12 Movies Like American Horror Story You Need to Watch
Craving eerie drama, horror, and sci-fi? Explore 12 unsettling picks like American Horror Story, Them, Black Mirror, and Lovecraft Country.
If you want movies like American Horror Story, the best place to start is with stories that mix dread, mystery, and character drama instead of relying on jump scares alone. This list pulls together haunting picks such as Lovely Molly, The Returned, and Them, plus genre-bending favorites like Black Mirror and Lovecraft Country. You’ll also find the world of American Horror Stories, which shares the same twisted DNA, alongside Being Human and American Horror Story itself for viewers who want eerie atmosphere with emotional stakes. Across these choices, the tone shifts from psychological horror to sci-fi unease, giving you plenty of ways to keep the tension going after the credits roll.
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01
American Horror Stories
4 Emmy nominations
drama · horror · mystery · thriller
An anthology series of stand alone episodes delving into horror myths, legends and lore.
Directed by Max Winkler, Loni Peristere, Alexis Martin Woodall, Manny Coto, Liz FriedlanderCast Sierra McCormick, Paris Jackson, Merrin Dungey, Selena Sloan, Ashley CarterHuluMore details on IMDb → -
02
Them
drama · horror · thriller
A limited anthology series that explores terror in America.
Directed by Craig William Macneill, Nelson Cragg, Ti West, Axelle Carolyn, Guillermo NavarroCast Deborah Ayorinde, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Melody HurdAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
03
Lovely Molly
drama · horror
A supernatural presence menaces a newlywed couple after they move into the wife's long-abandoned childhood home.
Directed by Eduardo SánchezCast Gretchen Lodge, Johnny Lewis, Alexandra Holden, Field Blauvelt, Ken ArnoldAMC+More details on IMDb → -
04
The Wicker Tree
drama · horror
Gospel singer Beth and her cowboy boyfriend Steve leave Texas to preach door-to-door in Scotland. When, after initial abuse, they are welcomed with joy and elation to Tressock, the border fiefdom of Sir Lachlan Morrison, they're about to learn the real meaning of sacrifice.
Directed by Robin HardyCast Brittania Nicol, Henry Garrett, James Mapes, Lesley Mackie, Clive RussellStarzMore details on IMDb → -
05
Being Human
drama · fantasy · horror
Three paranormal roommates, a ghost, a vampire, and a werewolf, struggle to keep their dark secrets from the world, while helping each other navigate the complexities of living double lives.
Directed by Paolo Barzman, Stefan Pleszczynski, Adam Kane, Jeff Renfroe, Charles BinaméCast Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington, Kristen Hager, Gianpaolo VenutaAmazon Prime VideoPeacock PremiumAMC+FreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
06
Black Mirror
Won 6 Emmys 2x Outstanding Television Movie · 25 nominations
crime · drama · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Twisted tales run wild in this mind-bending anthology series that reveals humanity's worst traits, greatest innovations and more.
Directed by Toby Haynes, Owen Harris, Carl Tibbetts, James Hawes, David SladeCast Anjana Vasan, Cristin Milioti, Jimmi Simpson, Jesse Plemons, Billy MagnussenNetflixMore details on IMDb → -
07
The Returned
1 BAFTA TV Award nomination
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery
In the shadow of an enormous hydraulic dam, the lives of the residents of a small French town are changed to their core when hundreds of previously dead relatives all return home on the same day.
Directed by Fabrice Gobert, Frédéric Goupil, Frédéric MermoudCast Anne Consigny, Clotilde Hesme, Frédéric Pierrot, Céline Sallette, Grégory GadeboisAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
08
Lovecraft Country
Won 2 Emmys Outstanding Drama Series (2021) · 18 nominations
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
The anthology horror series follows 25-year-old Atticus Freeman, who joins up with his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America to find his missing father. They must survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the malevolent spirits that could be ripped from a Lovecraft paperback.
Directed by Daniel Sackheim, Yann Demange, Cheryl Dunye, Misha Green, Victoria MahoneyCast Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Wunmi Mosaku, Abbey LeeMaxMore details on IMDb → -
09
Channel Zero
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · thriller
A horror anthology series inspired by “Creepypasta” online tales.
Directed by Craig William Macneill, Steven Piet, E.L. Katz, Arkasha StevensonCast Brandon Scott, Marina Stephenson Kerr, Abigail Pniowsky, Diana Bentley, Keenan LehmannAMC+More details on IMDb → -
10
Creepshow
fantasy · horror · mystery · thriller
A young boy's horror comic book comes to life in this anthology series of terrifying tales.
Directed by Greg Nicotero, John Harrison, Joe Lynch, Roxanne Benjamin, David BrucknerCast Carey Jones, Hannah Fierman, Kara Kimmer, David Alexander Kaplan, Fayna SanchezAmazon Prime VideoAMC+More details on IMDb → -
11
Castle Rock
1 Emmy nomination
drama · fantasy · horror · mystery · sci-fi · thriller
Based on the stories of Stephen King, the series intertwines characters and themes from the fictional town of Castle Rock.
Directed by Greg Yaitanes, Michael Uppendahl, Phil Abraham, Anne Sewitsky, Ana Lily AmirpourCast Bill Skarsgård, André Holland, Lizzy Caplan, Melanie Lynskey, Paul SparksNetflixHuluMore details on IMDb → -
12
The Terror
adventure · drama · horror · thriller
A chilling anthology series featuring stories of people in terrifying situations inspired by true historical events.
Directed by Tim Mielants, Edward Berger, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Michael Lehmann, Frederick E.O. ToyeCast Jared Harris, Derek Mio, Tobias Menzies, Kiki Sukezane, Paul ReadyAMC+More details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
Whether you want supernatural suspense, unsettling sci-fi, or a slow-burn mystery, this page brings together a strong mix of shows and films that capture the same dark appeal. Titles like Black Mirror, The Returned, and Lovely Molly prove that horror can be smart, emotional, and deeply unnerving at the same time. Bookmark this guide and come back whenever you want another eerie recommendation, since it’s updated regularly with fresh additions and new viewing ideas. If you’re chasing your next obsession, this is a solid place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to American Horror Story?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.