The Best Horror TV Shows Of All Time

Key Takeaways

• TV horror shows offer deeper story development than movies, attracting large audiences and creating genre classics.
• Iconic horror series like
  Tales from the Crypt, The Walking Dead,
  and
  Kingdom
  blend drama with intense horror.
• Cult favorites like
  Hannibal, The Haunting of Hill House,
  and
  Stranger Things
  achieve success with unique storytelling and talented casts.

Over the years, television has given horror fans numerous classic series. While movies often enjoy bigger budgets, TV shows have the time and space to develop their stories, characters, and settings in greater depth. The best of the genre brings scares, shocks, and surprises, with each episode being one piece of a greater puzzle.

Some of these shows have become cultural phenomenons, reaching mass audiences and making stars of their cast. Others are cult hits that genre fans can’t get enough of. These horror TV shows span a wide range of styles and tones, but all have left an undeniable mark on the genre. Each series is a genre classic, bringing a unique mix of engaging drama and tense horror to the small screen.

10 Tales From The Crypt

A No-Holds-Barred Anthology Series

• Starring: John Kassir, Roy Brocksmith, Miguel Ferrer
• Broadcast: 1989-1996
• Seasons: 7

Hosted by the wise-cracking Cryptkeeper, Tales from the Crypt is a classic anthology horror show that aired on HBO for seven years. Tales from the Crypt presented a more adult tone than other TV horror shows, with higher levels of sexual content and graphic violence featured in its episodes.

Some of the series’ best episodes were “And All Through the House,” “The Ventriloquist’s Dummy,” and “Television Terror.” The show would spawn numerous spin-offs, including a radio show, a cartoon series, and several feature films. The show attracted many notable guest stars, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kirk Douglas. Tales from the Crypt was a cult favorite among horror fans and remains a beloved series from the early nineties.

9 The Walking Dead

The Long-Running Zombie Epic

• Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride
• Broadcast: 2010-2022
• Seasons: 11

Based on the popular graphic novel by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, The Walking Dead has become a horror institution, with several spin-off series to go along with the main offering. The Walking Dead initially follows Sheriff Rick Grimes after he wakes from a coma to find the world has fallen apart due to a zombie apocalypse. The show chronicles his attempts to keep his son safe while joining up with a group of survivors. The show soon expands into a large ensemble cast, with numerous parallel storylines and character arcs.

The Walking Dead blends tense human drama with gory zombie action. It became known for killing off beloved characters in shocking fashion, making it must-watch television. The franchise continues with numerous spin-off series, including 8 seasons of Fear the Walking Dead and the more recent, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon.

8 Kingdom

A Cult Korean Epic

• Starring: Ju Ji-Hoon, Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-ryong
• Broadcast: 2019-2021
• Seasons: 2

This brilliant horror epic blends addictive period drama packed with political intrigue and stunning backdrops with gore-drenched undead action. Set in 17th-century Korea, the show follows the story of Lee Chang, the crown prince of the realm, who discovers a deadly epidemic is spreading through the country, turning people into ravenous monsters.

Kingdom may only be two seasons long, but it has quickly earned a cult following. The show is filled with heart-pounding action and tense drama as characters contend with the living dead and political enemies. This is television on an epic scale and one of the best horror shows ever made.

7 Hannibal

A Stylish Origin Story

• Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne
• Broadcast: 2013-2015
• Seasons: 3

With outstanding performances from its central cast, Hannibal tells the story of the notorious serial killer and cannibal before his gruesome crimes are discovered. The show follows skilled FBI profiler Will Graham, who seeks the help of renowned psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter after his investigative work begins to take its toll.

Hannibal is a stylish psychological horror series that delves into the mind of a psychopath as he begins to play mind games with those around him. Mads Mikkelsen is great in the titular role, exuding a constant blend of danger and charm. The series would continue for three seasons and win multiple awards, and fans remain vocal in their desire for a fourth season focused on the story from The Silence of the Lambs.

6 The Haunting Of Hill House

An Eerie Ghost Story

• Starring: Victoria Pedretti, Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, Carla Gugino
• Broadcast: 2018
• Seasons: 1

This modern reimagining of the 1959 Shirley Jackson novel of the same name was an instant hit with viewers. Consisting of only a single season, the miniseries follows the story of five siblings whose traumatic ghostly experiences in their youths continue to haunt them into adulthood.

The series nails the haunted house atmosphere with shocking twists and chilling scares. Eagle-eyed viewers will also spot ghosts hidden throughout the show in seemingly innocuous scenes. The Haunting of Hill House was released to widespread acclaim, with critics praising its complexity, depth, and imagery.

5 The X-Files

A Major Television Event

• Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson
• Broadcast: 1993-2018
• Seasons: 11

The X-Files burst onto television screens in the early nineties and made a huge impact on popular culture. With genuinely creepy episodes, stars with excellent onscreen chemistry, and an iconic theme song, The X-Files was must-watch television. The show revolved around two FBI agents, Mulder and Scully, who investigated paranormal cases that no other agent would touch, from alien abductions and mythological creatures to psychotic killers with supernatural abilities.

With a heavy dose of government conspiracy thrown into the mix, the show was addictive viewing. The X-Files grew to become a huge hit and made superstars out of David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. Its cult-like appeal spread as the Internet grew and fans became devoted followers. The X-Files stands as one of the most successful shows of all time and a landmark in spooky television.

4 Stranger Things

A Welcome Return Of Nostalgia

• Starring: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder, David Harbour
• Broadcast: 2016-2025
• Seasons: 5

The brilliant sci-fi horror Stranger Things became a huge hit, making stars of its young cast and revitalizing the trends and music of the 1980s. The show appeals to a wide audience with its terrifying, Dungeons and Dragons-inspired monsters, heartfelt coming-of-age stories, and stylish filmmaking.

Stranger Things primarily revolves around a group of kids who attempt to save their friend from a dangerous world called the Upside Down and from the monster that hunts them. Throw in a secret organization, psychic powers, and a fantastic soundtrack, and Stranger Things hits all the right marks. The show has run for 4 seasons, with the fifth and final season coming in 2025.

3 The Last Of Us

A Brilliant Adaptation

• Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna
• Broadcast: 2023-Present
• Seasons: 2

Based on the popular video game, The Last of Us broke new ground for video game adaptions. With its high budget, excellent cast, and jaw-dropping story, the series struck a chord with the public coming out of the pandemic years. The show follows the story of Joel as he protects the last hope of humanity, Ellie, from the post-apocalyptic ruins of America.

At its core, The Last of Us is about two strangers forming a close bond through adversity. The show is full of tragedy, hope, and tense, terrifying action. With season 2 on the verge of release, The Last of Us is set to shock the viewing public once again in 2025.

2 Twin Peaks

Bringing Surrealism To Mainstream Television

• Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Lara Flynn Boyle, Michael Ontkean
• Broadcast: 1990-2017
• Seasons: 3

David Lynch’s classic series is filled with a disturbing undercurrent, where a hidden darkness lurks beneath the surface of the a quiet mountain town. Twin Peaks is a truly unique show, with Lynch’s trademark surrealism running throughout. The show follows FBI Agent Dale Cooper as he investigates the murder of a local girl, Laura Palmer.

Twin Peaks originally ran for two seasons and garnered a huge cult following. The show’s central premise of who killed Laura Palmer hooked viewers and made it must-watch television. A third season of Twin Peaks arrived in 2017 and is set 25 years after the original series. Twin Peaks is a classic that still holds up today. Lynch’s use of nightmarish imagery, offbeat characters, and addictive drama cemented the show’s place in TV history.

1 The Twilight Zone

An Influential Classic

• Starring: Rod Serling, Robert McCord
• Broadcast: 1959-1964
• Seasons: 5

This landmark anthology series would spawn feature films, a radio series, and even a theme park attraction. Blending many genres, such as sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, each episode would feature a new strange tale. While the series would return in the 80s and again in the 2000s and 2010s, the original five-season run would make the biggest impact and is still widely considered one of the best genre shows ever made.

The Twilight Zone would feature some classic horror episodes, such as “Living Doll” (1963), “After Hours” (1960), and “The Masks” (1964). The series helped to popularize science fiction and fantasy and would receive critical praise for its unique stories and moral themes. Its influence can still be seen today in shows such as Black Mirror and the work of Jordan Peele, who would also narrate the short-lived 2019 Twilight Zone return for two seasons.