Dystopian fiction has long been a cornerstone within the science fiction and horror genres, but in the 21st century, it has evolved into a formidable genre of its own. This list showcases the pinnacle of dystopian television, spanning from terrifying zombie wastelands to chilling AI-driven apocalypses, and even more nuanced scenarios such as societies ruled by social media scores or worlds where every moment is recorded in the brain like a video file.
From devastating pandemics and nuclear winters to robot uprisings, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV series (plus one miniseries) offer the most inventive, frightening, and often deeply moving dystopian narratives ever crafted. Whether depicting a post-apocalyptic world or a seemingly mundane office where employees have microchips splitting their consciousness, the common thread is a dark, foreboding vision of the future—near or distant—that pulses with intensity, intrigue, and boundless imagination.
If your interests lean towards movies, don't miss the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Moreover, IGN readers have cast their votes for their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from both movies and TV!
For those devoted to TV, delve deeper as we explore standout 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!
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