Anthology TV Show Must-Watches

Anthology TV shows are among the finest on television because each episode offers a unique story, ranging from thought-provoking narratives, spine-tingling horror tales, to heartwarming stories.

As for me, I find myself pondering: Which among these captivating stories presented by television’s finest anthology series, resonates most deeply, sparks profound thought, and offers an overall enjoyable viewing experience? Frankly, personal preference plays a significant role here, but allow me to share our team’s recommendations.

Black Mirror – “San Junipero”

Each viewer has their own favorite Black Mirror episode, with several exploring a somber perspective on technology’s expanding impact on society. But among the series’ devoted followers of Charlie Brooker’s Netflix sensation, “San Junipero” often stands out as the best. This Emmy-winning episode tells a heartwarming love story between two women set in the 1980s… or so it initially appears.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark? – “The Tale Of The Dead Man’s Float”

The Nickelodeon-created horror anthology TV series, titled “Are You Afraid of the Dark?“, was designed for younger viewers but never shied away from providing authentic chills. One particularly terrifying tale spun by the Midnight Society was “The Tale of the Dead Man’s Float,” effectively utilizing the absurd notion of a haunted swimming pool, with its spectral antagonist adding an eerie touch to the preposterous idea.

Modern Love – “When The Doorman Is Your Main Man”

If you’re hooked on romantic comedies and are always craving more, Amazon Prime’s Modern Love delivers a variety of tales about modern romance’s triumphs and tribulations. Interestingly, one of the standout episodes deviates from typical romantic storylines, focusing instead on the unique bond between a New York resident (portrayed by Cristin Milioti) and her building’s doorman (Laurentiu Possa). This unlikely friendship provides insightful advice not just about dating, but also career matters.

Room 104 – “Mr. Mulvahill”

Mark and Jay Duplass’ “Room 104” is a TV series on Max that some might classify as one of the top horror shows. It’s unique in that it offers separate, self-contained episodes set within the same motel room. Among its most acclaimed episodes is a chilling, unconventional tale starring Rainn Wilson as a distressed man who summons his third-grade music teacher, Mr. Mulvahill (played by Frank Birney). The story revolves around this man’s desperate attempts to jog the teacher’s memory of a pivotal moment in their past.

The Outer Limits – “Demon With A Glass Hand”

Demon with a Glass Hand.” This episode revolves around an amnesiac character who has a peculiar mechanical limb, and the survival of the human race depends on him.

Love, Death & Robots – “Bad Traveling”

Interestingly, among all the stories from the Netflix original animated anthology series titled Love, Death & Robots, it’s “Bad Traveling,” directed by David Fincher, that is frequently praised – despite having minimal connections to two out of the three main themes in its title. This unsettling tale veers away from love and robots, instead focusing on a sailing crew who are tormented, sometimes brutally, by a malevolent creature that takes up residence on their ship, creating an atmosphere of dread and paranoia.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities – “The Autopsy”

Among fans, it’s often agreed that “The Autopsy” directed by David Prior, starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham as a coroner examining victims of a bizarre mining accident, is the standout episode in Cabinet of Curiosities. The revelation that one body holds something far from ordinary sets the stage for one of the most startling scenes in del Toro’s eerie and fantastical series as its creator.

Amazing Stories – “The Mission”

The objective of “Amazing Stories” was never to terrify but to delve into the extraordinary potential of human creativity, and this is most evidently showcased in “The Mission.” Co-creator Steven Spielberg directs this tale about a World War II gunner (portrayed by Casey Siemaszko), who is part of a B-17 crew that includes Kevin Costner and Kiefer Sutherland. In the story, an accident traps him in the turret ball beneath the aircraft, and it also damages the plane’s landing gear.

Goosebumps – “The Haunted Mask, Parts 1 & 2”

R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps is a collection of spooky children’s books that eventually became a TV series. The initial book transformed for the show led to one of its most frightening episodes, titled “The Haunted Mask.” In this tale, a girl who is often bullied learns to her horror that her new Halloween costume has the power to trigger a physical and behavioral change within her.

The Twilight Zone – “Time Enough At Last”

Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone,” an exceptional anthology series known for its imaginative and eerie storylines, has been remade multiple times over six decades. One famous episode from the original 1950s-60s run, titled “Time Enough at Last,” features Burgess Meredith as a bibliophile who finds himself the last person alive following a catastrophic event, only for his good fortune to take an unexpected turn.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents – “Breakdown”

In a shift from grand cinematic thrillers such as ‘Psycho’ and ‘Vertigo’, the renowned director would translate his skill in creating suspenseful moments to television, showcasing it with ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’. Amongst the episodes he directed was a remarkable demonstration of crafting chilling stories through minimalist means called “Breakdown”. This gripping tale centers around a film producer who finds himself in a life-or-death struggle following a car accident that leaves him immobilized.

What If…? – “What If… Zombies?!”

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as we know it, there are numerous departures from the primary comic book timeline. Yet, the animated Disney+ series titled “What If…?” delves into even more alternate realities of these characters within the Marvel Multiverse. One particularly intriguing cross-dimensional narrative draws inspiration from the widely acclaimed “Marvel Zombies” series. In this chilling tale, surviving heroes must battle against reanimated corpses of their fellow vigilantes who have been turned into zombies due to a devastating virus outbreak.

Tales From The Crypt – “Yellow”

Back in the day, I was absolutely hooked on HBO’s chilling anthology series, “Tales from the Crypt,” with its quirky and eerie host, the Cryptkeeper. This show was so captivating that it spawned a handful of full-length spin-offs, like the 1995 hit, “Demon Knight.” Many fans argue that this tale, technically speaking, is the best the series ever produced. However, one of its most critically-acclaimed episodes is “Yellow,” a gripping story set during World War II, directed by the talented Robert Zemeckis. In this episode, Kirk Douglas portrays a general who desperately tries to save his son from a firing squad. Eric Douglas plays the son in this powerful and emotional tale.

Documentary Now! – “Waiting For The Artist”

Documentary Now!, created by Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Seth Meyers, is an assortment of comical short films that mimic and make fun of some of the most well-known pieces of non-fiction filmmaking. For example, the show’s standout episode “Waiting for the Artist” humorously imitated the 2012 documentary Marina Abramovic: The Artist Is Present, featuring a captivating and side-splitting performance by Cate Blanchett as an eccentric performance artist with grandiose aspirations.

Creepshow – “Public Television Of The Dead”

Picture this: If Ash Williams, the protagonist from the Evil Dead films, decided to switch careers and host a budget-friendly TV show on painting, similar to Bob Ross. This hypothetical show could be aptly named “Public Television of the Dead.” Undoubtedly, such a program would closely resemble the most entertaining episode in Shudder’s Creepshow series, which is a contemporary adaptation of George Romero and Stephen King’s classic horror anthology movie.

Night Gallery – “They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar”

Instead of saying that Rod Serling’s follow-up to The Twilight Zone was Night Gallery, you could say: Rod Serling created Night Gallery as a successor to The Twilight Zone, featuring similar otherworldly themes and eerie atmospheres but with fewer episodes focusing on social commentary. It’s no surprise that one of Serling’s favorite episodes from the series was “They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar,” in which a bereaved businessman (William Windom) revisits memories of his past when he learns his beloved hangout is being torn down.

Lore – “Unboxed”

As a passionate cinephile, I must say that before the chilling tales of Chucky, Annabelle, and their doll kin in horror movies graced our screens, there was an eerie presence that captured my imagination – Robert, a sailor-themed stuffed toy on display at East Martello Museum in Florida, as per the Key West Art and Historical Society. This legendary figure, steeped in supernatural lore, became the foundation for “Unboxed,” one of the most acclaimed episodes in Amazon Prime’s fact-based horror anthology series, Lore.

Monsterland – “Port Fourchon, Louisiana”

One outstanding horror TV series available on Hulu that you shouldn’t miss is Monsterland, based on the short story collection North American Lake Monsters by Nathan Ballingrud. The initial episode, titled “Port Fourchon, Louisiana,” showcases an exceptional acting display by Kaitlyn Dever, portraying a restaurant worker and single mom grappling with financial difficulties who crosses paths with an enigmatic individual possessing an unusual ability.

Tales From The Darkside – “Seasons Of Belief”

As a devoted cinephile, let me share my excitement about George Romero’s chilling anthology series, “Tales from the Darkside,” that ruled the small screen from 1983 to 1988. This spine-tingling show left such an impact that it even spawned a cinematic offshoot in 1990. Among its numerous eerie tales, one episode, “Seasons of Belief,” stands out as a haunting Christmas classic. This chilling story revolves around a couple who, in an attempt to instill some festive spirit into their kids, regale them with the terrifying yarn of “The Grither.

Monsters – “The Waiting Game”

Titled “Monsters” from the late ’80s, this horror anthology series often centered around an otherworldly suburban family eagerly awaiting the next chilling tale. Each episode title hinted at its contents, such as “The Waiting Game,” where characters who survived a nuclear disaster find themselves confronting the undead rising from their graves.

Dimension 404 – “Cinethrax”

Hulu ventured into creating a sci-fi anthology series reminiscent of “Black Mirror,” but with a more playful and supernaturally oriented twist. This show is called “Dimension 404” and it features the legendary Mark Hamill as the narrator. The episode that skillfully combines horror and humor is titled “Cinethrax.” In this episode, Patton Oswalt plays a movie enthusiast who takes his niece, portrayed by Sarah Hyland, to watch a groundbreaking new blockbuster in an innovative cinematic format that needs to be experienced to be fully appreciated.

Two Sentence Horror Stories – “Tutorial”

Vera Maio drew inspiration from a Reddit thread called “Two Sentence Horror Stories,” where people craft spooky stories with only a few words, to create a CW series featuring half-hour scary tales. One of the captivating stories, titled “Tutorial,” is filmed in a found footage style and follows an internet influencer (Aleyse Shannon) whose makeup tutorial video gets disrupted by signs suggesting an intruder. But things aren’t always as they seem.

Star Wars: Visions – “The Ninth Jedi”

The expansive Star Wars storyline was enriched even more with the arrival of the animated series, Star Wars: Visions. Notably, one of its highly esteemed narratives is “The Ninth Jedi,” which chronicles the journey of a lightsaber maker’s daughter who is hunted by sinister forces.

Electric Dreams – “Autofac”

One notable science fiction author throughout history is Philip K. Dick, whose works served as a foundation for the Amazon Prime series titled “Electric Dreams“. In one episode, Janelle Monae portrays characters in a story derived from his 1955 novelette “Autofac.” This tale chronicles the emergence of a rebellion within a dystopian society where people are compelled to forfeit essential human liberties in favor of unrestricted consumerism.

Accused – “Val’s Story”

The show, titled “Accused,” presents various narratives based on individuals standing trial for a committed crime. One particularly compelling storyline, named “Val’s Story,”, features Cobie Smulders from “How I Met Your Mother” cast as a divorced mother who turns out to be the prime suspect in the investigation of her ex-husband’s homicide.

American Horror Stories – “Dollhouse”

Instead of American Horror Story presenting a unique strange tale each season, American Horror Stories focuses on individual episodes. The second season debuted with the popular episode “Dollhouse,” where Kristine Froseth plays an aspiring doll factory worker who gets abducted and forced to become part of a toy maker’s collection of women dressed as dolls.

The Guest Book – “Story Eight”

In “The Guest Book” by TBS, there’s a main plot that unfolds at the same cabin, but each episode centers around a different visitor. One particularly noteworthy character from the eighth episode of the first season is a medical researcher portrayed by Jenna Fischer. She brings along an Alzheimer’s patient (played by Orson Bean) with her, aiming to help him recover lost memories at the cabin.

Oats Studios – “Rakka”

In his groundbreaking 2009 film, District 9, Neill Blomkamp portrayed extraterrestrials as oppressed beings. However, for one of his short films, titled Oats Studios, which is available on Netflix, he switches the narrative perspective. In this movie called “Rakka”, Sigourney Weaver plays a significant role and it delves into the lives of the few surviving humans during a ruthless alien invasion.

Freddy’s Nightmares – “It’s My Party And You’ll Die If I Want You To”

In 1988, the terrifying antagonist of the horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, Freddy Krueger, starred in his own TV series titled “Freddy’s Nightmares“. This show featured Freddy haunting the dreams of numerous characters. Notably, one of the most acclaimed episodes was named “‘It’s My Party and You’ll Die If I Want You To’“, where Freddy Krueger (played by Robert Englund) takes control of a fake psychic in order to exact revenge on an old prom date.

Creeped Out – “The Many Place”

Netflix’s equivalent to ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ and ‘Goosebumps’ is a slightly scary anthology TV series for kids, titled ‘Creeped Out’. This show has an episode that revolves around cross-dimensional travel and draws inspiration from the ‘Backrooms’ creepypasta. In “The Many Place”, if you press every button on a hotel elevator during vacation, it transports three siblings to an infinite maze of corridors and rooms. However, finding a way back home might be unattainable.

Soulmates – “Watershed”

2020 saw AMC broadcast a future-set anthology series titled “Soulmates“. This series presents a scenario where a test can perfectly pair individuals with their destined partners. One of the most popular narratives within this show revolves around a female character (portrayed by Sarah Snook) who covertly undergoes the test without her spouse’s (Kingsley Ben-Adir) awareness.

Bloodride – “Lab Rats”

The majority of episodes from Netflix’s Norwegian horror anthology, Bloodride, incorporate supernatural elements. However, it could be said that its most compelling tale, “Lab Rats,” veers away from this trend, offering a gripping crime thriller instead. In this story, the owner of a pharmaceutical company subjects his dinner guests to a harrowing night of humiliation and relentless questioning, suspecting one of them has stolen the prototype for a new product.

2025-04-18 01:42