10 Best Horror Anthology Shows of All Time, Ranked

10 Best Horror Anthology Shows of All Time, Ranked


Through the years, the horror genre has evolved into various outlets and formats, giving its fans a plethora of options to choose from when they want that occasional ghost story or entertaining scare. Television has taken the genre by storm with countless series, including anthology horror series which reign as some of the spookiest and scariest contributions to the iconic genre.




While the serialized series is always enjoyable, the beauty of the anthology formula is the consistent unpredictability and guaranteed variety that keeps audiences hooked. There are some notable series, such as Rod Serling‘s The Twilight Zone and Netflix’s Black Mirror that occasionally toe the line of horror, but both series, as excellent as they are, fall more into the science-fiction category compared to others like Tales from the Crypt and American Horror Story. Both series are phenomenal sci-fi anthology series, but when it comes to more horror-filled television series, there are some that simply stand out with their level of chills and thrills.


10 ‘Goosebumps’ (1995-1998)

Created by R.L. Stine

Goosebumps-Haunted-Mask 1


R.L. Stine‘s famous young adult horror and supernatural book series, Goosebumps, was controversial during the 1990s, but the series’ immense popularity eventually led to an anthology television series. Most of the episodes are direct adaptations of Stine’s books and feature the same creepy elements that initially hooked readers.

Stine cultivated an intriguing blend of terror and thrills that was all in good fun and, while some may argue it wasn’t suitable for kids, it was still a solid horror anthology series. For those who grew up reading Goosebumps, the anthology series is a must-see and accurately depicts Stine’s words onto the small screen fairly well, especially for a 90s series. The popularity of Goosebumps continues to live on and even spawned a reboot of the series in 2023 as well as two films starring Jack Black as the infamous Stine.

Release Date
October 27, 1995

Cast
R.L. Stine , Corey Sevier , Caterina Scorsone

Seasons
4


9 ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ (1992-2000)

Created by D.J. McHale and Ned Kandel

Nickelodeon’s horror series Are You Afraid of the Dark? follows a group of kids known as the Midnight Society who meet at night around a campfire, each sharing a different tale of horror and fright. The campfire and dark, shadow-filled woods effortlessly immerse viewers in the array of stories that vary from episode to episode, keeping a nice level of unpredictability. The interesting quality of Are You Afraid of the Dark? was its unique style and variety of stories which were either based on popular short stories, urban legends, or fairytales, but they always ended with a happy ending.


Co-creator D.J. McHale revealed that the formula of the series was partially inspired by Rod Serling‘s The Twilight Zone and McHale’s choice to write the reoccurring opening line in the show, “submitted for your approval,” is a nod to Serling’s iconic series. The series was rebooted in 2019, running for three seasons, and even though it remained true to the original anthology series, there’s something about the original that gives a spooky nostalgic feel that the reboot failed to capture.

Watch on Paramount+

8 ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ (1955-1962)

Created by Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock behind bars in 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'
Image via CBS

Alfred Hitchcock‘s signature television series, Alfred Hitchcock Presents featured episodes ranging from psychological thrillers to haunting, puzzling mysteries that were in line with The Master of Suspense’s iconic style of storytelling. Created and hosted by Hitchcock, Alfred Hitchcock Presents also had an array of stars who appeared in various episodes, such as Clint Eastwood, Bette Davis, Peter Lorre, and Robert Redford, making it a beloved anthology series today.


Hitchcock was one of the first to create a popular anthology series that dabbled in various genres that effectively kept audiences’ tuning in for ten seasons. In 1962, the name of the series was changed to The Alfred Hitchcock Hour but still remained true to the show’s original format, running for several additional seasons before ending in 1965. The series might not be on the same level as the more modern fear-induced stories, but for those who enjoy casual fright or a nail-biting suspenseful thriller, Alfred Hitchcock Presents is right up your alley.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

Release Date
October 2, 1955

Creator
Alfred Hitchcock

Seasons
7

Watch on Peacock

7 ‘Creepshow’ (2019-2023)

Created by Greg Nicotero


Creepshow is a horror anthology series that serves as a continuation of the 1982 movie of the same name written by Stephen King. Similar to the film, the television series pulls its stories from King’s comic book version, which ranges from centering around vampires and demons to ghosts and zombies. The series was also propelled by a series of notable guest stars, including Breaking Bad star, Giancarlo Esposito, Saw‘s Tobin Bell, and David Arquette, who initially gained his horror badge starring in the iconic slasher franchise, Scream.

Creepshow centers mostly around the traditional figures of terror but are thrown into the modern world, adding an unsettling realism to each episode. The series has been commended for staying true to King’s original works and the film while also forging its own path in the horror genre. Creepshow ran for four seasons and also led to two animated specials, A Creepshow Animated Special and A Creepshow Holiday Animated Special, taking the show into not only a new format but also carrying on its terrifying legacy.


Watch on Amazon Prime

6 ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities’ (2022-)

Created by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro sits at a desk filled with books and papers, talking to the camera in Cabinet of Curiosities.
Image via Netflix

The maestro of horror, Guillermo del Toro takes audiences into a world of fearful fantasy and shocking spectacles that make Cabinet of Curiosities a top-notch anthology horror series. The eight-episode series conveys a unique, Gothic-themed story that also varies in format, from stop-motion animation to live-action. Del Toro credits Rod Serling’s horror anthology series, Night Gallery, as the main inspiration behind Cabinet of Curiosities, as well as how he decided to open and close each episode.

For some, del Torro’s work is an acquired taste, but for any major horror fan, Cabinet of Curiosities is definitely worth checking out. The series is full of magnificent storytelling and the director’s noteworthy touch in each episode centering around a specific object to create a treasure trove of trinkets is the horrifically sweet cherry on top of this top-tier anthology horror series.


Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Release Date
October 25, 2022

Seasons
1

Watch on Netflix

5 ‘Masters of Horror’ (2005-2007)

Created by Mick Garris

Norman Reedus and Udo Kier in Masters of Horror Episode "Cigarette Burns"
Image Via Showtime

Mick Garris‘ horror anthology series, Masters of Horror, is exactly what it sounds like. The series features one-hour-long episodes (or “films”) which are each directed by a notable director of the horror genre, such as John Carpenter, Wes Craven, and Guillermo del Toro. A majority of the episodes are based on the works of famous authors, including H.P. Lovecraft, Richard Matheson, and Edgar Allan Poe, as well as original stories, which brings an element of anticipation for viewers.


Masters of Horror was met with rave reviews and cultivates a vivid collection of fear, anxiety, and suspense from some of the greatest minds to ever work in the horror genre. The show ran for two seasons and when Showtime opted not to renew the series, Garris made a deal with NBC but retitled the show, Fear Itself. Unfortunately, Fear Itself wasn’t as successful, mainly because of the restrictions that come with network television, but despite having only a few seasons, Masters of Horrors is a crucial horror anthology series that deserves to be on every horror fan’s list.

Masters of Horror

Release Date
October 28, 2005

Cast
Holly Marie Combs

Seasons
2

4 ‘Tales from the Crypt’ (1989-1996)

Created by Williams Gaines and Steven Dodd


Based on the 1950s EC Comics series, Tales from the Crypt is a campy horror anthology series that explores every dark corner of the horror genre with each episode being introduced by a smart-mouthed decaying corpse known as the Cryptkeeper. Tales from the Crypt had two notable elements, the first being aired on HBO, which allowed the show to showcase more graphic violence, nudity, and sexual scenarios. The second was the string of big names who appeared in episodes throughout the series’ run, including Demi Moore, Bill Paxton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Tim Curry.

With those two elements in mind, Tales from the Crypt did have a stroke of genius by bringing some of the most talented stars at the time to portray a diverse collection of stories which most were based on the comic book series or stories within other EC Comics. Between the cheeky host and a group of exceptional talent, Tales from the Crypt is a groundbreaking horror anthology series that, even today, never fails to strike a bit of fear into viewers.


Buy on Amazon

3 ‘Channel Zero’ (2016-2018)

Created by Nick Antosca

Holland Roden has entered a weird realm in Channel Zero: Butcher's Block.
Image via Syfy

Syfy’s Channel Zero is a horror-filled anthology series created by Nick Antosca and instead of the stories varying by each episode, each season follows a different story based on a popular creepypasta story. The show ran for four seasons and was noted by many as unsettling but also refreshing, praising it for showcasing a new brand and untouched source of horror that took the internet by storm. Unlike a majority of other anthology series, Channel Zero takes a different approach of altering the stories by season instead of episode.


The series successfully found the perfect number of segments to effectively get the entirety of each story across six episodes per season, which keeps it from feeling dragged out or unfinished by the last episode. Channel Zero ranks as one of those shows that gets better and stronger each season and, considering it taps into a basically unknown market, Channel Zero gives horror fans a new collection of stories to keep them up at night.

Release Date
October 11, 2016

Seasons
4

Created by Rod Serling

Rod Serling hosting Night Gallery
Image via NBC

After the tremendous success of The Twilight Zone, Rod Serling returned to television with a set of spookier tales in the infamous horror anthology series, Night Gallery. Serling considered Night Gallery to be an extension of The Twilight Zone, which is why the series still taps into dark fantasy and science-fiction, but Night Gallery mainly centers around horror and the macabre with Serling’s traditional twists and turns.


From Serling’s voice to the transition from color to black and white, Night Gallery escorts audiences into a world of the unknown and unexpected terror that, even today, sends shivers up the spine. In Serling’s signature style, he opened each episode with a viewing of a different painting that correlated with the story that was about to unfold. The paintings essentially set the ominous tone and mood before the story even begins. While Serling is typically known for The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery reigns just as high as the Fifth Dimension and is considered to be a quintessential horror anthology series that paved the way for future horror series.

Night Gallery

Release Date
November 8, 1969

Cast
Rod Serling , Joanna Pettet , Gary Collins , Susan Strasberg

Seasons
3

Rent on Amazon


1 ‘American Horror Story’ (2011-)

Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk

Jessica Lange as Sister Jude in American Horror Story Asylum looking at something off-camera
Image via Fox Network

American Horror Story is another series that doesn’t tell a different story every episode but instead follows a new story every season, each more wild and terrifying than the last one. Every season of American Horror Story takes a giant leap from setting to setting, ranging from modern-day Los Angeles to a 1950s traveling carnival, which is one of the biggest allures of the series. While the stories and settings are always a delightful surprise, the performances in the series are always flawless and are usually portrayed by a handful of recurring stars, such as Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, and Evan Peters.


The series has earned over three hundred award nominations, winning twenty-eight Primetime Emmy Awards in several categories, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie for Lange and Kathy Bates and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for James Cromwell. AHS has also earned several Golden Globe Award nominations and, most notably, won for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television film for Lady Gaga. With its notable star power and unlimited imagination of horror, gore, and terror, AHS is without question the best horror anthology series to date that never fails to deliver pristine shock value.

NEXT: The Best Horror TV Shows of All Time, Ranked



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