(Photo by FX)
What do you do when you’ve conquered the worlds of network and cable TV, won a slew of awards for your efforts, and become one of the few household-name showrunners in the country? Do it all again.
Murphy, who made waves in 2018 with a record-breaking Netflix deal that resulted in series like Ratched and Halston, is also the executive producer in the latest installment of FX’s American Crime Story: Impeachment, which is about the Bill Clinton sex scandal of the 1990s and is created by Sarah Burgess. The new season, at 70% on the Tomatometer (as of September 8, 2021), caused an 8-point drop in the anthology series’ score, moving it lower on our list of Murphy properties.
The producer, writer, director, and showrunner has been hugely influential in the medium, inspiring a resurgence in TV musicals with his high-school set Fox series Glee, unleashing a flood of anthology projects with FX’s American Horror Story, creating trans awareness with his Emmy-winning FX show Pose, and gathering an informal troupe of fiercely loyal top acting talent, including Sarah Paulson, who portrays Clinton whistle-blower Linda Tripp in the new limited series. He has also been involved with several movies, such as directing Netflix’s film adaptation of the musical The Prom and directing and executive producing the HBO film adaptation of the AIDS crisis play The Normal Heart.
Here’s how Murphy’s movies and series stand so far by Tomatometer score. Click into TV titles to see how each season performed and which are Certified Fresh.
New this week to streaming video, we’ve got a horror film with an unusual take on the found footage format and an indie dramedy about pregnancy. Then, on Netflix and Fandor, we’ve got a wide variety of choices, ranging from thrillers (The Guest, Cure) to coming-of-age films (Ratcatcher, Emporte-moi) to true stories (24 Days, An Angel at My Table) and more. Read on for the full list:
On the anniversary of a classmate’s death, a group of high schools are being hunted — via Skype — by her malevolent spirit in this found-footage horror film.
Available now on: iTunes
Cobie Smulders stars in a dramedy about a high school teacher and a student who bond over their unplanned pregnancies.
Available now on: iTunes
This mockumentary centers on a small, newer California high school with an eccentric staff whose English teacher (Matt Letscher) wins the titular award.
Available now on: Netflix
Dan Stevens stars in a Certified Fresh sci-fi thriller about a recently discharged soldier who moves in with the family of an old Army buddy and proceeds to turn their worlds upside down.
Available now on: Netflix
This dramedy about a group of female Israeli soldiers and their monotonous professional responsibilities was a big box office hit in its native land and a critical hit abroad.
Available now on: Netflix
This French drama is based on the true story of a man who was held for ransom by religiously-motivated kidnappers.
Available now on: Netflix
Brittany Snow and William H. Macy star in this faith-based dramedy about a troubled woman who finds redemption working at a prayer call center.
Available now on: Netflix
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson stars as Herc, who, after completing his fabled labors, assembles a crew of fighters to topple a bloodthirsty megalomaniac.
Available now on: Netflix
In this Japanese crime thriller, a detective investigates a series of bizarre murders perpetrated by killers exhibiting signs of amnesia.
Available now on: Fandor
Jane Campion’s biographical drama is based on the three autobiographies of Janet Frame, who grew up in a poor, rural family and spent time in a mental institution before becoming a writer.
Available now on: Fandor
Nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1994, this Macedonian drama uses three interlocking storylines to explore the horrors of the Balkan conflict.
Available now on: Fandor
Lynne Ramsay’s (We Need to Talk about Kevin) feature debut follows the life of a 12-year-old boy growing up in a poor Scottish neighborhood whose residents are slowly being relocated.
Available now on: Fandor
Polish auteur Krzysztof Kieslowski’s drama follows two women (both played by Irène Jacob) who were born on the same day — one in France and the other in Poland — and ended up living eerily similar and metaphysically interconnected lives.
Available now on: Fandor
Abbas Kiarostami garnered worldwide acclaim for this spare, haunting tale of a man who seeks help in burying his body after taking his own life.
Available now on: Fandor
Set in 1976 on an Indian reservation, this thriller centers on a teenage drug dealer who runs afoul of a thuggish local government agent when her money is stolen and she is unable to pay him off.
Available now on: Fandor
This period drama from Canada follows a young girl coming of age in 1960s Quebec who becomes infatuated with one of her teachers.
Available now on: Fandor
Newly available for purchase on streaming this week are the second installment in a popular young adult sci-fi franchise and the fourth season of a hit HBO comedy series. Then, on subscription services, we’ve got a critically acclaimed animated comedy, and animated spinoff, the final season of a popular musical TV series, and more. Read on for details:
Tris (Shailene Woodley) and her fellow Divergents are on the run from evil overlord Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet), who wants to exterminate the rebels and take control of futuristic Chicago’s various factions.
Available now on: Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play
Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars in HBO’s hit comedy focused on US Vice President Selina Meyer and her eccentric staff.
Available in DigitalHD now on: Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play
In this Netflix original animated comedy, Will Arnett lends his voice to the title character, a washed-up former sitcom star — who happens to be an anthropomorphic horse — attempting to make a comeback and dealing with various personal issues.
Available now on: Netflix
As the nefarious octopus Octavious Brine (voiced by John Malkovich) plots against the world’s penguins, sour old penguin pals Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private join forces with a husky named Classified (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his team of animal spies to thwart him.
Available now on: Netflix
After 121 episodes and over 700 musical performances — as well as the tragic death of one of its stars — Fox’s hit series about a high school glee club came to an end with its sixth season, now available to stream.
Available now on: Netflix
Angelina Jolie earned an Academy Award nomination for her portrayal of Christine Collins, a Los Angeles woman whose son’s abduction in 1928 was only the beginning of an unbelievable ordeal that would go on to include her forced institutionalization and one of the most callous, bizarre cover-ups in law enforcement history.
Available now on: Netflix
Greg Poehler stars as a high-profile financial manager who uproots his life in New York to move to Stockholm for his Swedish girlfriend Emma (Josephine Bornebusch), whose friends and family he hopes to impress.
Available now on: Hulu
This documentary profiles a band comprised of the offspring of jazz legend Phil Cohran.
Available now on: Fandor
Judy Davis and Sam Neill star in this period drama about a free-spirited 19th Century Australian woman struggling for independence from the societal norms of her time.
Available now on: Fandor
