A horror show? Anthology? Thriller and supernatural? Moreover, drama? That sounds like American Horror Story, no matter how you see it.
Although we have never been super fans of horror films and series, we have a weak spot for some like “The Conjuring,” “The Exorcist,” “Black Mirror,” and you know, those that have made history since their releases. (We still stick to other series like “Breaking Bad,” though).
For the series, we have to admit we skipped American Horror Story several times because we didn’t feel it was cut for us. However, we are happy we went back to our decision and changed it.
Today, this horror television series is part of our favorites. Here’s what you must be thinking: Aren’t all of them our favorites? Not really.
We could go on about how many and which ones we don’t like. However, we prefer to focus on our topic at hand, how good is American Horror Story?
It is, indeed, not for everyone. But those who decide to give it a try may find themselves attracted to more than one show theme.
With this in mind, have you already watched it? Or trying to decide to do it? Whatever it is, we have got some info that can make you decide to do it or help you have more knowledge about the show.
Too Scary to Watch? – American Horror Story’s Plot
The title or name of the show already gives you a heads-up, so we don’t think it is that necessary to mention what you can expect.
But if you aren’t familiar with the TV show yet, here is some plot that can make you grow eager to binge it.
First, you must know that the series has several seasons. However, since it is based on an anthology genre, you can expect different themes and stories throughout each season.
Basically, the horror series is episodic, and each season tells a new story.
The first season centers on a haunted house and the family who has moved in.
The house hides such a troubled past that the family is involved in more than just some ghosting activity.
The second season is about an insane asylum and the man wrongly accused of killing several women, including his wife. Or did he kill them?
The third season follows a group of witches who try to find their “supreme.” These witches are descendants of those who survive the Salem witch trials and have been hiding their identities in the modern world.
For the fourth season, we have a focus on a freak show and the lives of its participants. Set in 1952, this show is definitely struggling to remain alive and continues scaring people whenever they visit. But mostly with their own dreams and desires.
The fifth season concerns the employees and guests of the Hotel Cortez in New York, which was built as a secret torture chamber during the 1920s.
Next, the sixth season concerns a farmhouse in North Carolina that is being occupied by ghosts of lost colonists and other bizarre happenings.
Remember the witches? We have a cult for the seventh season in the fictional town of Brookfield Heights, Michigan. The town is divided due to Donald Trump’s election. Unlike the previous ones, this doesn’t feature supernatural elements.
We are set in the future during the eighth season, where an Antichrist is about to bring the Apocalypse to our world by instigating nuclear warfare. Are there any survivors?
The ninth season was set in 1984 follows a new counselor, Brooke Thompson, who is trying to redo her life after her encounter with a serial killer. What she didn’t know was that another was about to come…
For the tenth and latest season, it is divided into more than one part. The first one follows a struggling writer with a pregnant while and a daughter who moved to an isolated beach town. While looking for some peace, they wouldn’t know that the town’s residents would be more of a problem than they thought.
More seasons are yet to come as the eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth seasons have been confirmed—some of them with the witches from the previous season returning to their starring roles.
We know it is a lot to take in, and you are more likely to watch the first season (of course) if you haven’t binged the series.
However, this is what you must remember:
A family in mourning. Residents and workers of an insane asylum. A coven made of witches. Circus freaks; next, employees and guests of a struggling hotel to move on with members of a small suburban Michigan community.
Some survivors of the Apocalypse and counselors at a creepy camp are all subject to psychological and physical horrors, and some town residents are quite problematic (and scary).
Production & Cast: Large Teams All the Way
For so many reasons, it is only natural to have a large cast involved and the crew.
As the creator, executive producer, and director, we can find Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck.
Other members of the executive production involve Dante Di Loreto, Tim Minear, James Wong, Jennifer Salt, Bradley Buecker, Alexis Martin Woodall, Crystal Liu, Adam Penn, John J. Gray, and Sarah Paulson, and Manny Coto (who joined for season 10).
As producers, we have fewer members. Alexis Woodall joined for seasons 1-3 only, while Patrick McKee, Robeert M. Williams Jr., Ned Martel, Lou Eyrich, and Evan Peters (season 10) are part of the current ones.
Cinematography has been in the hand of many. Christopher Baffa, Michael Goi, Gavin Kelly, and Andrew Mitchell. While editors are Fabienne Bouville, Ken Ramos, and Adam Penn.
Finally, the production companies involve 20th Television, Ryan Murphy Television, and Brad Falchuk Teley-Vision. At the same time, the first was the distributor from 2011 to 2020, but Disney Platform Distribution took the lead from 2020 and the present.
With an average of 12 episodes, you can expect a lot to watch when deciding to binge it.
Now, what about the cast? This is the complicated part.
Although American Horror Story has most of the main actors and actresses taking roles in the following seasons (basically, the main ones continue to be part of the primary cast throughout seasons), there are many additions.
Some people like Evan Peters, Taissa Farmiga, Denis O’Hare, Sarah Paulson, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Kathy Bates, and Angela Bassett are part of the main cast members and appear in over half of the seasons.
Others like Connie Britton, Taissa Farmiga, Jessica Lange, and Joseph Fiennes have been part of the main cast but are not as recurring as other members in terms of the number of seasons done.
But besides these incredible primary actors and actresses, several guest stars have appeared:
- Naomi Campbell.
- Stevie Nicks.
- Ian McShane.
- Mare Winningham.
- Neil Patrick Harris.
While guest starring and recurring ones involve Christine Estabrook, Shelby Young, Alexandra Breckenridge, and over another 20 people.
The cast is huge, and we could keep going for a while.
Money & Critics: How Popular Is It?
Well, American Horror Story is definitely one of those TV shows people continue to look forward to whenever a new season is confirmed.
In fact, it is one of the VERY few horror and thriller series airing to this date. Others have been either canceled or fell to the void after a few seasons.
Thus, you can expect quite a good critical response.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, all seasons have an average of 80% positive reviews, being the fifth season the lowest rated with only 64%.
Meanwhile, Metacritic isn’t that optimistic or good. Most of the seasons place it between 60-70 points. However, the reviews for the last two seasons aren’t available.
But what about fans and viewers? Aren’t ratings what matter?
Through seasons one to six, the show had an average of between 2.5 and 4 million viewers, while the last four seasons fell quite a lot with an average from 1 to 2 million.
Although the ratings haven’t been the best for the last ones, people continue watching eagerly. After all, the anthologies continue to offer great jump scares and suspense to make you turn your eyes.
Now, entering the money phase, there’s the only information available from season 5 to 9.
The budget for season 5 was set at $40 million, while the others followed with $33, $31, $37, and $43+ million, respectively.
But what about the earnings?
Well, this information isn’t usually disclosed. Instead, we always get the viewers and ratings for people to calculate an estimate.
Unfortunately, we are unable to do so since we don’t know the ads revenues, marketing, and all the expenses and sources of income the show has. So, we owe you this detail.
But What About the Actors? – Cast Member Salaries
When we talk about numbers, the show’s earnings aren’t the only ones we can mention.
With so many members and actors involved, we can focus on their salaries for a bit.
Although these details haven’t been disclosed either, we can give you some averages.
Most of the recurring actors from the main cast earn between $75,000 and $150,000 per episode.
However, some of them, like Evan Peters, a producer now and the only member who has appeared in 90% of the seasons (excluding the ninth), have great pay.
In fact, some reports say he earns about $175,000 per episode and has a percentage based on the show’s profits.
Others like Sarah Paulson and Emma Roberts have a great salary as well, following Peters. Most likely set at $150,000.
For secondary members and other recurring actors and actresses, salaries range between $20,000 to $50,000 for an episode.
Everything depends on the popularity of the guest stars as well.
Now, to add a bit more before saying goodbye. Do you need a few reasons to watch the TV series? We can give you several:
- It differs from people’s classic sitcom (which they prefer) but doesn’t disappoint.
- You will be impressed by the sharp sense of the characters.
- Did we already mention there are way too many complex characters but also oddball characters? Look forward to that.
- Outstanding performance is an understatement.
- Each dark story is properly introduced thanks to the diverse cast.
- The creative team behind the seasons is going ballistics.
5 Spooky Facts About American Horror Story
- Some of the cast members’ real phobias were used in the series to make it even more real.
- The fifth season, “Hotel,” is based on two real-life murder hotels. The entire series, despite
- different stories and times, is connected.
- Lady Gaga stars in the fifth season as well.
- You can rent the mansion used for the third season, “Coven,” and have some spooky experiences yourself.
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