Ryan Murphy has spent over 25 years building one of the most expansive and culturally significant television empires in modern entertainment history. From the musical optimism of Glee to the blood-soaked chaos of American Horror Story and the Netflix true-crime phenomenon Monster, his ryan murphy shows have redefined genre television, earned dozens of Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and sparked endless cultural debates along the way . This guide provides a complete, comprehensive list of every major Ryan Murphy television series, organized by franchise and category, with key details and where to watch each one.
The Creator Behind the Empire
Ryan Patrick Murphy was born on November 9, 1965, and has become one of the most powerful figures in television . He has received six Primetime Emmy Awards from 41 nominations, a Tony Award, and multiple Golden Globe and Peabody Awards . In 2023, he received the Carol Burnett Lifetime Achievement Award from the Golden Globes Foundation . He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2025 . Murphy is known for his bold visual style, camp sensibility, and commitment to inclusive storytelling that has brought marginalized characters to mainstream audiences .
The American Horror Story Franchise
American Horror Story debuted on FX in 2011 and has since become Murphy’s most enduring series with 12 seasons to date . The anthology features a rotating cast and new settings each season, including Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, Roanoke, Cult, Apocalypse, 1984, Double Feature, NYC, and Delicate . The franchise has won 17 Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes . Recurring cast members include Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, and Emma Roberts. A spin-off anthology series, American Horror Stories, premiered on FX on Hulu in 2021 . It features standalone horror episodes rather than full-season arcs.
The American Crime Story Franchise
American Crime Story launched in 2016 with The People v. O.J. Simpson, which earned 10 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Limited Series . The second installment, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, won seven Emmys in 2018 including Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Directing for Murphy . The third installment, Impeachment, focused on the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal and received five Emmy nominations in 2021 . This anthology dramatizes high-profile true-crime cases from recent American history, blending courtroom drama with cultural commentary . The series has become a critical darling and awards magnet across its three seasons.
The Feud Anthology
Feud debuted on FX in 2017 with Bette and Joan, chronicling the legendary rivalry between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford during the filming of What Ever Happened to Baby Jane . That season won two Emmy Awards and earned four Golden Globe nominations . The second installment, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, premiered in January 2024 and garnered 10 Emmy nominations and one win . The series explores iconic Hollywood rivalries and the price of fame, with each season focusing on a different historical feud .
The Monster Franchise on Netflix
Murphy created the Monster anthology for Netflix starting with Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story in 2022. Starring Evan Peters, it became the third most successful series in Netflix history with over 701 million hours viewed in its first three weeks . It earned 13 Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nominations, winning one in each category . The second installment, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, received three Golden Globe nominations and 11 Emmy nominations . The third installment, Monster: The Ed Gein Story, starring Charlie Hunnam, Laurie Metcalf, and Tom Hollander, debuted on Netflix in October 2025 . The fourth season, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, premieres on September 17, 2026, featuring Ella Beatty as Lizzie Borden and Sarah Paulson as Aileen Wuornos . This is the first season to center on a female killer, exploring what brings a woman to violence .
The 9-1-1 Franchise
The 9-1-1 franchise began in 2018 on Fox and has become one of the most popular shows on broadcast television . The procedural drama follows first responders in Los Angeles handling extraordinary emergencies, many based on real events . The spin-off 9-1-1: Lone Star premiered in 2020 and ran through 2025, set in Austin, Texas . A third series, 9-1-1: Nashville, starring Chris O’Donnell and Jessica Capshaw, has been announced . The franchise has been praised for its high-stakes action and criticized for its over-the-top storylines, but it consistently delivers strong ratings .
The Netflix Scripted Series
Murphy signed a landmark development deal with Netflix, producing several original series for the streamer. The Politician (2019-2020) starred Ben Platt as an ambitious student determined to become president, earning eight Emmy nominations and two Golden Globe nominations . Hollywood (2020) reimagined postwar Los Angeles in a revisionist fantasy about marginalized artists getting their due, earning 12 Emmy nominations . Ratched (2020) served as a psychological thriller prequel to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, reaching 48 million viewers in its first 28 days . Halston (2021), a miniseries about the fashion designer, earned Ewan McGregor an Emmy . The Watcher (2022), based on a true story about a stalker, was renewed for a second season . Murphy also produced documentaries including The Andy Warhol Diaries, Circus of Books, and My Secret Love .
Pose and Groundbreaking Representation
Pose aired on FX from 2018 to 2021 and is widely considered one of Murphy’s best works . The drama set in New York’s ballroom culture during the late 1980s and early 1990s made history by featuring the largest transgender series regular cast and the largest LGBTQ cast ever for a scripted series . The show earned 20 Emmy nominations, winning Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Billy Porter in 2019 . It also received six Golden Globe nominations with one win . Pose is notable for its intersectional storytelling and less cynical tone compared to Murphy’s other works .
Glee and Early Hits
Glee premiered on Fox in 2009 and became a cultural phenomenon, running for six seasons and garnering 40 Emmy nominations with six wins . The musical comedy-drama about a high school show choir spawned live concert tours, a concert film, and numerous Billboard Hot 100 hits from its cover songs . The show’s legacy was forever marked by the tragic death of cast member Cory Monteith in 2013 . Before Glee, Murphy created Nip/Tuck (2003-2010), a darkly comic satire about plastic surgeons that ran for seven seasons and earned a Golden Globe and an Emmy . His first series was Popular (1999-2001) on The WB, a high-school satire about two girls forced to become stepsisters despite being on opposite sides of the popularity divide .
Scream Queens and Other Series
Scream Queens ran on Fox from 2015 to 2016 as a campy horror-comedy starring Emma Roberts, Ariana Grande, Billie Lourd, Keke Palmer, and Jamie Lee Curtis . The New Normal (2012-2013) was a short-lived NBC comedy based on Murphy’s own experience having a child via surrogate, starring Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells . American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, a limited series about the NFL player, premiered in 2024 . Grotesquerie, starring Niecy Nash-Betts, and Doctor Odyssey, starring Joshua Jackson, both debuted in 2024 . Mid-Century Modern, a comedy starring Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham, is in production .
Recent and Upcoming Projects
All’s Fair, a Hulu legal drama starring Kim Kardashian, Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, and Naomi Watts, premiered in 2025 . It received widespread critical contempt with a 6% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, yet was renewed for a second season due to its cult following . The Beauty, a new original series starring Evan Peters, Jeremy Pope, and Ashton Kutcher, premiered in 2026 and is already polarizing audiences . The Shards, based on Bret Easton Ellis’s novel, premiered on FX and Hulu in August 2026 . Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette is an FX limited series with Naomi Watts as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis .
Where to Watch Ryan Murphy Shows
Ryan Murphy’s shows are spread across multiple platforms due to his various network and streaming deals. Most of his FX series, including American Horror Story, American Crime Story, Feud, Pose, and The Shards, are available on Hulu. The Netflix originals, including the Monster franchise, The Politician, Hollywood, Ratched, Halston, and The Watcher, stream exclusively on Netflix. The 9-1-1 franchise airs on ABC and Fox, with streaming availability on Hulu. Glee and Nip/Tuck are available on various streaming services depending on current licensing deals.
The Common Threads Across His Work
Ryan Murphy shows share several distinctive characteristics that make them instantly recognizable. His work blends high camp with melodrama, bold color palettes, and fearless genre-bending . He frequently works with a stable of recurring actors including Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Emma Roberts, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett across multiple series . His shows consistently explore social commentary on LGBTQ issues, racism, mental health, family dysfunction, and the dark side of fame . Critics often praise his commitment to representation while criticizing his shows for style over substance or controversial handling of true crime . This polarizing quality has defined his career, making him both celebrated and debated throughout his reign in television .1. How many Ryan Murphy shows are there in total?
Ryan Murphy has created or co-created over 20 scripted television series across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. This includes major franchises like American Horror Story (12 seasons), American Crime Story (3 seasons), Feud (2 seasons), and Monster (3 seasons and counting), plus standalone hits like Glee, Pose, and the 9-1-1 franchise. Counting all seasons, episodes, and spin-offs, his television output exceeds 500 individual episodes.
2. What is Ryan Murphy’s most successful show by viewership?
The Monster franchise on Netflix holds the viewership record, with Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story becoming the third most watched series in Netflix history with over 701 million hours viewed within its first three weeks. Among his broadcast shows, Glee was a cultural phenomenon with 40 Emmy nominations, while the 9-1-1 franchise consistently delivers top ratings on ABC and Fox.
3. Why do the same actors appear in so many Ryan Murphy shows?
Ryan Murphy is known for maintaining a rotating repertory company of actors who appear across multiple series. Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Emma Roberts, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett are among his most frequent collaborators. This artistic partnership allows him to build trust with performers and create a familiar, versatile ensemble that can shift between horror, comedy, and drama across different projects.
4. Is American Horror Story connected to the Monster series on Netflix?
No, American Horror Story and Monster are entirely separate franchises. American Horror Story is a horror anthology on FX with fictional, supernatural storylines and a rotating cast each season. Monster is a true-crime anthology on Netflix that dramatizes real serial killers and high-profile criminal cases, including Jeffrey Dahmer, the Menendez brothers, Ed Gein, and Lizzie Borden. They share no characters or narrative connections.
5. What is the best Ryan Murphy show to start with as a new viewer?
The best entry point depends on genre preference. Horror fans should start with American Horror Story: Murder House, the original season that established his signature style. True-crime enthusiasts should begin with The People v. O.J. Simpson from American Crime Story. Drama lovers should watch Pose for its groundbreaking representation and emotional depth. Musical fans should start with Glee. For action and procedural drama, the 9-1-1 franchise is the most accessible choice.
