Ryan Murphy has a new horror thriller on his hands, and it's already making waves on streaming. The Shards, based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel, blends the dark, anthology-style commentary of American Horror Story with the glossy, edgy teen drama of Euphoria. The result? A show that's both nostalgic and unnerving, and it's quickly climbing the charts on Disney+ and Hulu.
Set in 1980s Los Angeles, The Shards follows a group of wealthy teenagers at a private school, where a new student's arrival coincides with a series of brutal murders. The era is known for its excess and glamour, but also for a wave of serial killers, and the show leans into that duality. The cast includes Igby Rigney as Bret Ellis, Homer Gere as Robert Mallory, Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds, Hayes Warner as Debbie Schaffer, and Graham Campbell as Thom Wright.
Since its premiere, The Shards has been a fixture in the top 10 on Disney+ and Hulu. In its fourth week, it ranks third globally on Disney+ and fifth on Hulu, according to FlixPatrol. It initially shot to number one, but has since been overshadowed by hits like Furious. Still, landing in the top five on both platforms is no small feat, especially for a new series with a polarizing reception.
Critical Reception: Love It or Hate It
The show has sparked strong opinions. Critics are split: it holds a 56% critic score and a 44% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Some praise its restraint, while others find it too sanitized compared to the source material. Collider's Gabrielle Moss noted the show's surprising restraint, while ScreenRant's Graeme Guttman called it "sanitized." On the flip side, CBR's Chris La Vigna described it as "masterful." It's the kind of divisive show that fuels conversation—and streaming numbers.
For fans of micro-budget horror, The Shards offers a different kind of scare—one that's more about psychological tension and style than jump scares. It's also a reminder that classic thrillers often rely on atmosphere, and this show delivers that in spades.
New episodes air Wednesdays at 9 PM on FX, and stream on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. The season finale is set for September 9, so there's still time to catch up before the story concludes.
Whether you're a fan of Murphy's previous work or just looking for a new binge, The Shards is worth a watch—if only to see what all the fuss is about.
