American Horror Story Season 13 Sets New All-Time Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Record

Image via MovieStillsDB Published Oct 9, 2026, 5:16 PM EDT Jeff Dodge (he/him), a published author and graduate of Western Washington University, has been a TV news editor for many years and has had the chance to interview multiple reality show stars, including Randy Jackson, Nick Cannon, Heidi Klum, Mel B and John Cena. Fun Fact: he’s been to every single Idol Live! Tour. Sign in to your ScreenRant account American Horror Story is more than halfway through its current season, and it just set a new Rotten Tomatoes record. Ryan Murphy has described American Horror Story season 13 as an Avengers-type crossover, since several characters from the show's 12 previous seasons are together for the first time. Some actors, like Sarah Paulson, play more than five characters, and Murphy also brought Jessica Lange back after an eight-year hiatus. Bringing together this many fan favorites should, in theory, have energized viewers, but it doesn't seem to have. Eight episodes of American Horror Story: 13 have dropped two percentage points on Rotten Tomatoes' Popcornmeter since the season began, from 42% to 40%. This marks the lowest audience score in American Horror Story history. Viewers have called 13 a disappointment, terrible, boring, incoherent, and disjointed, with poor writing and terrible pacing. Some were excited leading up to the premiere because so many past American Horror Story characters might share the screen, but in the end, they were left frustrated and underwhelmed. The second-lowest score is season 11, NYC, at 42%, followed by season 10 (Double Feature) at 50%, season 7 (Cult) at 52%, and season 6 (Roanoke) at 58%. All the other seasons are above 60%, with season 2 (Asylum) and season 1 (Murder House) ranking as the highest-rated installments of American Horror Story at 90% and 85%, respectively. For comparison's sake, critics have given American Horror Story: 13 solid reviews and a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is in line with many scores from past seasons, like Murder House (72%), Freak Show (77%), Roanoke (74%), Cult (73%), NYC (71%), and Delicate (77%). American Horror Story on Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores Audience Scores Season 1 (Murder House) 72% 85% Season 2 (Asylum) 84% 90% Season 3 (Coven) 85% 76% Season 4 (Freak Show) 77% 69% Season 5 (Hotel) 64% 62% Season 6 (Roanoke) 74% 58% Season 7 (Cult) 73% 52% Season 8 (Apocalypse) 79% 74% Season 9 (1984) 88% 77% Season 10 (Double Feature) 80% 50% Season 11 (NYC) 71% 42% Season 12 (Delicate) 77% 64% Season 13 (13) 75% 40% Aside from Lange and Paulson, the cast of American Horror Story season 13 also includes Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Leslie Grossman, Frances Conroy, Joey Pollari, John Waters, John Carroll Lynch, and Jamie Brewer. Pollari plays a hospice caretaker named Ben DeSoto who has triskaidekaphobia, which is a fear of the number 13. He starts working at The Apollyon in New York City and looks after Mr. Nas, who lives with Constance Langdon. Since this is the thirteenth season and that number carries superstitious connotations, it plays a major role in the storyline and even in the subtitle. One of the biggest differences between American Horror Story: 13 and past seasons is that episodes now run about half an hour, and multiple episodes air every week. That's why eight episodes have already aired, even though the premiere was only two weeks ago. 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 Murphy isn't just an executive producer on American Horror Story: 13; he also directed the season premiere and co-wrote the script with co-creator Brad Falchuk. Ned Martel and Charlie Carver have written most of the scripts this time around. Fans might not be receptive to American Horror Story season 13, but Murphy's career is moving full steam ahead. After debuting The Beauty, Love Story, The Shards, and Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story this year, he's also got the return of 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Nashville in mid-October, plus All's Fair season 2 this November. American Horror Story season 13 airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EDT on FX and the next day on Hulu. Release Date October 5, 2011 Network FX Showrunner Ryan Murphy Cast Sarah Paulson Tuberculosis Karen / Mamie Eisenhower Each season of FX's hit long-running horror TV serial American Horror Story tells a different story, with settings ranging from a haunted Los Angeles mansion and a 1960s asylum to a witch coven, traveling freak show, cursed hotel, isolated farmhouse, summer camp, and other nightmare scenarios. Directors Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, Jennifer Lynch, Michael Uppendahl, Loni Peristere, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Ryan Murphy, David Semel, Howard Deutch, Michael Lehmann, Angela Bassett, Jeremy Podeswa, Max Winkler, Michael Rymer, Paris Barclay, Axelle Carolyn, Anthony Hemingway, Craig Zisk, Elodie Keene, Jennifer Arnold, Jessica Yu, John Scott, Laura Belsey, Liz Friedlander, Maggie Kiley Writers Halley Feiffer, Ned Martel, Crystal Liu, Charlie Carver, Kristen Reidel, Adam Penn, Douglas Petrie, Todd Kubrak, Reilly Smith, Jay Beattie, Dan Dworkin, Joshua A. Green, Akela Cooper, Asha Michelle Wilson Franchise(s) American Horror Story Main Genre Drama Creator(s) Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy Executive Producer(s) Brad Falchuk, Alexis Martin Woodall, Dante Di Loreto, Tim Minear, John J. Gray, Manny Coto Producers Bradley Buecker, Lou Eyrich, James Wong, Jennifer Salt, Jessica Sharzer, Todd Nenninger, Julie Herrin Seasons 13 Streaming Service(s) Hulu, Disney+