# The best horror TV series of all time

From The Twilight Zone to Midnight Mass: the scariest series critics rank highest (Rolling Stone, Looper, TVLine).

- 1096 votes · 12 items
- Jan 8, 2026 · Ryan
- https://even.best/en/l/1914/the-best-horror-tv-series-of-all-time

## Top 12

1. **The Twilight Zone (1959–1964)** (101 · ▲117 ▼16) — Rod Serling wrote 92 episodes of the anthology that defined TV horror.
2. **The Haunting of Hill House (2018)** (98 · ▲106 ▼8) — Mike Flanagan's family ghost story for Netflix.
3. **Tales from the Crypt (1989–1996)** (90 · ▲103 ▼13) — The Crypt Keeper's gory, darkly funny tales.
4. **Midnight Mass (2021)** (72 · ▲81 ▼9) — Flanagan again: an island, a priest and a miracle.
5. **Stranger Things (2016–2025)** (71 · ▲81 ▼10) — Hawkins, the Upside Down and a cultural phenomenon.
6. **Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)** (67 · ▲82 ▼15) — Joss Whedon's defining show of the late 90s.
7. **Hannibal (2013–2015)** (63 · ▲74 ▼11) — Mads Mikkelsen's elegant cannibal.
8. **Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)** (56 · ▲65 ▼9) — Victorian monsters together in London.
9. **The Walking Dead (early seasons)** (47 · ▲61 ▼14) — The first seasons of the zombie saga are top-tier genre TV.
10. **Twin Peaks (1990–1991)** (36 · ▲56 ▼20) — David Lynch's mystery that turned into a nightmare.
11. **American Horror Story: Murder House (2011)** (34 · ▲55 ▼21) — The first season of Ryan Murphy's anthology.
12. **Dark Shadows (1966–1971)** (27 · ▲48 ▼21) — The gothic soap opera with vampire Barnabas Collins.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.