FX is kicking off 2026 with one of its boldest originals yet. The Beauty, a high-concept sci-fi body horror thriller from Ryan Murphy and Matthew Hodgson, premieres on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, and it wastes no time diving into unsettling territory. Blending extreme beauty standards, biotechnology, and graphic horror, the series imagines a world where perfection is no longer earned — it’s transmitted.
At the center of The Beauty is a so-called miracle sexually transmitted virus that can instantly transform ordinary people into flawless physical specimens. Perfect skin, ideal proportions, and model-level attractiveness become attainable almost overnight. But the cost of this shortcut is far higher than anyone anticipates.
As the virus spreads, elite models and influencers begin dying in violent, grotesque ways. The deaths appear random at first, but the pattern soon becomes impossible to ignore. Two FBI agents are pulled into an investigation that stretches across borders and industries, eventually leading them to a shadowy conspiracy involving a powerful tech billionaire and his global empire.
Ryan Murphy has described the series as a sharp critique of modern “Ozempic culture,” where rapid physical transformation is not only normalized but expected. The Beauty pushes that obsession to its logical extreme, asking how far society is willing to go — and what it’s willing to risk — to meet impossible standards of attractiveness.
The show is based on the 2016 Image Comics graphic novel created by Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley. Fans of the source material will recognize its core themes, but the FX adaptation expands the story’s scope significantly, leaning into Murphy’s signature blend of glamour, horror, and social commentary. The result is a visually striking series that juxtaposes runway aesthetics with visceral body horror.
Early buzz has been intense. The show’s trailer, which mixes high-fashion imagery with disturbing medical visuals, reportedly pulled close to 190 million views in its first week. That level of attention suggests The Beauty could become one of FX’s most talked-about releases since American Horror Story.
When and where to watch ‘The Beauty’
The Beauty premieres in the U.S. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The series airs live on FX at 9 p.m. ET, with the first three episodes launching on premiere night. Viewers who prefer streaming can watch the episodes next day — or even same night — on Hulu, where FX content is available on demand. Subscribers to the Disney Bundle can also stream Hulu directly within the Disney+ app.
For cord-cutters, FX is available through YouTube TV, which offers a free trial that includes live access to the premiere. This makes it possible to watch the show as it airs without a traditional cable subscription.
Internationally, The Beauty will stream on Disney+, making it accessible to viewers outside the U.S. Release timing may vary slightly by region, but Disney+ is confirmed as the primary global platform.
Travelers don’t have to miss out. Using a VPN allows subscribers to access their usual streaming services while abroad, ensuring uninterrupted access to FX, Hulu, or Disney+ depending on location.
Why ‘The Beauty’ stands out
What separates The Beauty from other sci-fi thrillers is its timing. In an era dominated by wellness hacks, cosmetic procedures, and AI-driven self-optimization, the series taps into real cultural anxieties. It doesn’t just ask what perfection looks like — it asks who profits from it, who pays the price, and what happens when the human body becomes a product.
With Ryan Murphy’s flair for provocation and FX’s willingness to push boundaries, The Beauty looks poised to be one of the most polarizing and conversation-starting shows of 2026. Whether viewers are drawn in by the mystery, the horror, or the social critique, this is one premiere that’s hard to ignore.
