The American Horror Story (AHS) franchise has captivated audiences since 2011 with its blend of horror, mystery, and deeply interconnected storytelling. Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, the anthology series is known for exploring different horror themes each season while often revisiting characters from previous seasons.
Whether you're a seasoned viewer or new to the series, following a specific watch order can enhance your experience. Here's a breakdown of how to watch American Horror Story seasons in order, including key details of each installment. We also provide you with all the details to stream, buy or rent these shows online in India.
How to watch American Horror Story in chronological order
The American Horror Story anthology series is unique because each season tells a different story, making it possible to watch the seasons in almost any order. For a more linear experience, you can watch every installment in the same order as the release date.
- Murder House (Season 1)
- Asylum (Season 2)
- Coven (Season 3)
- Freak Show (Season 4)
- Hotel (Season 5)
- Roanoke (Season 6)
- Cult (Season 7)
- Apocalypse (Season 8)
- 1984 (Season 9)
- Double Feature (Season 10)
- NYC (Season 11)
- Delicate (Season 12)
Spinoff
The series begins with Murder House, where a family moves into a haunted home filled with vengeful spirits. This season introduces the show’s signature blend of supernatural horror and psychological drama.
Set in a mental institution in the 1960s, season 2’s Asylum delves into the horrors of medical malpractice, religion, and madness. It features one of the most complex plots, introducing fan-favorite characters like Lana Winters and Sister Jude.
American Horror Story: Coven takes on witchcraft in New Orleans, focusing on a group of young witches learning to control their powers.
Set in a 1950s freak show, the fourth season showcases the lives of sideshow performers and the discrimination they face. While less supernatural than previous seasons, Freak Show provides poignant commentary on societal outcasts and introduces another key character, Twisty the Clown.
Hotel brings back the supernatural, set in a haunted Los Angeles hotel. This season focuses on themes of addiction and morality, with Lady Gaga's portrayal of the vampire-like Countess stealing the spotlight. It also revisits characters from Murder House.
Presented in a documentary-style format, Roanoke tells the story of a haunted farmhouse in North Carolina, blending reality TV aesthetics with traditional AHS horror.
Inspired by political events, Cult shifts the series into a modern-day thriller centered on a small Michigan town post-2016 election.
This season serves as a direct sequel to both Murder House and Coven, centering on the end of the world and the rise of the Antichrist. Apocalypse ties together numerous characters and plotlines from previous seasons, making it a pivotal chapter for long-time fans.
An homage to 1980s slasher films, 1984 is set at a summer camp and follows counselors as they try to survive a serial killer.
Split into two parts, Double Feature explores an alien conspiracy in “Red Tide” and vampiric themes in “Death Valley.” This season balances science fiction and horror, offering two distinct stories in one.
NYC focuses on the 1980s LGBTQ+ community in New York City, set against the backdrop of a serial killer targeting gay men.
The latest season Delicate revolves around an actress who desperately tries to get pregnant while also maintaining her Hollywood career.
Starting from 2021, the series also received a companion spinoff series called American Horror Stories. As the title suggests, each episode focuses on a standalone horror story and can be watched in any sequence.
How to watch American Horror Story in release order
The release order of the FX series is virtually the same as its chronological order. Our guide below shows you all the options to watch every American Horror Story season in release order on Indian streaming platforms.
