All 12 Seasons of American Horror Story — Here’s the Order You Should Watch Them
If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the spooky world of American Horror Story (AHS), but wondered “Which season do I start with?”, you’re not alone. This horror-anthology series has reinvented itself year after year — from ghostly mansions to witch covens to post-apocalypse nightmares. It’s a bit like the Nigerian movie industry, where you might binge a Nollywood series in the wrong order and wonder why plot threads feel weird. Stick around — we’ll walk through each season in a human, conversational way so you know where to jump in.
The television world loves a good fright, and American Horror Story (AHS) has been delivering chills since its debut in 2011. Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, each season of AHS brings a new setting, fresh characters, and its own brand of terror — though the various seasons often nod to one another.
If you’re just starting out, or planning a re-watch, here’s the official release order of all twelve seasons so far:
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Murder House (2011) – The Harmon family moves into a restored mansion in L.A. — big mistake. Haunted by past and present, the murder house kicks off the series with full-on gore and intrigue.
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Asylum (2012-13) – Set in 1964 in a psychiatric hospital, this season dives into madness, demonic possession, and the power of fear.
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Coven (2013-14) – Witches in New Orleans, power struggles and ancient magic. A fan-favourite for its style and sass.
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Freak Show (2014-15) – This one takes you to Florida in the 1950s, where a freak show grapples with fame, society’s cruelty and monsters of many kinds.
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Hotel (2015-16) – A haunted Los Angeles hotel, celebrities, vampires and shock; the series ups the glamour and the gore.
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Roanoke (2016) – A twisty one: part documentary, part found-footage, set near the legendary Lost Colony. Strange, atmospheric and scary.
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Cult (2017) – After the 2016 U.S. election, terror takes a political turn. Cults, fear-mongering, and paranoia in suburban Michigan.
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Apocalypse (2018) – World-ending stakes: witches from Coven return to face the Antichrist. Heavy on references — it pulls from earlier seasons.
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1984 (2019) – A throwback to ‘80s slasher movies: summer camp terror, a killer on the loose and nostalgic chills.
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Double Feature (2021) – Two distinct stories in one season: the first half “Red Tide” and the second “Death Valley”. Experimentation is high.
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NYC (2022) – New York City in the 1980s: serial killers, LGBTQ+ community, AIDS epidemic — dark, bold and culturally informed.
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Delicate (2023-24) – Based on a novel, this season deals with a pregnant actress in L.A. haunted by far more than typical Hollywood drama.
Why the order matters
Because each season is self-contained, you could jump in anywhere. But several fans say you’ll get richer experience watching from the start — you’ll nod at connections between Coven → Apocalypse, or recognize returning actors playing new roles.
It’s like in Nigerian Tv-series when a star like Funke Akindele appears in a spinoff and you remember their earlier role — things just hit differently when you know the back-story.
How to approach your watch
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If you’re new: Start with Murder House to get the tone of the show.
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Want the big crossover pay-off? Make sure you don’t skip Coven before Apocalypse.
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Prefer stand-alone scares? Seasons like 1984, Cult and Roanoke don’t lean heavily on prior knowledge — they work on their own.
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Nigerian/African angle: Just like how Shuga seasons set in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa shift settings and themes — AHS shifts genres each season so it remains fresh.
Fun fact & trivia
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Though each story is different, creators say they exist in the same universe, and certain characters or ghosts may overlap.
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As of early 2025, AHS has been renewed through season 13 — so the saga isn’t over.