Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows Ranked

Dystopian fiction has carved out a significant niche within the realms of science fiction and horror, evolving into a dominant genre in the 21st century. This list showcases the pinnacle of dystopian television, featuring everything from harrowing zombie wastelands and AI-driven apocalypses to more nuanced scenarios such as societies governed by social media scores or worlds where every moment is recorded in your brain like a video file.

From devastating pandemics and nuclear winters to robot rebellions, time-travel induced paranoia, and mysterious disappearances, these 19 TV shows (plus one miniseries) are the epitome of dystopian storytelling. They span from post-apocalyptic landscapes to more subtle settings, like offices where employees have microchips that fragment their consciousness. What unites them is a dark, foreboding vision of the future, whether near or distant, that is charged with intensity, intrigue, and boundless imagination.

For those inclined towards cinematic experiences, don't miss out on the Top 10 Apocalypse Movies of All Time and the 6 Post-Apocalyptic Movies You've Probably Never Seen. Additionally, IGN readers have cast their votes for their Favorite Post-Apocalyptic World from Movies and TV!

But if television is your medium of choice, delve deeper with us as we explore standout series like Fallout, Severance, The Walking Dead, The Handmaid's Tale, The Last of Us, and many more. Without further ado, here are the Top 20 Dystopian TV Shows of All Time!