Ranking the Seasons of American Horror Story
- Jenn Garcia
- Jun 28
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 19
Have every season sitting in the bottom of your horror tote? Time to pull them out! Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk launched AHS in 2011 with the promise that every season would tell its own story. Over the years the show has hit some real highs; moments of tight plotting, strong performances, and inventive scares, and a few lows where ambition outpaced execution.
Below is just one fan’s ranking of the first ten seasons. Each entry includes a short plot setup, why it works (or doesn’t), and a quick note on tone so you can decide which ones to queue up next.
Enjoy this complete breakdown of the seasons of American Horror Story - ranked from best to worst!
1. Asylum (Season 2)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% (Critics) and 84% (Audience)
Premise
Briarcliff Manor is a Catholic‑run mental institution in the early 1960s. Doctors, clergy, and patients all carry secrets. Serial killers, aliens, and demonic forces complicate matters.
Why it tops the list
Relentless tension: The story juggles multiple threats yet stays coherent from start to finish.
Big themes: Religion, abuse of power, and shifting views on sexuality give the horror some bite.
Standout cast: Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and Zachary Quinto all find strong arcs.
Tone check
Heavy and often bleak; jump scares are rare, but the subject matter can be rough. Worth it if you like psychological horror that sticks with you.
2. Murder House (Season 1)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% (Critics) and 78% (Audience)
Premise
A Los Angeles family moves into a restored 1920s mansion hoping for a fresh start. Every former resident who died inside remains on the property, and their unfinished business spills into the present.
Why it lands high
Clear hook: A classic haunted‑house setup that never gets too convoluted.
Character depth: Connie Britton’s fragile optimism and Jessica Lange’s steel‑spined neighbor give the season heart.
Foundation for the series: Most later seasons borrow its mix of past and present timelines.
Tone check
Gory in places but paced like a family melodrama. Good entry point for newcomers.
3. Coven (Season 3)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 74% (Critics) and 79% (Audience)
Premise
Modern‑day witches in New Orleans balance school rivalries, old grudges, and a voodoo war set in motion centuries earlier.
Why it works
Breezy pacing: Episodes move quickly, blending soap‑opera twists with supernatural stakes.
Memorable dialogue: Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) delivers some of the show’s best one‑liners.
Accessible themes: Power, aging, and legacy, handled with a mix of humor and flash.
Tone check
More playful than scary; occasional gore and real‑world history keep it grounded.
4. Freak Show (Season 4)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 74% (Critics) and 63% (Audience)
Premise
A struggling side‑show in 1950s Florida fights dwindling ticket sales while a series of murders; and a jealous strongman, threaten the troupe’s survival.
Why it ranks mid‑tier
Atmosphere: The retro carnival setting looks fantastic.
Empathy: Many “freaks” get individual backstories, giving the horror weight.
Pacing issues: Subplots sprawl, and the finale feels rushed.
Tone check
Equal parts tragedy and slasher violence. If you enjoy character studies more than tight storytelling, it hits the spot.
5. 1984 (Season 9)
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% (Critics) and 64% (Audience)
Premise
A group of counselors arrives at Camp Redwood just as a legendary killer escapes. Cue synth music, neon shorts, and a high body count.
Why it’s fun
Nostalgia factor: Nails the look and sound of ‘80s slashers.
Lean runtime: Only nine episodes, so the story rarely stalls.
Self‑aware humor: Knows the tropes and twists them just enough to stay fresh.
Tone check
Bloody but not hopeless; ideal for a popcorn binge when you don’t want anything too heavy.
6. Apocalypse (Season 8)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 78% (Critics) and 59% (Audience)
Premise
After nuclear war, a handful of survivors shelter in an underground bunker that hides occult secrets. Witches from Coven return to face the Antichrist.
Why it sits here
Big crossover energy: Fans of previous seasons will appreciate the callbacks.
Strong performances: Sarah Paulson and Cody Fern elevate uneven material.
Messy structure: Two timelines, flashbacks, and magical time travel muddy the stakes.
Tone check
Dramatic swings between campy fun and grim world‑ending prophecy. Works best if you’ve seen earlier seasons.
7. Cult (Season 7)
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 73% (Critics) and 59% (Audience)
Premise
Set in a Michigan suburb after the 2016 U.S. election, the season follows anxious homeowner Ally and a charismatic local agitator, Kai, who weaponizes fear.
Why it’s polarizing
Grounded horror: No ghosts, witches, or monsters, just human manipulation.
Timely commentary: Tackles phobias, media echo chambers, and extremist tactics.
Uneven tone: Swings from satire to brutality, and some episodes meander.
Tone check
Psychological more than supernatural. Might feel too close to real life for some viewers.
8. Roanoke (Season 6)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 75% (Critics) and 62% (Audience)
Premise
A couple’s haunting is re‑created for a true‑crime docudrama, then revisited by actors and “real” victims in a follow‑up reality show; with disastrous results.
Pros and cons
Format experiment: Found‑footage first half, reality‑TV satire in the second.
Creepy visuals: The colonial ghosts and feral Polk family deliver solid scares.
Pacing problems: The mid‑season genre switch loses some viewers, and the ending feels abrupt.
Tone check
Relentless once the hauntings kick in. Great if you like found‑footage tension; skip if the style distracts you.
9. Hotel (Season 5)
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 64% (Critics) and 65% (Audience)
Premise
The Art Deco Hotel Cortez shelters addicts, serial killers, and vampires under the rule of the Countess (Lady Gaga).
Why it falls low
Overstuffed: Gorgeous sets and costumes, but too many side stories dilute the main plot.
Big swings: Half the shocks feel earned; the rest feel included for shock value alone.
Highlights: Denis O’Hare’s bartender Liz Taylor and a surprisingly tender finale salvage parts of the ride.
Tone check
High on style and gore; low on focus. Worth sampling for Lady Gaga’s commitment, but prepare for narrative whiplash.
10. Double Feature (Season 10)
Rotten Tomatoes: 80% (Critics) and 51% (Audience)
Premise
Two unrelated stories share the season: Red Tide (writer’s block turned vampiric in Cape Cod) and Death Valley (aliens, government deals, and desert cults).
Why it ranks last
Split identity: Each half starts strong but ends abruptly.
Tone clash: Noir‑style gloom in Red Tide versus B‑movie alien camp in Death Valley.
Missed potential: Interesting ideas—creative obsession, conspiracy lore—that never land a satisfying resolution.
Tone check
Watch if you enjoy anthology shorts; skip if you prefer a full‑season arc.
RECAP:
1) Asylum
2) Monster House
3) Coven
4) Freak Show
5) 1984
6) Apocalypse
7) Cult
8) Roanoke
9) Hotel
10) Double Feature
Final Thoughts
However you order them, American Horror Story remains a rare TV show willing to reinvent itself every year. Some seasons stick the landing, others swing wide and miss. Even the weaker entries usually offer standout performances, striking imagery, or at least one episode you will remember long after the credits roll.
If you are catching up, start with the top half of the list, then dip into the later experiments when you are curious. And if you disagree with this ranking, that is half the fun; nothing sparks a horror‑fan debate faster than arguing which AHS season is the real nightmare classic.
