‘Euphoria’ Fans Are Already Obsessed With Ryan Murphy’s New ‘Scream’ Replacement
Ryan Murphy's television output in 2026 exemplifies his established trajectory of generating industry recognition whilst remaining deeply polarizing to reviewers and audiences. His latest slate includes a legal comedy-drama featuring Kim Kardashian that received Emmy nominations despite overwhelmingly poor critical ratings, demonstrating Murphy's ability to secure industry accolades even when critical consensus suggests otherwise.
Murphy's newest project, grounded in Bret Easton Ellis' semi-autobiographical prep school narrative with elements of genre thriller, achieved immediate commercial dominance upon its FX release, ascending to top viewership globally within days despite attracting divided critical responses. The trajectory reinforces Murphy's established formula: expansive ensemble casts, genre experimentation, and deliberately exaggerated storytelling continue attracting large audiences independent of critical approval.
- Ryan Murphy released three series on FX in 2026, with 'All's Fair' (Kim Kardashian legal drama) garnering Emmy nominations despite a 6% Rotten Tomatoes score
- Murphy's new drama adapted from Bret Easton Ellis' autobiographical novel debuted at #1 on global Disney+ charts immediately after its August 5 premiere
- Murphy maintains his pattern: provocative, camp-inflected storytelling that generates critical division but consistent commercial success
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Ryan Murphy is a prolific American television producer known for shows such as Glee, American Horror Story and various Netflix true-crime dramas. He has built a reputation for turning out big, star-studded, often deliberately over-the-top projects at a rapid pace, frequently landing awards attention even when critics are unimpressed. His work regularly sits at the centre of debate about the gap between industry recognition and popular or critical opinion.
His latest series is based on a semi-autobiographical novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the author behind books like American Psycho, and is set in a prep school with thriller elements. It was released on the FX network, which is also behind other Murphy projects, and quickly became one of the most-watched shows worldwide, despite mixed reviews from critics.
This matters because it fits a wider pattern in television of shows achieving huge audience numbers while dividing critics, raising questions about how success is measured in the streaming era and what draws viewers to Murphy's productions specifically.