50 Best Horror TV Shows For Every Phobophile Out There

1959 - 1964 | CBS | Seasons: 5
 
The Twilight Zone remains one of the highest-rated TV shows despite being made over 50 years ago and numerous TV shows trying to take its place. Though highly distinct from one another, each episode featured a fantasy or science fiction aspect and some form of a twist. In the original episodes, creator Rod Serling was the lone constant because he narrated the introduction and established the plot. His unusual style and genius approach gave The Twilight Zone a distinct, unique personality, perhaps why it remains among the best-remembered of all classic television programs. By attempting to deliver both high-quality entertainment and food for thought, The Twilight Zone took risks by experimenting with a wide range of stories and content. And it was done immaculately for the most part. Whether particularly frightening? There definitely were horror elements, and they were present in every episode. Still, the spooks weren't exactly why the show did so well. Television had never before seen anything like the intricacy and maturity that this show brought. The stories are brilliant, satirical, captivating, and often contain a moral lesson regardless of the year you watch them.

1993 - 2002; 2016 - 2018 | Fox | Seasons: 11
 
The series revolves around two FBI special agents, Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson). They investigate unresolved cases involving paranormal phenomena, known as the X-Files. Mulder believes that intelligent extraterrestrial life exists and that it inhabits the Earth. Agent Scully is quite the opposite. Scully views issues with complete objectivity because she is a medical professional and a born skeptic. She initially partners up with Mulder to disprove his unconventional ideas, frequently offering logical, scientific explanations for cases that are hard if not impossible to explain. The X-Files will always be regarded as a genuine hit television program and a significant milestone for Fox. It has endured years of airing, cast changes, location changes, fluctuating ratings, and cast changes. We believe we speak for everyone when we say this show has been a thrill. The truth is out there...

1990 - 1991 ; 2017 | ABC ; Showtime | Seasons: 3
 
The series starts with the young woman Laura Palmer's (Sheryl Lee) body being found in the small town of Twin Peaks, Washington. The investigation of the subsequent murder begins with Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), a relatively strange FBI special agent recruited to help solve the case. Throughout the investigation and the clues received in his dreams, Cooper is progressively introduced to the town's and its residents' web of mysteries and secrets. The show, which starts as a murder investigation, soon changes course to focus on the dark, bizarre mysteries that this town's seemingly innocent residents are hiding. Twin Peaks rates right up there among the best TV shows ever since there are so many fantastic episodes, moments, and phrases, along with a beautifully dreamy, sensitively affecting ambiance. It has enough to keep fans talking about it as one of the best shows for years to come. It is a world of secrets that have been revealed and secrets that perhaps shouldn't be displayed but are still sought after.

2011 - 2019 | Channel 4 ; Netflix | Seasons: 5
 
Imagine a TV show that doesn't have a consistent plot it follows but somehow makes sense in the overall picture. The series' premise is pretty tricky to explain, but let's give it a go. Take current events, such as the effects of social media or smartphones on our lives, as a starting point and make predictions about how they might develop in the future. That's pretty much Black Mirror in a nutshell. Each episode focuses on a different theme and offers a unique story with another protagonist. Black Mirror is yet another example of a fantastic anthology series with a very intriguing concept. The fusion of gloomy science fiction, drama, satire, and black humor results in a very clever TV series. This television series truly gets you to consider how quickly and easily things may spiral out of hand. Most definitely worth a look! Treat yourself and watch it.

2011 -  | FX ; Disney+ | Seasons: 10
 
Can't believe it has already been over 10 years that this show has been running! American Horror Story is another excellent anthology series featuring various people and set in the most unexpected locations. Imagine a house haunted by murderous spirits, an insane asylum from the 1960s, a witch coven, a freak show circus, a slasher summer camp, or a desolate beach town. Each season is designed as a stand-alone mini-series with its own beginning, middle, and finale. It also features a diverse cast of characters and locations. Even if several actors and actresses continue to appear for more than a year, they typically play entirely different characters in each season. Finding a unique show that deviates from the standard template for TV horror shows like this one is very refreshing. And c'mon, if the show has been running for 10 seasons, it must be good! P.S. There should be at least 3 more seasons!

 2014 - 2019 | HBO | Seasons: 3
 
Yet again, another anthology series, where each season includes a new cast and a new case in a different location. In the first season, two detectives named Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) and Rust Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) encounter one another while on a 17-year manhunt for a serial killer in Louisiana. To follow the two detectives' search, the series uses numerous timelines that jump from 1995, when the initial investigation was started, through 2012, when it was reopened. As the season progresses, as you would expect from this genre, the plot becomes more complex, and new suspects and prospective victims begin to surface. It's not very action-packed (don't worry, there's enough) as it's pretty slow-burning. However, it's an incredibly intriguing crime drama that grabs your attention and keeps you glued. True Detective stands out among the regular collection of sappy thrillers and sitcoms. And hey, there are 3 seasons to binge-watch!

2013 - 2015 | NBC | Seasons: 3
 
The show follows FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) as he examines the minds of the evilest criminals. Due to thinking like the psychopaths they deal with regularly, he has suffered immensely. He made the decision to leave to save his remaining sanity. But after being tricked into returning to the FBI, Will must learn new strategies for safeguarding himself against his perilous work. Therefore, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a psychiatrist with whom Will develops a strong relationship, joins him to help them find criminals. The two work together, and it looks like there is no enemy they can't capture, but Lecter is hiding something. And that something gets revealed. And it's horrifying. Hannibal features stunning visuals, intriguing characters, and a top-notch cast. Possibly the most visually striking criminal show ever. If you can watch it in a private, peaceful setting, this way, you can really enjoy the elaborate horror being served.

1997 - 2003 | The WB ; UPN | Seasons: 7
 
The show centers on the adventures of Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar). This young girl must fight vampires, demons, and other supernatural creatures as the generation's chosen slayer. Buffy is supported by a group of devoted friends, including Buffy's watcher, Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), who is tasked with informing, educating, and assisting Buffy throughout her battles with demonic forces, Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan), an intelligent nerd who becomes a witch, and Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendan), who has no supernatural abilities and gives the audience a "human" perspective to relate to. It's one of the few shows that will always be timeless. The performers' strength and writing quality really support this series and put it above the later releases featuring blood-sucking creatures. Although the show is called Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the characters are incredibly diverse, and each stands out on its own. Each undergoes tests and has their own subplot throughout the seven seasons, leading to remarkable character growth. Some stories in this series will make you laugh; others might make you shed a tear. Regardless, you genuinely identify with each character, which is missing in many current TV shows. It's evident that everyone involved put their best skills and a lot of heart into producing this one.

2010 - 2022  | AMC | Seasons: 11
 
Based on the eponymous comic book series, the story of the months, even years after a zombie apocalypse is told in perhaps one of the best-known zombie TV shows, The Walking Dead. It follows a group of survivors looking for a secure place to live, led by former police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). Their interpersonal tensions pose a more significant threat to their continued survival than the walkers who wander the country as the world overrun by the dead takes its toll on the survivors. The repeated exposure to death gradually changes the characters, and some become more desperate to survive, leading to often tragic turns and twists in the story. Over its relatively long airtime, many people became attached to this series, and The Walking Dead became a massive franchise. However, after over 10 successful years and the 11th season in progress, The Walking Dead will not return for Season 12. But hey, if you haven't watched it already, you have a few months left to binge-watch all seasons until the final episodes come out! Overall, it's perhaps one of our favorite shows AMC has ever produced. And one thing one you can't deny is that there is a solid reason it has spawned several sequels and even an entire trilogy of movies. P.S. It's because it's an incredibly good and enjoyable series!

2016 - 2018 | Syfy | Seasons: 4
 
In the first season, the show centers on Mike Painter (Paul Schneider), a child psychologist who returns home when a mysterious children's television program called "Candle Cove" starts showing after over thirty years of absence. Mike is the only one who seems to recall the 1980s program. He is increasingly concerned that it may have been connected to a string of terrifying incidents that occurred when he was a boy. One of them was the disappearance of his twin brother. Years later, "Candle Cove" airs again simultaneously as a dreadful string of deaths occurs. With other seasons, they all have a fantastic atmosphere and mysterious vibes that give you the creeps. Perhaps the only downside is that occasionally, the reveal and conclusion are where the series falls short. Nonetheless, this series is very much worth your time if you enjoy science fiction or horror. So do yourself a favor and watch Channel Zero.