Horror on TV has not always been a given. Although there are some examples of older horror TV shows, the modern glut of the genre is a pretty recent phenomenon. If you’re looking to pull out the very best shows in this genre from every streaming service, then we’ve got you covered.
These shows have been, for me, sometimes strangely comforting. There’s something nice about looking the most terrifying things in the face, and realizing that your life is not nearly as bad as what the characters in these stories go through. While these shows aren’t often honored with awards, they have become some of the most critically acclaimed series of the past 15 years.
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Today, we’re going through the very best horror shows that TV has ever had to offer, and also giving you the lowdown on where you can check them out.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
1 Season
Genre
Mystery, Drama
Stars
Michiel Huisman, Elizabeth Reaser, Kate Siegel
Created by
Mike Flanagan
Watch on Netflix
A brilliant, terrifying series that’s equal parts haunted house story and family drama, The Haunting of Hill House follows five siblings who come back together after one of them dies unexpectedly. As they reunite, we learn more about the traumas of their childhood, when they lived in a house that turned out to be haunted together and slowly began to uncover its secrets. The structure of the series, which focuses on a different sibling in each episode, is fascinating, as is the way creator Mike Flanagan uses the series’ many ghosts as reflections of the psychology of his characters.
American Horror Story (2011)
12 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
Emma Roberts, Matt Czuchry, Kim Kardashian
Created by
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk
Watch on Hulu
There are several anthology series on this list, and American Horror Story was one of the first to get on this trend. The show, which tells a different scary story in a different setting every season, is not always the best thing on TV, but it’s one of the most reliable horror shows on TV when it comes to pure scares. Featuring a panoply of Ryan Murphy regulars, some usually fantastical settings, and what are usually fun plot developments, American Horror Story has lasted as long as it has for a reason.
Black Mirror (2011)
A futuristic horror series that tells a different story in each episode, Black Mirror imagines various futures in which technology has ruined our lives in one way or another. Much like The Twilight Zone, every episode of Black Mirror is unified by a certain pessimism about the future, but the episodes range in quality from outstanding to vaguely uninteresting. When this show is firing on all cylinders, though, there are few shows more thought provoking or terrifying, and even as it’s become a Netflix product, the series has continued to churn out interesting episodes with every passing season.
Penny Dreadful (2014)
3 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery, Action & Adventure
Stars
Eva Green, Josh Hartnett, Timothy Dalton
Created by
John Logan
Watch on Hulu
Combining the stories of many gothic horror characters into a single sweeping narrative, Penny Dreadful follows a group of new characters as they interact with everyone from Dracula to Dorian Gray. Anchored by the marvelous Eva Green, Penny Dreadful only lasted for three seasons, but in that time, it reminded us of just how scary old-school horror can be and why so many of these characters that are now in the public domain have endured over more than a century.
The Last of Us (2023)
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama
Stars
Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey
Created by
Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
Watch on max
Adapted from a video game series of the same name, The Last of Us tells the story of two survivors of a zombie apocalypse who travel across the country together 20 years after the outbreak. The show’s zombies, which have been infected with a fungal virus, are terrifying to behold, but as is usually the case with these kinds of shows, the most horrific things that happen in this world are the things humans do to each other. The Last of Us also has plenty of time for its central characters, though, and for the moral dilemmas they pose to themselves and one another.
Midnight Mass (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Mystery, Drama
Stars
Hamish Linklater, Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel
Created by
Mike Flanagan
Watch on Netflix
Mike Flanagan is one of the most beloved names in horror for a reason. Midnight Mass tells the story of a small town that is rocked by the arrival of a charismatic young preacher. As he begins to explain more about the secret to his youth, we come to understand that he may not be as holy as he seems, and mass hysteria begins to take over his entire community. Midnight Mass is genuinely terrifying, but it’s as thoughtful and contemplative as many of Flanagan’s best shows. Ultimately, it’s a series about what it means to die and about being OK with the idea that death is the end of the line. It’s also got lots of monologues, because that’s kind of Flanagan’s whole deal.
The Terror (2018)
2 Seasons
Genre
Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Stars
George Takei, Kiki Sukezane, Shingo Usami
Created by
Edward Berger
Watch on Netflix
An anthology series where each season tells a historical story with supernatural overtones, The Terror is indescribable and brilliant. In its first season, the series follows a British crew in the 19th century as their ship becomes trapped in a layer of ice. They have to survive the wintery conditions even as they’re haunted by a specter that they can’t quite name. The combination of a great cast, a unique setting, and attention to period detail makes both seasons of The Terror riveting. Here’s hoping we get many more stories like this.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997)
7 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Stars
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan
Created by
Joss Whedon
Watch on Hulu
One of the great teen shows of all time, Buffy is admittedly the least scary show on this list. Even so, the series had its moments and could also be a fascinating examination of all the ways that growing up as a teenage girl is horrifying in its own right. The series follows Buffy, a once-in-a-generation chosen one who is the only one who can keep the vampires invading our world at bay. As she battles against them, she develops friendships, romances, and allies that prove to be key to both her survival and her sanity.
