All 12 Seasons of American Horror Story Ranked
From Coven to Murder House, we rank the cult horror anthology series’ instalments in order of greatness ahead of the 13th season
by Alex Kaan & Lana Thorn 24 September 2026
FX
Since its premiere in 2011, American Horror Story has established itself as one of television’s most envelope-pushing shows, popularising the repertory company anthology format and bringing unprecedented levels of both gore and queer representation to network TV. Now, with Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s series returning for an all-star 13th season that will see franchise veterans reprise their fan-favourite roles, we’re looking back on the previous 12 instalments.
As fans of the series, there’s always been something to enjoy about AHS during both its highs and its lows, but critics and viewers alike will all have a very passionate, unique opinion about what exactly those highs and lows are. No two AHS rankings are alike, and while some of our choices are sure to cause an uproar, we’ve tried to be as brave as Lana Winters wandering into Briarcliff Manor and made our case anyway. Without further ado, this is our definitive ranking of all 12 seasons of American Horror Story.
12. Delicate
FX
AHS goes full Rosemary’s Baby in this twelfth season anchored by series veteran Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian in her first role in a scripted series. Campy and occasionally entertaining but tonally confused and nowhere near the quality of the other instalments, Delicate feels like a totally different show, and not in an exciting way.
11. Double Feature
FX
Comprising two stories, Cape Cod-set vampire tale Red Tide and 50s alien invasion throwback Death Valley, this tenth season should have been twice the fun but was instead double the disappointment as a rushed mess that squanders its best elements, like Evan Peters and Frances Conroy’s bloodsucking, Dolly Parton duet-singing duo.
10. Apocalypse
FX
While ranking low, AHS’ first full-blown Avengers-style crossover is leagues above the seasons in 11th and 12th place. It’s a messy affair, but the Coven witches make a glorious return, Cody Fern kills it as the antichrist, and Evan Peters plays both a gay hairdresser and a tech bro who blows up the world and delivers the immortal line: “This coffee tastes like burnt asshole!”
9. NYC
FX
Where Delicate feels like a different show in a jarring, drab way, NYC breaks the mould to thrilling effect. Criminally underrated, the 11th season is a stylish, atmospheric, and achingly tender exploration of the AIDs crisis that imagines the disease as a BDSM wear-clad slasher killer. It’s bold, singular storytelling.
8. 1984
FX
AHS does the retro camp slasher, and it’s exactly as fun as you’d think it would be. 1984 compensates for the first-time departure of series mainstays Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters with a gory throwback that has a stellar slasher villain named Mr Jingles and a knockout performance from Billie Lourd as the aerobics-loving Montana Duke.
7. Freak Show
FX
Ryan Murphy gets a bad rap, but in what other world would Jessica Lange sing Lana Del Rey and David Bowie? Not to mention he cast Sarah Paulson in a two-headed dual performance, Angela Bassett as a triple-breasted circus performer, and Evan Peters as their charming colleague who pleasures women with his giant lobster hands.
6. Roanoke
FX
Ryan Murphy’s preferred season and famously Sarah Paulson’s least favourite, Roanoke is a hilarious yet reliably spooky journey through true crime, reality television, and found footage formats. And it has Paulson hamming it up with a deliciously terrible British accent. “Poor Shelby!”
5. Asylum
FX
After the runaway success of Murder House, AHS’ second season both set the playful anthology format in motion and proved it wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Perhaps the most harrowing instalment, Asylum’s highlights include Sarah Paulson’s initiation as female lead, Lily Rabe as a possessed horny nun, and an unforgettable musical sequence set to “The Name Game”.
4. Cult
FX
Daring, urgent, and batshit crazy, Cult confronted our horrific political realities in a way that few works of television have been bold enough to. Conceived and filmed mere months after Trump’s election, this seventh season is a battle between Evan Peters’ alt-right cult leader and Sarah Paulson’s phobia-ridden lesbian “Karen”.
3. Hotel
FX
One of the darker seasons, Hotel is a decadent art-deco nightmare with a storyline that blends Se7en with The Shining, a soundtrack boasting the likes of The Cure and Depeche Mode, and a cast that includes Angela Bassett as a blaxploitation star and Lady Gaga as a devastatingly glamorous vampire (oh, and they’re lovers). Need we say more?
2. Murder House
FX
A gory, campy horror soap opera of a season that introduced one of the most boundary-pushing shows on network television, this stunning first season gave us Tate Langdon, a BDSM coverall-wearing killer, and Jessica Lange in an Emmy-winning performance as a cruel Southern Belle. Let’s not forget the bounty of iconic lines, from “There’s not going to be a swimming pool, you stupid slut” to “Who is JungleJim4322?”
1. Coven
FX
Surprise, bitch. Well, maybe no surprises here. Setting Tumblr circa 2013 ablaze and maintaining its iconic status over a decade later, AHS has never been better than its enthralling witch saga featuring a nearly all-female cast, including Emma Roberts’ infamous “witch bitch” Madison Montgomery and Stevie Nicks playing herself as a sorceress. One word: Balenciaga!