The FX series The Beauty, released in early 2026, has ended a troubling critical trend for producer Ryan Murphy by earning his highest Rotten Tomatoes score since 2024. This horror satire explores a sexually transmitted treatment that grants beauty but triggers violent, deadly side effects, centering on agents determined to halt its spread. The show’s mix of dark humor and horror, paired with a star-studded cast, has attracted both audience attention and positive critical reaction, marking a significant shift in Murphy’s recent reception.
Strong Cast and Source Material Behind The Beauty’s Success
Featuring stars such as Ashton Kutcher, Isabella Rossellini, Rebecca Hall, Anthony Ramos, Evan Peters, Ari Graynor, and Bella Hadid, The Beauty draws from the 2016 comic book by Jeremy Haun and Jason A Hurley. The FX series reflects Murphy’s signature style, including bold marketing tactics and edgy content reminiscent of his previous work. Despite initial controversy over similarities to the film The Substance, the show has been praised for its anarchic, clever narrative and compelling performances.
The Beauty Outperforms Previous Ryan Murphy Projects on Rotten Tomatoes
The Beauty rapidly became Hulu’s most-watched show during its premiere weekend, surpassing titles like Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Critically, it holds a 74% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, just trailing behind Murphy’s 2024 series Grotesquerie, which earned 75% for its dark and twist-filled crime-horror story. This marks a noteworthy achievement given Murphy’s prolific creative output between 2024 and 2026, which includes several other series with mixed critical results.
In 2025 alone, Murphy created shows such as 9-1-1: Nashville, Doctor Odyssey, and Monster: The Ed Gein Story, and held executive producer roles on Mid-Century Modern and All’s Fair. Although Mid-Century Modern, with an 88% rating, outperformed The Beauty, Murphy’s executive producer role there distinguishes it from his creator credits. Conversely, All’s Fair received dismal feedback despite Murphy’s involvement.
Examining Ryan Murphy’s Career Pattern Through Critical Response
Murphy’s 2025 work encountered extreme fluctuations in reception, with the Kim Kardashian-led series All’s Fair initially hitting 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, now slightly improved to 6%. This ranks as Murphy’s lowest-rated project in his extensive career. In contrast, his horror-themed shows consistently attract stronger critical acclaim. His most successful scores frequently come from this genre, covering titles like The Beauty, Grotesquerie, American Horror Story, and Scream Queens.
When categorized, horror pieces by Murphy have generally scored from 66% to 77%, exemplified by The Beauty’s 74% and Scream Queens’ 77%. Non-horror dramas such as Monster: The Ed Gein Story (41%), Doctor Odyssey (63%), and the 2019 political satire The Politician (51%) show comparatively weaker scores. This pattern underlines Murphy’s consistent strength within the horror and horror-comedy format, as confirmed by critics’ positive focus on The Beauty.
“The story is provocative and innovative, and the performances throughout are worthy of recognition and celebration. Yes, it can feel like a parody, and there is over-the-top humor at points, but the final result is genuinely brilliant.”
— Ben Gibbons, ScreenRant critic
The Beauty’s Acclaim Balances Out a Disappointing Year for Murphy
Despite initial concerns about The Beauty’s resemblance to other works in the genre, the show earned praise for its campy, gruesome interpretation of body horror that retains a sense of fun and self-awareness. The series capitalizes on its diverse and talented cast while delivering unexpected plot developments that differentiate it from previous similar stories.
This success contrasts sharply with Murphy’s prior 2025 releases, such as Monster: The Ed Gein Story and All’s Fair, which were widely criticized for poor concept and execution. Whereas those productions failed to engage critics and audiences meaningfully, The Beauty reaffirms Murphy’s creative vitality and ability to craft engaging, distinctive television when working within his stronger genre fits.
Key Performances Contribute to The Beauty’s Impact
The contributions of Evan Peters, who portrays a character from The Corporation, and Rebecca Hall, in the role of Cooper Madsen, anchor the series’ ensemble. Their performances, alongside others in the cast, enhance the narrative’s blend of satire, suspense, and horror, helping the show appeal to a broad viewership and resonate with critics.
