Best Anthology Horror Series
In short: For a new story every episode, watch Inside No. 9, Black Mirror, Cabinet of Curiosities or the classic Twilight Zone and Tales from the Crypt. For a new story every season, The Haunting of Hill House, Channel Zero, The Terror or American Horror Story. Episode-by-episode shows are easy to dip into; season-long ones are scarier.
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Inside No. 9 (BBC Two, 2014-2024, 9 series). Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton wrote and starred in more than 50 self-contained half-hours, each set somewhere numbered 9. Some are comedies, but the horror episodes, like "The Harrowing" and "Dead Line," are as frightening as anything on TV.
Black Mirror (Channel 4, then Netflix, 2011 onward). Charlie Brooker's stories about technology range from satire to real horror: try "White Bear," "Playtest" or "Metalhead."
The Twilight Zone (CBS, 1959-1964, 5 seasons). Rod Serling's original, with its twist endings, is still the model for every series here. "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" and "The Eye of the Beholder" hold up.
Tales from the Crypt (HBO, 1989-1996, 7 seasons). Gleefully gory EC Comics adaptations hosted by the cackling Crypt Keeper. Camp, nasty fun.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix, 2022, 8 episodes). Del Toro curates and introduces stories by directors including Panos Cosmatos and Jennifer Kent. Lavishly made; Cosmatos's "The Viewing" is a highlight.
A new story every season
The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix, 2018, 10 episodes). Mike Flanagan reimagines Shirley Jackson's novel as the story of a family haunted, literally and otherwise, by the house they grew up in. Followed by the gentler The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), based on Henry James.
Channel Zero (Syfy, 2016-2018, 4 seasons). Each six-episode season adapts an internet creepypasta. Season 2, No-End House, is the standout. Underseen and genuinely unnerving.
The Terror (AMC, 2018 onward). Season 1 follows the lost Franklin expedition in the Arctic and is a masterpiece of slow dread; Season 2, Infamy, moves to a Japanese American internment camp.
American Horror Story (FX, 2011 onward). Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's series changes setting every season, often reusing actors like Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters. Wildly uneven; the early seasons are best.
Our verdict
For the best writing, Inside No. 9. For the biggest scares, The Haunting of Hill House. For something nobody you know has seen, Channel Zero.
Frequently asked questions
Which American Horror Story seasons are best? Murder House (1), Asylum (2) and Coven (3) are the most often recommended. Each season stands alone, so you can start with any of them.
What's a good anthology to watch one episode at a time? Inside No. 9 or Black Mirror. Every episode is self-contained, so you can watch in any order.
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