Dystopian fiction has carved out a significant niche within the science fiction and horror genres, particularly thriving in the 21st century as a standalone category. This list showcases the pinnacle of TV dystopia, encompassing everything from harrowing zombie wastelands to chilling AI-driven apocalypses, as well as subtler yet equally unsettling scenarios like societies ruled by social media scores or realities where every visual experience is recorded in the brain like video files.
These 19 TV shows, along with one miniseries, encapsulate the most inventive, terrifying, and often profoundly moving dystopian narratives ever brought to the screen. Whether it's a post-apocalyptic world or a mundane office setting with employees harboring split consciousnesses due to implanted microchips, the common thread is a dark, foreboding vision of the future—whether imminent or distant—that pulses with intensity, intrigue, and boundless imagination.
If your interest lies in films, don't miss out on the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have cast their votes for their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!
But if you're here for television, delve deeper as we explore standout series such as Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and many more. Here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!
