An anthology TV series is a show in which every episode features its own self-contained story, with a distinct beginning, middle, and end. On top of that, they also feature their own unique characters, settings, and plotlines, rarely seeing any overlap or continuity between subsequent or prior episodes. It’s a format that has been around for decades now, with varying degrees of success.
Because of how varied anthology series often are, many of them fluctuate in their consistency. Sometimes they’re awful; other times, they’re amazing. However, there have been a rare few that have gone above and beyond, to the point that pretty much every episode is a masterpiece in and of itself. The following is a list of anthology TV shows that fit that criterion.
10
‘Amazing Stories’ (1985–1987)
Amazing Stories is an anthology series created by none other than Steven Spielberg, one of the most famous and prolific filmmakers in Hollywood. Amazing Stories functions as a love letter to cinema itself, bringing together some of Hollywood’s finest to just let their imaginations run wild and allow them to tell stories that never got the chance to make it to the big screen.
As a result, the series really does live up to its name. Some of the talent includes the likes of Burt Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Danny DeVito, Brad Bird, and Robert Zemeckis, among many, many others. From sci-fi to fantasy, there are so many unique concepts explored in this series. This show never gets boring for a moment and is a passion project for all the heads involved in this wonderful piece of television.
9
‘Tales from the Crypt’ (1989–1996)
Tales from the Crypt is an iconic horror series hosted by the even more iconic Crypt Keeper — a creepy, zombified puppet who narrates all the individual stories in the show. This anthology series lasted for quite a while, which is a testament to its undying quality and consistency. It even went on to spawn a couple of spin-offs throughout the ’90s, all of which were actually based on a 1950s series of comic books.
Pretty much every subgenre of horror is touched upon in Tales from the Crypt, so whether you’re a fan of supernatural, psychological, or body horror, Tales from the Crypt has something that’ll be right up your alley. It’s kind of cheesy nowadays since its practical effects are a bit outdated, but they were still pretty impressive at the time. Moreover, it’s one of the greatest horror anthology series ever made — each episode is pretty much perfect.
8
‘Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities’ (2019)
Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is known for his brilliant dark fantasy films like Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape of Water. In 2019, the esteemed director scored a Netflix deal to produce an eight-part miniseries about all of his ideas that never made it to film. The result is Guillermo del Toro‘s Cabinet of Curiosities, an anthology series featuring many different aspects of horror and fantasy.
Like many of his movies, the episodes feature some pretty profound and mind-bending narratives, often including some monumental twists to keep things interesting. From ancient witchcraft to deadly demons, Cabinet of Curiosities is a memorable foray into the weird and wonderful mind of Guillermo del Toro. It’s a must-watch for any fans of his movies.
7
‘Channel Zero’ (2016–2018)
Channel Zero is a show that forgoes the typical “one story per episode” formula. Instead, it focuses on a “one story per season” style, allowing its stories to take more shape and develop more deeply. The premise was birthed by the internet, through the popular online medium of creepypastas. A creepypasta is a popular internet horror story that gets plastered all over the place, with the word itself being a combination of “creepy” and “copypasta,” which itself comes from “copy and paste.”
Channel Zero takes some of the most popular creepypastas and adapts them to the small screen, starting with the popular story of Candle Cove. Each subsequent season follows a different creepypasta, which is sort of a dream come true for any creepypasta fans. As far as horror series go, every episode is a true masterpiece, which is why it’s such a shame the show was so short-lived.
6
‘Star Wars: Visions’ (2021–Present)
Star Wars: Visions is a space fantasy anthology series released by Disney+. The show is set in the world of Star Wars, but is completely non-canon, allowing the showrunners more freedom for the stories they wish to tell. Each episode of the series is handled by a different animation firm, with many of them being anime production studios from Japan.
The episodes cover a multitude of topics, from lost planets to the secrets of the Jedi and the Sith. Every episode has a unique style of animation and an interesting story to tell, exploring concepts the main Star Wars canon hasn’t even hinted at. Even though it’s not canon, this series is a fantastic exploration of the universe’s potential, exploring the untold secrets of the galaxy far, far away.
5
‘Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams’ (2024)
Joko Anwar might not be a household name in the West, but in his home country of Indonesia, he’s a pretty big deal. He’s won numerous awards from all over the world for his masterfully crafted films, many of which focus on themes of science fiction and mystery. As such, Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams generally falls into these same genres. This anthology series was released by Netflix in much the same vein as Cabinet of Curiosities.
This seven-part miniseries features episodes of supernatural horror, sci-fi, and mystery-thriller, covering mystifying concepts such as hypnosis, ghosts, and haunted houses. All of these episodes feature some pretty prominent Indonesian actors, of course. While this show is thoroughly underrated, it is a stunning exercise in Anwar’s filmmaking style and produced some truly remarkable tales. This is definitely a 10/10, from the first episode right down to the last.
4
‘Love, Death, & Robots’ (2019–Present)
Love, Death & Robots is probably one of the most underrated anthology TV shows to ever exist. Despite this, it’s still going strong after four seasons. Like Star Wars: Visions, each episode is handled by a different animation studio, meaning each episode has its own distinct art style and energy. This show is primarily a sci-fi at heart with a pretty basic premise that certainly lives up to its name.
In short, each episode is about either love, death, or robots — and sometimes even all of the above. Some of the episodes are incredibly profound and philosophical in nature, provoking intense thought and deep pondering about the nature of life. This is an artistic masterpiece that simply must be seen by pretty much anybody who’s into sci-fi.
3
‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ (1955–1962)
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most renowned filmmakers of all time. He is known for his film noir and horror films, many of which pioneered the horror genre as we know it. Hitchcock is widely called one of the finest filmmakers who ever lived, a title that he more than earns. As a result, his anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents is a welcome treat and a gift to his fans, who are still around even decades later.
This series is primarily a horror, but it also offers elements of thriller, mystery, and crime, all of which were trademarks of classic Hitchcock movies. Though Hitchcock didn’t personally direct every single episode, he was the executive producer and creator of the entire series, and even introduced the story for every single episode. Fans of Hitchcock aren’t going to want to miss this one, because, like his movies, each episode is a bona fide masterpiece.
2
‘The Outer Limits’ (1963–1965)
The Outer Limits drew intense criticism for how it was compared to other, more popular anthology TV shows at the time, namely The Twilight Zone. Watch more than a few episodes, though, and you’ll quickly realize that this show is much more singular in all aspects and has no problem escaping the confines of its comparisons. The Outer Limits focuses specifically on extra-terrestrials, whether it be alien life on other planets or aliens making contact with Earth.
This sci-fi thriller series has earned a sizable and dedicated cult following in the years since its release and has managed to establish itself as an underrated yet important piece of television history. Despite the fact that its practical effects seem cheesy by today’s comparisons, it still holds up for its stories and colossal plot twists, which always keep the audience on their toes.
1
‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)
Surely, The Twilight Zone is a series that needs no introduction whatsoever. This is a famous anthology series, one that is practically synonymous with the format. The series describes itself as featuring tales of ordinary people trapped in extraordinary situations, with nothing being off the table. It explores a variety of concepts, from sci-fi to horror and even fantasy now and again.
The series became famous for its plot twists, usually having one per episode, and they absolutely floor the audience every time. They’re so well thought out and impactful that they helped the show stay memorable and timeless. The original run of The Twilight Zone is probably one of the greatest TV shows of all time. There’s absolutely no question that each episode is a pure masterpiece in and of itself.
- Release Date
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1959 – 1964
- Directors
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John Brahm, Buzz Kulik, Douglas Heyes, Lamont Johnson, Richard L. Bare, James Sheldon, Richard Donner, Don Medford, Montgomery Pittman, Abner Biberman, Alan Crosland, Jr., Alvin Ganzer, Elliot Silverstein, Jack Smight, Joseph M. Newman, Ted Post, William Claxton, Jus Addiss, Mitchell Leisen, Perry Lafferty, Robert Florey, Robert Parrish, Ron Winston, Stuart Rosenberg
- Writers
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Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Earl Hamner, Jr., George Clayton Johnson, Jerry Sohl, Henry Slesar, Martin Goldsmith, Anthony Wilson, Bernard C. Schoenfeld, Bill Idelson, E. Jack Neuman, Jerome Bixby, Jerry McNeely, John Collier, John Furia, Jr., John Tomerlin, Lucille Fletcher, Ray Bradbury, Reginald Rose, Sam Rolfe, Adele T. Strassfield
