Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows Ever

Dystopian fiction has long been a pivotal element within the science fiction and horror genres, but in the 21st century, it has emerged as a formidable category in its own right. This list showcases the pinnacle of TV dystopia, ranging from zombie-infested wastelands to AI-driven apocalypses, and even more nuanced scenarios such as societies ruled by social media metrics or worlds where every moment is captured and stored in the brain like a video file.

Featuring massive plagues, nuclear winters, robot uprisings, time travel-induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV shows (along with one miniseries) offer the most ingenious, terrifying, and often emotionally resonant dystopian narratives ever crafted. Whether depicting post-apocalyptic landscapes or the seemingly mundane setting of an office with employees whose consciousness is split by a microchip, each show presents a dark vision of the future, close or distant, that is charged with intensity, intrigue, and boundless imagination.

For those interested in dystopian narratives on the big screen, be sure to explore the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have voted on their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV, providing further insights into popular choices within the genre.

However, if your focus is on television, we delve deeper into standout series such as *Fallout*, *Severance*, *The Walking Dead*, *The Handmaid's Tale*, *The Last of Us*, and more. Below, you will find the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time, each offering a unique and compelling exploration of dystopian themes.