What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedAmerican Horror Story
Ryan Murphy · Series · 2011
If you loved American Horror Story, start with Midsommar (Ari Aster, 2019) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to American Horror Story across media.
What hooked you in American Horror Story was the way it masterfully blends campy theatricality with deep-seated psychological dread and disturbing social commentary.
Books on the same thread
American Psycho
Bret Easton Ellis · Book · 1991
Shares a thread with American Horror Story: Psychological horror.
If the biting social critique and cynical wit of American Horror Story resonated with you, this novel offers a similarly transgressive and chilling look at the madness of modern society.
The Haunting of Hill House
Shirley Jackson · Book · 1987
Shares 2 threads with American Horror Story: Psychological Horror, Supernatural Horror.
Like the haunted settings in American Horror Story, this classic uses a decaying location to mirror the fragile mental states of its characters, creating an atmosphere of inescapable psychological dread.
The Vampire Chronicles
Anne Rice · Book · 1976
Shares a thread with American Horror Story: Identity.
The gothic opulence and exploration of dark identities in this series mirror the stylistic excess and supernatural drama that fans have come to expect from American Horror Story.
A Song of Ice and Fire
George R. R. Martin · Book · 1996
Explores: Political Intrigue, Moral Ambiguity, Dynastic Conflict.
Fans of the intricate power struggles and moral ambiguity found in American Horror Story will appreciate the vast, cutthroat dynastic conflicts and shifting alliances present in this epic fantasy series.
Films on the same thread
Midsommar
Ari Aster · Film · 2019
Shares 2 threads with American Horror Story: Trauma, Psychological Horror.
This film captures the same unsettling focus on trauma and cult dynamics that frequently drives the narrative of American Horror Story, wrapped in a visually striking and disturbing folk-horror aesthetic.
The Cabin in the Woods
Drew Goddard · Film · 2012
Explores: Cosmic Horror, Puppet Masters, Existential Horror.
If you enjoy how American Horror Story subverts genre tropes, you will appreciate this film’s meta-commentary on the horror genre and its clever, self-aware approach to terrifying, high-concept scenarios.
It
Andy Muschietti · Film · 2017
Shares 2 threads with American Horror Story: Good vs Evil, Supernatural Horror.
The focus on small-town secrets and the manifestation of childhood trauma mirrors the character-driven supernatural horror that defines many of the most iconic seasons of American Horror Story.
The Witch
Robert Eggers · Film · 2015
Shares 2 threads with American Horror Story: Supernatural Horror, Psychological Horror.
This film shares the intense, isolated atmosphere and exploration of religious fanaticism found in American Horror Story, grounding its supernatural terrors in the internal decay of a fractured family unit.
Podcasts on the same thread
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts · Podcast · 2026
Explores: mental health awareness, female friendship, coping mechanisms.
If the conversational, dark storytelling style of American Horror Story appeals to you, this podcast offers a similarly engaging dive into the macabre through a lens of dark comedy.
Lore
Aaron Mahnke · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Dark History, Supernatural, Mysterious Events.
Fans of the tragic narratives and dark historical explorations featured in American Horror Story will find this podcast a perfect companion, as it unearths the unsettling truths behind historical legends.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch American Horror Story in?
American Horror Story is an anthology series featuring different characters and locations in each season. You can watch the seasons in any order because the storylines for settings like the asylum, the witch coven, and the hotel are self-contained and do not require prior knowledge of other seasons.
Is American Horror Story a continuous story?
No, American Horror Story is an anthology drama series. Each season focuses on a distinct horror theme, such as a murderous house, a freak show, or a summer camp, with new characters and settings introduced for every installment rather than following one long, continuous narrative arc.
How many different settings are featured in American Horror Story?
American Horror Story features a wide variety of horror settings across its seasons. These include a house with a murderous past, an asylum, a witch coven, a freak show, a hotel, a farmhouse in Roanoke, a cult, the apocalypse, and a summer camp.
Who created American Horror Story?
American Horror Story was created by Ryan Murphy. The series premiered in 2011 and established its format as an anthology horror drama where each season explores a unique location and set of characters, ranging from a cult to an apocalypse or an asylum.