Dystopian fiction has carved out a significant niche in the realms of science fiction and horror, evolving into a dominant genre in the 21st century. This list showcases the pinnacle of dystopian television, featuring everything from zombie-infested wastelands to AI-driven doomsdays, and even more nuanced dystopias such as societies ruled by social media scores or worlds where every moment is recorded in your mind like a video file.
From devastating pandemics and nuclear winters to robot rebellions, time-travel induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV series (along with one miniseries) offer the most inventive, chilling, and often deeply moving dystopian narratives. Whether set in a post-apocalyptic landscape or in a seemingly mundane office where employees have microchips splitting their consciousness, each show presents a dark, foreboding vision of the future, brimming with intensity, intrigue, and boundless creativity.
For those more inclined towards movies, consider exploring the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have shared their picks for their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!
But if your interest lies in television, delve deeper as we explore standout series like Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and many others. Here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!
