Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows Ever

Dystopian fiction has carved out a significant niche within the science fiction and horror genres, emerging in the 21st century as a formidable category in its own right. This article delves into the crème de la crème of dystopian television, featuring a spectrum that spans from zombie-infested wastelands to AI-driven doomsdays, and even more nuanced scenarios like societies ruled by social media metrics or worlds where every moment is captured and stored in your brain like a video file.

From devastating pandemics and nuclear winters to robot revolts, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV shows—alongside one gripping miniseries—encapsulate the most inventive, terrifying, and emotionally resonant dystopian narratives ever crafted. Whether depicting a post-apocalyptic landscape or a seemingly mundane office setting where employees have their consciousness split by an implanted microchip, each entry offers a haunting glimpse into a bleak future, brimming with tension, mystery, and creative storytelling.

For those interested in cinematic experiences, don't miss out on the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have voted on their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!

However, if it's television that captivates you, then prepare to explore series like Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and more. Here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time, each offering a dark vision of the future that resonates with intensity, intrigue, and imagination.