (Ursula), Adina Porter (Chief Burleson), Angelica Ross (The Chemist), Ryan Kiera Armstrong (Lola Gardener), Macaulay Culkin (Mickey).

10) Double Feature: Death Valley (2021). Cast: Neal McDonough (Dwight Eisenhower), Sarah Paulson (Mamie Eisenhower), Lily Rabe (Amelia Earhart), Leslie Grossman (Calico), Angelica Ross (Theta), Kaia Gerber (Kendall Carr), Nico Greetham (Cal Cambon), Isaac Powell (Troy Lord), Rachel Hilson (Jamie Howard), Rebecca Dayan (Maria Wycoff).

11) New York City (2022). In 1981 New York City, a wave of murders targeting the gay community prompts outrage towards the unresponsive NYPD. Closeted detective Patrick Read and his partner, newspaper journalist Gino Barelli, delve into the case of the lethal duo “Big Daddy” and twisted Dr. Whitely. Their differing approaches to the investigation strain their partnership. The duo is joined by Adam Carpenter, a young gay man searching for his missing friend, who uncovers a link to photographer Theo Graves. This causes tension with Theo’s volatile partner Sam. Meanwhile, Dr. Hannah Wells explores a new disease spreading from Fire Island while Cabaret singer Kathy Pizzaz faces dwindling crowds at her local bathhouse show. Cast: Russell Tovey (Patrick Read), Joe Mantello (Gino Barelli), Charlie Carver (Adam Carpenter), Leslie Grossman (Barbara Read), Sandra Bernhard (Fran), Billie Lourd (Dr. Hannah Wells), Isaac Powell (Theo Graves), Zachary Quinto (Sam), Denis O’Hare (Henry Grant), Patti LuPone (Kathy Pizazz).

12) Delicate (2023). On April 10, 2023, Murphy revealed that season 12 of the series would debut in mid-2023 with a confirmed cast including Emma Roberts, Kim Kardashian, and Matt Czuchry. The upcoming book Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine will serve as the basis for the season, and marked a first for the series as each episode will be written by Halley Feiffer who has also taken over as showrunner from Murphy. Additional casting news came on April 24 when it was reported that Cara Delevingne had joined the season after being seen filming with Roberts. Later on April 28, reports surfaced that Annabelle Dexter-Jones and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez were also added to the cast. However, on May 4, 2023 production was halted due to the WGA writers strike. After briefly resuming on May 4 with cast and crew using a back entrance to avoid crossing picket lines, production was again halted on May 10 due to the ongoing strike. Eventually, FX announced on August 15 that season 12 would premiere on September 20, 2023. Cast: Emma Roberts (Anna Victoria Alcott), Matt Czuchry (Dexter Harding), Kim Kardashian (Siobhan Corbyn), Cara Delevingne (Ivy Ehrenreich), Annabelle Dexter-Jones (Sonia Shawcross and Adeline Harding), Michaela Jaé (MJ) Rodriguez (Nicolette Smith), Denis O’Hare (Dr. Andrew Hill), Julie White (Ms. Io Preecher), Maaz Ali (Kamal Ahbuklän).