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IMDbPro

American Horror Story

  • TV Series
  • 2011– 2011–
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
309K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
85
16
V Nixie in American Horror Story (2011)
Mamie takes matters into her own hands. The fate of the future is revealed. Watch AHS: Double Feature Wednesdays at 10p on FX, next day #FXonHulu.
Play trailer0:36
99+ Videos
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Horror
  • Sci-Fi
An anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possess... Read allAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse, a slasher summer camp, and a bleak beach town and de... Read allAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, including a house with a murderous past, an insane asylum, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a haunted hotel, a possessed farmhouse, a cult, the apocalypse, a slasher summer camp, and a bleak beach town and desert valley.
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
309K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
85
16
  • Creators
    • Brad Falchuk
    • Ryan Murphy
  • Stars
    • Lady Gaga
    • Kathy Bates
    • Angela Bassett
Top credits
  • Creators
    • Brad Falchuk
    • Ryan Murphy
  • Stars
    • Lady Gaga
    • Kathy Bates
    • Angela Bassett
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 897User reviews
    • 207Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 16 Primetime Emmys
      • 128 wins & 393 nominations total

    Episodes119

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos217

    What Horror Movies Terrified You as a Kid?
    Full Episode 3:18
    What Horror Movies Terrified You as a Kid?
    This Week on TV: A Slasher Send-Up, a Super Season 2, and Some Famous Ferns
    Full Episode 4:17
    This Week on TV: A Slasher Send-Up, a Super Season 2, and Some Famous Ferns
    All About Alexander Dreymon
    Clip 1:30
    All About Alexander Dreymon
    The Rise of Evan Peters
    Clip 4:01
    The Rise of Evan Peters
    A Guide to the Work of Ryan Murphy
    Clip 5:35
    A Guide to the Work of Ryan Murphy
    IMDb's Top TV Shows of 2018
    Clip 2:41
    IMDb's Top TV Shows of 2018
    American Horror Story: The Complete Fourth Season
    Clip 1:25
    American Horror Story: The Complete Fourth Season
    American Horror Story: The Complete Fourth Season
    Clip 1:30
    American Horror Story: The Complete Fourth Season
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Montana Meets Bobby
    Clip 1:54
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Montana Meets Bobby
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Jingles and Jr.
    Clip 2:13
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Jingles and Jr.
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Jingles Begs
    Clip 2:27
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Jingles Begs
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Brooke Turns the Table
    Clip 2:38
    American Horror Story: AHS 1984: Brooke Turns the Table

    Photos3477

    Lily Rabe, Megan Franich, Mark Casimir Dyniewicz Jr., Heather Wynters, and Shannon Berry in American Horror Story (2011)
    Jessica Lange and Heather Wynters in American Horror Story (2011)
    Megan Franich in American Horror Story (2011)
    Lizzie Brocheré and Heather Wynters in American Horror Story (2011)
    Sarah Paulson, Zachary Quinto, Lizzie Brocheré, Evan Peters, and Mark Casimir Dyniewicz Jr. in American Horror Story (2011)
    Sarah Paulson in American Horror Story (2011)
    American Horror Story (2011)
    Sarah Paulson, Frances Conroy, and Emma Roberts in American Horror Story (2011)
    Lizzie Brocheré in American Horror Story (2011)
    Frances Conroy and Evan Peters in American Horror Story (2011)
    Evan Peters in American Horror Story (2011)
    Evan Peters in American Horror Story (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lady Gaga
    Lady Gaga
    • The Countessas The Countess…
    15 episodes15 eps • 2015–2016
    Kathy Bates
    Kathy Bates
    • Madame Delphine LaLaurieas Madame Delphine LaLaurie…
    58 episodes58 eps • 2013–2018
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Desiree Dupreeas Desiree Dupree…
    48 episodes48 eps • 2013–2018
    Sarah Paulson
    Sarah Paulson
    • Lana Wintersas Lana Winters…
    95 episodes95 eps • 2011–2021
    Evan Peters
    Evan Peters
    • James Marchas James March…
    101 episodes101 eps • 2011–2022
    Denis O'Hare
    Denis O'Hare
    • Spaldingas Spalding…
    65 episodes65 eps • 2011–2022
    Lily Rabe
    Lily Rabe
    • Misty Dayas Misty Day…
    62 episodes62 eps • 2011–2022
    Frances Conroy
    Frances Conroy
    • Myrtle Snowas Myrtle Snow…
    58 episodes58 eps • 2011–2021
    Jessica Lange
    Jessica Lange
    • Constance Langdonas Constance Langdon…
    53 episodes53 eps • 2011–2018
    Emma Roberts
    Emma Roberts
    • Madison Montgomeryas Madison Montgomery…
    46 episodes46 eps • 2013–2019
    Cheyenne Jackson
    Cheyenne Jackson
    • Will Drakeas Will Drake…
    43 episodes43 eps • 2015–2018
    Billie Lourd
    Billie Lourd
    • Winter Andersonas Winter Anderson…
    37 episodes37 eps • 2017–2022
    Adina Porter
    Adina Porter
    • Beverly Hopeas Beverly Hope…
    37 episodes37 eps • 2011–2021
    Leslie Grossman
    Leslie Grossman
    • Coco St. Pierre Vanderbiltas Coco St. Pierre Vanderbilt…
    36 episodes36 eps • 2017–2022
    Taissa Farmiga
    Taissa Farmiga
    • Zoe Bensonas Zoe Benson…
    32 episodes32 eps • 2011–2018
    Finn Wittrock
    Finn Wittrock
    • Dandy Mottas Dandy Mott…
    32 episodes32 eps • 2014–2021
    Wes Bentley
    Wes Bentley
    • John Loweas John Lowe…
    25 episodes25 eps • 2014–2016
    Cody Fern
    Cody Fern
    • Michael Langdonas Michael Langdon…
    22 episodes22 eps • 2018–2022
    • Creators
      • Brad Falchuk
      • Ryan Murphy
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    American Horror Story FreakShow: Extra-Ordinary-Artists
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    Black Mirror
    8.8
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    The Haunting of Hill House
    8.6
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    8.2
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    8.4
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    Scream Queens
    7.1
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    Supernatural
    8.4
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    The Haunting of Bly Manor
    7.3
    The Haunting of Bly Manor
    You
    7.7
    You

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sarah Paulson's reporter walk-through scene in "Asylum" was pulled directly from actual footage of Bill Baldini's exposé piece on Pennhurst Asylum in Spring City, Pennsylvania. Baldini's work led to the closure of Pennhurst and the release of all of its patients. Pennhurst is now the location of a seasonal haunted house and has been featured on numerous shows, due to the reported extreme paranormal activity in Pennhurst's buildings.
    • Goofs
      Frances Conroy ("Old" Moira O'Hara) is right-eye dominant. Many times you can see that she, as Moira, is focusing on the object she's looking at using her "blind" right eye instead of her left eye.
    • Quotes

      Cordelia Foxx: In the absence of the council, as reigning Supreme of this coven, I hereby decree... for the murders of our sister witch, Cecily Pembroke and our college, Quentin Fleming... you... Myrtle Snow, are hereby sentenced to death by fire.

      Myrtle Snow: Delia, my sweet daughter, I have never been more proud.

      Cordelia Foxx: Any last words?

      Myrtle Snow: Only one. BALENCIAGA!

    • Connections
      Featured in The 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      American Horror Story Theme
      (uncredited)

      Written by Cesar Davila-Irizarry and Charlie Clouser

    User reviews897

    Review
    Top review
    "AMERICAN BEAUTY" - With A Faceful of Acid...
    If we have absorbed the lessons of what independent family dramas have taught us in the past few decades, what have we learned? That Father Has Never "Known Best", that the "Dreams of The Everyday Housewife" can be laced with resentment, disillusionment, fear and madness? That the placid, peaceful, tranquil picture of the all-American family we have believed in (and taught to uphold and emulate) by our own parents, has always been a facade for all kinds of dementia and dysfunction?

    If this is true, then what Ryan Murphy has done is taken the clichés of everything from chief competitor Alan Ball's award-winning American BEAUTY and Stephen King's THE SHINING, put them on steroids and blended them together in his word processor. The result? American HORROR STORY, where the only thing more terrifying than a haunted house laden with secrets that rip people to shreds, are the secrets and lies infesting the lives of one family that threaten to rip THEM to shreds.

    When a tragic miscarriage and an even more shattering act of infidelity threaten to tear apart their tenuous marriage, Ben Harmon (THE PRACTICE'S Dylan McDermott) and his wife Vivien (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' Connie Britton) take their teenage daughter, Violet (Taissa Farmiga) and move away from their "house of horrors" to find a new start somewhere...ANYWHERE that they can put the noxious past behind them and at least try to have a go at tending to their gaping emotional wounds.

    The place they choose - or maybe that chooses THEM - a run-down manse on the outskirts of L.A., turns out to be a real bargain, and though irredeemably creepy, does have an antiquated charm...if you're into murals that would give even Hieronymous Bosch nightmares.

    In no short order, unsettling and strange characters - as much as the house itself is - begin to materialize and insinuate themselves into the Harmons' lives, whether they want them to or not: next-door neighbor Constance (Jessica Lange in a brilliant turn), whose demeanor suggests a deadly combo of Blanche DuBois, Norma Desmond and Gale Sondergaard's Black Widow; Frances Conroy (Ruth Fisher from SIX FEET UNDER) as the mysterious housekeeper, Moira, who appears to the rest of the family as one persona, while tempting Ben's weakness for "a taste of strange" with another more lascivious presence, (played by Alexandra Breckenridge); Larry Harvey (TRUE BLOOD alum Denis O'Hare), a horribly burned man who seems to be stalking Ben, and who has his own deadly history with the house and what lives there, and Constance's daughter, Adelaide, (Jamie Brewer), with Downs' Syndrome, yet who seems to have it more together - and knows more about the house - than anyone else around her.

    Even Ben's practice as a psychologist is fraught with peril, with the introduction of a teen patient named Tate Langdon (Evan Peters), who has an easier time picking apart and savaging the weaknesses in Ben's emotional armor than Ben does in probing his inscrutable and infuriating new charge's troubled mind. Not to mention that his growing fascination/infatuation with Violet doesn't help things one little bit.

    Many people have cried fowl about the show's penchant for relying heavily on old horror tropes and clichés, without even paying attention to how it has been taking said clichés and twisting them into newer and even more unsettling shapes than today's average hot mess passing itself off as a 'horror film.' Leave it to FX to allow Murphy and his team - much as they did with NIP/TUCK - the freedom to push the boundaries of where a horror-infused series can go, without the constraints that hog-tied many of the like-minded series that came before it, such as the ground-breaking TWIN PEAKS or American Gothic, (which wasn't anywhere near as well-written as this).

    Two episodes in and I am already intrigued, grossed-out and frankly spooked by what I have seen so far. I just hope that the quality continues to get even better as plot lines and characters get darker and more deadly secrets are unearthed...
    helpful•106
    69
    • dcscribe8860
    • Oct 15, 2011

    FAQ6

    • Is the series available to own?
    • I have not seen previous seasons. Can I watch later seasons?
    • What are the various seasons/settings

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 5, 2011 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Instagram
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • American Horror Story: Asylum
    • Filming locations
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • FX Network
      • Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision
      • Ryan Murphy Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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