All 13 American Horror Story Seasons & The TV Shows They're Most Like

Published Nov 1, 2026, 2:15 PM EST Misty Layne started as an actor and sketch comedy writer before deciding to concentrate mainly on writing. Utilizing both her love of television and film and her behind-the-scenes knowledge, she began a website reviewing films in 2013, with a focus on horror and indie media. Eventually, she began writing about all things television and film for other sites as well. Misty shares a home with five cats, a ton of books, and a fairly impressive vinyl collection. Sign in to your ScreenRant account American Horror Story season 13 (officially titled simply 13) is officially over. The finale aired October 29th, and for some, the season's end couldn’t come soon enough. In the kindest terms, most fans seem to consider this latest season a bit of a mess, with its Rotten Tomatoes audience score currently at 31%. The good news, though, is that for those who found 13 disappointing, there are 12 other seasons to rewatch while waiting for the already-confirmed American Horror Story season 14. Ryan Murphy’s shows have a tendency to vary in quality by season, but some past seasons of American Horror Story deserve to be viewed more than once. However, if one needs a break from American Horror Story after season 13, the better news is that, no matter which season one loved most, there are shows with similar vibes that could become a new favorite. They won’t be quite the same (especially as every American Horror Story season includes several varying storylines and themes), but these series capture the best parts of each. Whether one enjoyed the twisted family drama and brutal character deaths of Murder House or fell in love with Hotel’s gorgeous costumes and vampires, these other bingeworthy series are just waiting to be viewed. Season 1: Murder House Most Like: The Haunting Of Hill House Image via MovieStillsDB Murder House is arguably the best season of American Horror Story, so finding a show that lives up to it is challenging. However, The Haunting of Hill House more than gets the job done. Both shows revolve around a house that's more than it seems — alive and haunted by ghosts around every corner. They also focus on a family moving into that house while dealing with personal demons, which eventually leads to their downfall. As one of the best horror miniseries around, The Haunting of Hill House is definitely one Murder House fans will adore. Season 2: Asylum Most Like: Ratched Fans who loved Asylum most will find an almost perfect sequel in Ratched. Not only does it star Sarah Paulson, but it was developed by Ryan Murphy. The series is a prequel to the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and Paulson plays Nurse Ratched as she arrives at a psychiatric institution where experimenting with treatment techniques like scalding hot baths isn't outside the norm. Ratched has her own secret reasons for being there, and as it turns out, she’s an excellent fit for a place where nearly everyone is a villain. Season 3: Coven Most Like: Mayfair Witches Like Zoe in Coven, Rowan, the protagonist of Mayfair Witches, gets thrown into the world of witchcraft after accidentally killing someone with powers she didn’t know she had. She discovers she’s the heir to a powerful magical dynasty and also learns about Lasher, the ancient, malevolent spirit that holds sway over her family line. While Mayfair Witches eventually goes in a different direction than Coven, it has the same Southern Gothic vibes that permeated every inch of that season of American Horror Story, along with tons of drama to entertain. Season 4: Freak Show Most Like: Carnivàle Forgotten masterpiece Carnivàle follows the members of a traveling carnival during the Dust Bowl, including a bearded lady, snake charmer, conjoined twins, and protagonist Ben Hawkins, who has healing powers. While Carnivàle lacks the serial-killer element of Freak Show, it does feature a Methodist minister, Brother Justin, who learns he can control those around him and uses it to his advantage. Ben and Brother Justin have different storylines, but they merge more and more over time, until it becomes clear they're caught in a battle between good and evil that’s bigger than they are. Season 5: Hotel Most Like: Interview with the Vampire While The Strain might technically be a better fit for how Hotel’s vampires are created, no show is better than Interview with the Vampire when it comes to decadent vampires and messy relationships. Like Hotel, this series explores revenge and atonement as Louis, Lestat, and teenage vampire Claudia weave through a cycle of violence and betrayal. Interview with the Vampire features some truly horrific moments, while Lestat should feel especially familiar to AHS fans. He has serious abandonment issues like Sally and rage not unlike Tristan's. The show also offers a similar theatricality as Hotel, resulting in a bloody visual feast. Season 6: Roanoke Most Like: The River By orpine81 MovieStillsDB.com Found footage and supernatural happenings make the underrated 2012 TV show The River an excellent next watch for those who loved Roanoke. Explorer Dr. Emmet Cole went to the Amazon with a small team and disappeared. Now his family and a crew are on a mission to find him. Unfortunately, to do so, they’ll have to contend with spirits, curses, and other supernatural entities. It might not be inspired by a true story like Roanoke, but The River has a unique premise (and only 8 episodes, so it’s a quick watch), which should be right up Roanoke fans’ alley. FX Networks · Patient File #001 How Well Do You Know AHS? “All monsters are human.” 🏪MurderHouseSeason 1 🔑AsylumSeason 2 🔮CovenSeason 3 🎪FreakShowSeason 4 🌉HotelSeason 5 ENTER IF YOU DARE → 01 In Season 1, the Harmon family moves into the infamous Murder House. What is the name of the latex-suit-wearing ghost who becomes central to the plot? AChad Warwick BTate Langdon CBen Harmon DLarry Harvey ✓ Correct! Tate Langdon, played by Evan Peters, is the troubled ghost teen who haunts the Murder House. His relationship with Violet Harmon and his dark history as a school shooter made him one of AHS’s most iconic and controversial characters. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Tate Langdon. Played by Evan Peters, Tate is the ghost who wears the rubber suit. Chad Warwick (Zachary Quinto) is another ghost in the house, Ben Harmon is the father, and Larry Harvey is the burned neighbor. NEXT → 02 Season 2 takes place in Briarcliff Manor, a mental institution run by the Catholic Church. What is the name of the terrifying nun who rules the asylum with an iron fist? ASister Mary Eunice BMonsignor Timothy Howard CDr. Arthur Arden DSister Jude ✓ Correct! Sister Jude, played by Jessica Lange in one of her most acclaimed roles, is the strict disciplinarian who runs Briarcliff. Her complex arc — from cruel authority figure to sympathetic victim of the very institution she controlled — is considered some of the best writing in the series. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Sister Jude. Jessica Lange’s portrayal of the iron-willed nun earned widespread acclaim. Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe) becomes possessed by the Devil, Dr. Arden is the sadistic doctor, and Monsignor Howard is the ambitious priest. NEXT → 03 In “Coven,” the witches of Miss Robichaux’s Academy are searching for the next Supreme. What title is given to the most powerful witch who leads the coven? AThe Supreme BThe High Priestess CThe Grand Witch DThe Matriarch ✓ Correct! The Supreme is the leader of the coven, possessing mastery of all Seven Wonders of witchcraft. Fiona Goode (Jessica Lange) holds the title at the start of the season, but her power is fading as a new Supreme rises among the younger witches. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is The Supreme. The Supreme must master the Seven Wonders — telekinesis, concilium, transmutation, divination, vitalum vitalis, descensum, and pyrokinesis — to claim the title and lead the coven. NEXT → 04 AHS is famous for reusing actors in different roles each season. Which actress has appeared in more seasons than any other cast member, becoming the show’s most prolific performer? AJessica Lange BEvan Peters CSarah Paulson DLily Rabe ✓ Correct! Sarah Paulson has appeared in more AHS seasons than anyone else, playing wildly different characters — from Asylum’s journalist Lana Winters to Coven’s two-headed Bette and Dot Tattler to Roanoke’s Shelby Miller. She’s the definitive AHS actress. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Sarah Paulson. While Jessica Lange starred in the first four seasons and Evan Peters appeared in many, Sarah Paulson holds the record for the most season appearances, delivering transformative performances across the anthology. NEXT → 05 In “Freak Show,” Jessica Lange plays the German-accented owner of one of the last freak shows in America. What is her character’s name? AFiona Goode BElsa Mars CConstance Langdon DSister Jude ✓ Correct! Elsa Mars is the glamorous but desperate ringmaster of “Fraulein Elsa’s Cabinet of Curiosities,” set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida. She dreams of Hollywood fame and performs David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” in one of the season’s most memorable scenes. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Elsa Mars. Fiona Goode is Lange’s character in Coven, Constance Langdon is from Murder House, and Sister Jude is from Asylum. Elsa Mars is her Freak Show role — a German émigré chasing stardom in 1950s Florida. NEXT → 06 Season 5 “Hotel” introduced Lady Gaga to the AHS universe. What is the name of her character, the ancient vampire-like owner of the Hotel Cortez? AHypodermic Sally BRamona Royale CNatacha Rambova DThe Countess ✓ Correct! The Countess, also known as Elizabeth, is Lady Gaga’s glamorous and ruthless vampire character. She won a Golden Globe for the role. The Countess collects beautiful lovers, turns children into vampire-like creatures, and has haunted the Hotel Cortez for decades. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is The Countess. Hypodermic Sally (Sarah Paulson) is a ghost in the hotel, Ramona Royale (Angela Bassett) is a rival vampire, and Natacha Rambova is a silent film actress connected to the Countess’s past. Lady Gaga plays The Countess Elizabeth. NEXT → 07 American Horror Story was created by Ryan Murphy and which other writer-producer, who also co-created “Glee” and “Nip/Tuck” with Murphy? ABrad Falchuk BTim Minear CDante Di Loreto DIan Brennan ✓ Correct! Brad Falchuk co-created AHS with Ryan Murphy. The two have been longtime collaborators, also creating Glee and Nip/Tuck together. Falchuk has written and directed many of the series’ most pivotal episodes across multiple seasons. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is Brad Falchuk. He and Ryan Murphy are the creative duo behind AHS. Tim Minear is a frequent writer/producer on the show but not a co-creator. Ian Brennan co-created Glee but not AHS. NEXT → 08 Season 6 “Roanoke” used an unusual format for AHS. What was the show-within-a-show structure that framed the season’s first half? AA police procedural investigation BA found footage horror film CA true crime documentary series DA reality TV competition ✓ Correct! Roanoke was presented as “My Roanoke Nightmare,” a true crime documentary show with talking-head interviews and dramatic reenactments. This meant actors played both the “real” people and the actors portraying them in the reenactments — a mind-bending meta twist that divided fans but made it one of the most unique AHS seasons. ✗ You’re dead wrong! The answer is a true crime documentary series. Roanoke was framed as “My Roanoke Nightmare,” featuring real testimonials and dramatic reenactments. The second half flipped the format entirely with a “Big Brother”-style return to the house — making it one of AHS’s wildest structural experiments. REVEAL MY SCORE → Patient File · Case Closed Your Horror Record 💀 / 8 Supreme witch — or the first one to die? ↻ SCREAM AGAIN Season 7: Cult Most Like: The Following Cult leader Kai Anderson might have planned to have his followers kill several pregnant women in Cult, but serial killer Joe Carroll manages to create a cult of fanatical killers — while in prison — all willing to go to any lengths for him in The Following. In the first season, Carroll escapes, and FBI Agent Ryan Hardy must recapture him, which creates a twisty game of cat-and-mouse. With that, plus the violence that drew some criticism when it first aired, The Following is an extremely fun ride reminiscent of Cult. Season 8: Apocalypse Most Like: The Stand By Yaut MovieStillsDB.com Apocalypse might have technically undone its post-apocalyptic world with the help of the Coven witches and some time travel, but for those who enjoyed the dystopian future that almost was, The Stand is a great fit. Based on Stephen King's classic novel, The Stand features a world ravaged by a virus called Captain Trips, leaving few survivors. Those survivors all inexplicably find themselves drawn to either Mother Abigail, a 108-year-old woman, or Randall Flagg, the Dark Man, who become the focal points of an elemental battle between good and evil that will decide humanity's fate. Season 9: 1984 Most Like: Crystal Lake Peacock/Courtesy Everett Collection Crystal Lake is the obvious next best thing to 1984; after all, 1984 was heavily influenced by the slasher films of the 1980s, including Friday the 13th. Crystal Lake not only has those impeccable summer camp vibes, but it also reveals plenty of secrets as the series goes on (and involves plenty of murder). Add in the wild twists the show throws at viewers (including one that finally reveals how Jason Voorhees managed to survive drowning in the original movie), and it’s sure to be a hit with 1984 fans. Season 10, Part 1: Double Feature: Red Tide Most Like: Midnight Mass Red Tide and Midnight Mass are quite similar at the core, although one deals with creativity and the fear of losing it, while the other explores grief and faith. Both, though, involve a newcomer passing out something that seems like a miracle cure (pills to aid creativity in Red Tide, and the blood of an Angel that heals in Midnight Mass) and feature people turning into bloodthirsty creatures after consuming these cures. Midnight Mass’ ending might be a bit more desolate, but fans of Red Tide will likely love it (and can binge it in under 12 hours).