---
name: "Ryan Murphy"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/ryan-murphy"
fi1m_id: "ryan-murphy"
imdb_id: "nm0614682"
tmdb_id: 52779
wikidata_id: "Q316844"
roles: ["Director","Writer","Producer"]
born: "9 November 1965"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "director"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-05T04:18:08.948574+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Ryan Murphy

## Identity

Ryan Murphy

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/ryan-murphy
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** ryan-murphy
- **IMDb ID:** nm0614682
- **TMDB ID:** 52779
- **Wikidata ID:** Q316844
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Murphy_(producer), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316844, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0614682/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/52779

Director and writer. Born 9 November 1965 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 9 November 1965, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
- **Active:** 1999–present
- **Also known as:** Ryan Patrick Murphy
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 6 directing, 1 writing, 1 producing
- **Frequently works with:** [Alexis Martin Woodall](https://film.one/person/alexis-martin-woodall.md), [Michael Uppendahl](https://film.one/person/michael-uppendahl.md), [Brad Falchuk](https://film.one/person/brad-falchuk.md), [Elodie Keene](https://film.one/person/elodie-keene.md), [Anthony Hemingway](https://film.one/person/anthony-hemingway.md), [Craig Zisk](https://film.one/person/craig-zisk.md), [Crystle Roberson Dorsey](https://film.one/person/crystle-roberson-dorsey.md), [Gwyneth Horder-Payton](https://film.one/person/gwyneth-horder-payton.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 2 Emmys (2 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as director, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 69 (2), 2010s 78 (2), 2020s 55 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 72 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Mystery 1, Sci-Fi & Fantasy 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Murphy_(producer), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316844, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0614682/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/52779

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*POSE*](https://film.one/tv/pose.md) (78), [*American Crime Story*](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md) (78), [*Nip/Tuck*](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md) (70), [*Glee*](https://film.one/tv/glee.md) (68), [*The Beauty*](https://film.one/tv/the-beauty.md) (65), [*The Shards*](https://film.one/tv/the-shards.md) (56)
- **Netflix:** [*DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story*](https://film.one/tv/dahmer-monster-the-jeffrey-dahmer-story.md) (51)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Ryan Murphy

> Ryan Murphy makes glossy, grotesque television with a serious interest in outsiders. We value his willingness to risk bad taste, but his crowded storytelling too often leaves characters and the questions they raise waiting for attention.

In *The Beauty* (2026), physical perfection can be acquired through a treatment that can also do terrible damage. The premise suits a director repeatedly drawn to beauty culture, extremes and people who feel excluded. The series is worth considering for its grotesque invention, but its beauty-industry satire is blunt. That is a familiar hazard in work so eager to include another shock: the spectacle gets more attention than the people submitting to it.

The fascination with appearance was already there in *Nip/Tuck* (2003), his breakthrough blend of glossy drama and beauty-culture satire. *Glee* (2009) brought musical storytelling and teenage outsiders to a broad audience. With Brad Falchuk, he then launched *American Horror Story* (2011), allowing a new story with each season. The format suits his appetite for mixing genres, because each new season gives him somewhere else to take them. We understand the appeal of being able to begin again, though a new premise is no guarantee of a better-told story.

Large ensembles, recurring actors such as Evan Peters and theatrical production design are consistent features of Murphy's work. Those choices need performers who will take the material seriously, however extravagant it becomes. In *The Beauty*, the cast supplies that conviction rather than standing back from the grotesque premise. We recoiled at the transformations because the acting makes the bodily damage feel like suffering, not just an opportunity for gruesome invention. This is where the series earns its shocks, and where Murphy's taste for extremes works.

Writing with Matthew Hodgson on *The Beauty*, he starts with a question that ought to sustain horror and satire: what makes physical perfection so desirable? Across eleven episodes, the series keeps finding more to include without looking much harder at that desire. We do not need Murphy to become restrained for the sake of good manners. We would like him to stay with that question long enough to give the actors more to work with. Try *The Beauty* if body horror is your territory; eleven episodes is a long commitment to a satire this blunt.

## Biography

Ryan Patrick Murphy (born 9 November 1965) is an American television writer, director and producer. He was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Murphy created and produced series including *Popular* (1999–2001), *Nip/Tuck* (2003–2010), *Glee* (2009–2015), *American Horror Story* (2011–present), *Scream Queens* (2015–2016), *American Crime Story* (2016–present), *Pose* (2018–2021), *9-1-1* (2018–present), *The Politician* (2019–2020), *9-1-1: Lone Star* (2020–present), *Ratched* (2020), *American Horror Stories* (2021–present) and *DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story* (2022). He directed the films *Running with Scissors* (2006), *Eat Pray Love* (2010), *The Normal Heart* (2014) and *The Prom* (2020). He is credited as creator, writer and director on the 2026 series *The Beauty*.

Murphy has received six Primetime Emmy Awards from 36 nominations, a Tony Award from two nominations, and two Grammy Award nominations.

*Sources: imdb.com, fxnetworks.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (8)

### Directed (6) — the average rests on these

- *The Beauty* (2026), Fi1m 65, Creator, Writer, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-beauty.md)
- *The Shards* (2026), Fi1m 56, Writer, Creator, Director, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shards.md)
- *POSE* (2018), Fi1m 78, Writer, Director, Music Supervisor, Creator, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/pose.md)
- *American Crime Story* (2016), Fi1m 78, Executive Producer, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Glee* (2009), Fi1m 68, Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md)
- *Nip/Tuck* (2003), Fi1m 70, Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator — [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md)

### Wrote (1)

- *DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story* (2022), Fi1m 51, Writer, Creator, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/dahmer-monster-the-jeffrey-dahmer-story.md)

### Produced (1)

- *Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story* (2026), Fi1m 47, Executive Producer — [page](https://film.one/tv/monster-the-lizzie-borden-story.md)

## Complete filmography (51)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story* (2026), series, Executive Producer — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/tv/monster-the-lizzie-borden-story.md)
- *The Shards* (2026), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Creator — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shards.md)
- *Love Story* (2026), series, Executive Producer
- *The Beauty* (2026), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Creator — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-beauty.md)
- *All's Fair* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Director, Writer, Creator
- *9-1-1: Nashville* (2025), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Monster: The Ed Gein Story* (2025), series, Executive Producer
- *Mid-Century Modern* (2025), series, Executive Producer
- *Doctor Odyssey* (2024), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *Grotesquerie* (2024), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Director, Creator
- *Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story* (2024), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator
- *American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez* (2024), series, Executive Producer
- *The Watcher* (2022), series, Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Mr. Harrigan's Phone* (2022), Producer
- *DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story* (2022), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Creator — Fi1m 51, [page](https://film.one/tv/dahmer-monster-the-jeffrey-dahmer-story.md)
- *The Andy Warhol Diaries* (2022), series, Executive Producer
- *American Horror Stories* (2021), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Music Supervisor, Creator
- *Pray Away* (2021), Executive Producer
- *Halston* (2021), series, Executive Producer, Writer, Music Supervisor
- *The Prom* (2020), Director, Producer
- *The Boys in the Band* (2020), Producer
- *Ratched* (2020), series, Executive Producer, Director
- *Pose-a-Thon for Pride* (2020), Director
- *Hollywood* (2020), series, Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Music Supervisor, Creator
- *A Secret Love* (2020), Producer
- *9-1-1: Lone Star* (2020), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creative Producer, Creator
- *The Politician* (2019), series, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Circus of Books* (2019), Executive Producer
- *POSE* (2018), series, Executive Producer, Director, Writer, Music Supervisor, Creator — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/pose.md)
- *9-1-1* (2018), series, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *FEUD* (2017), series, Executive Producer, Director, Writer, Creator
- *American Crime Story* (2016), series, Director, Executive Producer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/american-crime-story.md)
- *Scream Queens* (2015), series, Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *The Town that Dreaded Sundown* (2014), Producer
- *The Normal Heart* (2014), Director, Executive Producer
- *Open* (2014), Executive Producer, Writer, Director
- *Mentiras Perfectas* (2013), series, Creator
- *The New Normal* (2012), series, Director, Writer, Creator
- *Monster* (2012), series, Executive Producer
- *American Horror Story* (2011), series, Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Glee: The Concert Movie* (2011), as Backstage Interviewer (voice) (uncredited) · Writer, Producer
- *Eat Pray Love* (2010), Director, Screenplay
- *Glee* (2009), series, Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Executive Music Producer, Creator — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/glee.md)
- *Factory Girl* (2006), Assistant Editor
- *Running with Scissors* (2006), Director, Producer, Screenplay
- *Nip/Tuck* (2003), series, Writer, Director, Executive Producer, Creator — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/nip-tuck.md)
- *Popular* (1999), series, Writer, Director, Creator
- *Pretty/Handsome*, series, Director, Writer, Executive Producer, Creator
- *A Chorus Line*, series, Executive Producer, Creator
- *Janet*, Producer
- *Queen B*, series, Creator

## Gallery

- ![Ryan Murphy](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-2ad4cede0e16.jpg) Ryan Murphy — iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Ryan_Murphy_at_PaleyFest_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-61d13e3ed731.jpg) Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Glee_%288223698423%29.jpg/1280px-Glee_%288223698423%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-f2b0730b603a.jpg) Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Glee_%288223699381%29.jpg/1280px-Glee_%288223699381%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-1dcec38bc67a.jpg) Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Glee_%288223754785%29.jpg/1280px-Glee_%288223754785%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Ryan Murphy](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-c99c88df5277.jpg) Ryan Murphy — Image via TMDB
- ![Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-195eaff7dd4c.jpg) Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Glee_%288223755631%29.jpg/1280px-Glee_%288223755631%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/22854/gallery-a7b553075b7a.jpg) Matthew Morrison, Ian Brennan, Ryan Murphy, Jane Lynch, Jessalyn Gilsig and Brad Falchuk 69th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY  (2010) — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Glee_%288223755631%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 2 won

- 2018: Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special (won), for *The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story*
- 2010: Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (won), for *Glee*

### Other awards — 2 won

- Carol Burnett Award 2023: Carol Burnett Award (won)
- VH1 Trailblazer Honors 2018: VH1 Trailblazer Honors (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/ryan-murphy