Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows Ever

Dystopian fiction has long been a significant force within the realms of science fiction and horror, but in the 21st century, it has emerged as a powerhouse genre of its own. Here, we explore the cream of the crop in TV dystopias, from nightmarish zombie landscapes and AI-driven apocalypses to more nuanced settings such as societies controlled by social media scores or worlds where every moment is recorded in the mind like a video file.

From devastating pandemics and nuclear winters to robot uprisings, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV shows—plus one compelling miniseries—embody the most ingenious, terrifying, and often deeply moving dystopian narratives ever crafted. Whether depicting post-apocalyptic scenarios or the chilling reality of office workers with consciousness-altering microchips, these series share a common thread: a dark, gripping vision of the future that pulses with intensity, intrigue, and boundless creativity.

If your interests lean more toward movies, don't miss our lists of the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have weighed in on their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV, offering another perspective on this gripping genre.

However, if television is your medium of choice, join us as we delve into iconic series like Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and more. Without further ado, here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!