Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows Ever

Dystopian fiction has long been a pivotal force within the realms of science fiction and horror, but in the 21st century, it has emerged as a standalone powerhouse genre. Here, we delve into the cream of the crop in TV dystopias, spanning from harrowing zombie wastelands and AI-driven doomsdays to more nuanced nightmares, such as societies ruled by social media scores or realities where every moment is involuntarily recorded in one's 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 (alongside one gripping miniseries) showcase the most inventive, chilling, and frequently heart-wrenching dystopian narratives ever crafted. Whether depicting post-apocalyptic landscapes or the mundane yet disturbing life of office workers with consciousness-splitting microchips, the common thread is a bleak yet captivating glimpse into the future, be it imminent or distant, brimming with tension, mystery, and boundless creativity.

While this list focuses on TV, if your interest lies in cinematic dystopias, don't miss out on 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 on their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!

For those eager to explore TV's finest dystopian offerings, join us as we explore iconic series such as Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and many more. Here's our curated list of the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!