Best Dystopian TV Shows of All Time

Dystopian fiction has evolved from a sci-fi and horror subgenre to emerge as a powerful standalone category in the 21st century. This collection showcases television's finest dystopian visions - from zombie-infested wastelands and AI-driven catastrophes to subtler nightmares like social media-ruled societies or realities where memories function as recorded video.

Whether exploring global pandemics, nuclear aftermaths, robotic rebellions, temporal anomalies, or unexplained disappearances - these 19 groundbreaking series (plus one acclaimed miniseries) deliver the most ingenious, terrifying (and frequently heartbreaking) dystopian narratives ever conceived. Some depict civilization's collapse while others imagine corporate dystopias where neural chips fracture human consciousness. The unifying thread? Each presents a disturbingly plausible future - whether imminent or distant - brimming with tension, mystery, and creative brilliance.

For those preferring cinematic dystopias, explore our rankings of the Greatest Apocalyptic Films Ever Made and Underrated Post-Collapse Hidden Gems. Don't miss our audience poll revealing Fans' Favorite Post-Apocalyptic Universe Across Film and Television!

But television enthusiasts should proceed directly to our deep dives into cultural phenomena like Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Last of Us. Presenting television's 20 Most Masterful Dystopian Series!