Most anthology series are revered by their audiences. I’ve practically seen them all. But their complexity makes them few and far between. Not to mention that the audience for this genre seems to be particularly difficult to win over.  This is a comprehensive list of the best anthology shows to date. A different storyline and cast every episode or season. The shows that intrigue, in the same way, some of our favorite flash fiction novels might.

Your time is precious, but if any of these picks have you reaching for your remote for some Netflix binge time. Then I’ve done my job. Why not pick up a free, starter library, and relive some of the intrigues.

9. Black Mirror

[one_half]
[/one_half]First Episode: Dec 04, 2011

Creators: Charlie Brooker

Host: Not Applicable

Why It’s Great: Fans of the genre will love this anthology series reminiscent of Twilight and the Outer Limits. And it has more of an updated feel to it.

Where to see it right now: On Netflix. Watch the trailer for now.

What do moviegoers say:

• “A true heir to Serling’s vision of reality taking a sharp detour into the unknown.” – Mark Perigard, Boston Herald. [Review from Metacritic]
• “The first interpretation is that the show looks inwards, at the darker aspects of humanity and society. This is done through the theme of technology, hence the second meaning. The black mirror is the screen that rules our lives.” – Ian Hannah, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]

8. The Hitchhiker

[one_half]  [/one_half]First Episode: 1983

Creators: Lewis Chesler, Riff Markowitz, Richard Rothstein

Host: Page Fletcher (The Hitchhiker)

Why Its Great: I had such a crush on this guy and wanted to go with him to more of the tamer places lol.

Where to see it right now: USA Network. Watch the trailer now. Buy on DVD.

What do moviegoers say:

• “The, Hitchhiker” had it all mixed into every episode a little suspense, drama, terror, revenge, sex, and fun.” – Brian – 272, IMDB Reviewer. [Review From IMDB]
• “Each episode was focussed on different aspects of right or wrong. In effect, they were like parables. Characters who made the wrong choice in the stories were often punished severely. Often, they died. There was usually a bit of poetic justice to each story. At the end, the narrator, the hitchhiker himself, would explain the meaning of what had just happened and why it had happened.” – Johnny Software, TV.COM user. [Review From TV.com]

7. Tales From The Darkside

[one_half]  [/one_half]First Episode: Oct 29, 1983

Creators: George A. Romero

Host: Not Applicable – Paul Sparer was the narrator

Why Its Great: The looks of the creatures might make you laugh now more than scare you, but this was another good one.

Where to see it right now: CBS. Watch the trailer now. Buy on DVD.

What do moviegoers say:

• “Each episode had a surprise ending, which made it even better. It was often very morbid and could be depressing, but usually wasn’t. It was great.” – Tommy Nelson, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]
• “Several episodes were on the lighter side, but by and large this was a show that swung for the fences trying to scare you to death.” – TJ Franchise, TV.COM user. [Review From TV.com]

6. Twilight Zone

[one_half] [/one_half]First Episode: Oct 02, 1959

Creators: Rod Serling

Host: Rod Serling

Why Its Great: It was the originator. The show that they compare all anthologies to, however unfairly. But outside of just being first, it was pretty good.

Where to see it right now: Catch it on reruns on SYFY. Also look for the marathon on that same channel on New Year’s Eve. Watch the trailer now.

What do moviegoers say:

• “The stories were always ironic, brilliant, and fascinating, and they often came with a moral lesson.” – Yarborough, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]
• “Ultimately, The Twilight Zone is indispensable to both sci-fi and horror.“ – Jim Vorel, Paste Magazine. [Review from Rotten Tomatoes]

5. The Twilight Zone

[one_half] [/one_half]First Episode: Sep 18, 2002

Creators: Rod Serling

Host: Forest Whitaker

Why Its Great: Yup, I’m ranking this above the original. Partly out of spite, because its a perfect example of a fandom ruining a good thing. This really lived up to its name and was great. But only lasted one season out of nostalgia glasses and an extreme fandom that couldn’t handle that anyone would dare try to redo it. But it was great to me. Especially the episode where they redid an old twilight episode this time with the man’s daughter who kept disappearing people. Ugh, such a shame this didn’t last.

Where to see it right now: Catch a few episodes on youtube here and here.

What do moviegoers say:

• “This show was certainly superior to the one done back in the mid-’80s. They really seemed to do Mr. Serling proud.” – George Mussman, IMDB user. [Review from IMDB]
• “Whenever I talk about these twilight zone episodes, people just whine and complain about how the old ones were better but I actually dont believe that at all. These episodes are way more interesting, with better looking picture, and up to date sceneries.” – Otakurelix, [Review From TV.com]

4. Tales From The Crypt

[one_half]  [/one_half]First Episode: Jun 10, 1989

Creators: William Gaines and Steven Dodd

Host: John Kassir (Crypt Keeper)

Why Its Great: Even as a kid I enjoyed this show. Although, I’ll have to admit I never found it particularly scary. More like weird and creepy.

Where to see it right now: On Google Play and iTunes. Watch the trailer for now. If you’re a fan of horror or the macabre I recommend buying the complete season on DVD.

What do moviegoers say:

• “Tales From The Crypt is everything a great horror series should be. It’s shocking, disturbing, morbid, and interspersed with dark humor.” – Mike Silverman, Amazon Reviewer. [Review from Amazon]
• “Then, each episode tells a story involving a really nasty situation; some involve monsters, others involve people doing really unpleasant things, but they all make one laugh.” – Lee Eisenberg, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDb]

3. American Horror Story

[one_half]  [/one_half]First Episode: Oct 05, 2011

Creators: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk

Host: Not Applicable

Why Its Great: This stuff will have you itching. It is too weird, creepy and otherworldly. Sometimes it looks like you gone catch something just by watching it through the screen. Sexual abuse, mental abuse, scary looking creatures. It’s all too, too much, but totally worth watching if you enjoy the Horror genre.

Where to see it right now: Hulu. And a new season starts on FX typically around Holloween. Watch the trailer for now.

What do moviegoers say:

• “Perhaps best of all, it really is a horror story. One that uses artful cinematography and remarkable performances (Grossman and Paulson are best in show) to remind sympathetic viewers of the foreboding dread that hasn’t abided since last year and to gin up pit-of-the-gut outright terror.” – Daniel D’Addario, Time. [Review From Metacritic]
• “The show may be ridiculous, but the humiliation and panic feel real. And there’s something to be said for surprise.” – Emily Nussbaum, New York Magazine (Vulture). [Review From Metacritic]

2. The Outer Limits

[one_half] [/one_half]First Episode:  Mar 26, 1995

Creators: Leslie Stevens

Host: Not Applicable

Why Its Great: This is my Twilight Zone. I’m definitely in the Outer Limits fandom. I love everything about it. Unlike the TZ fans, I’d love another remake.

Where to see it right now: Check for reruns on SYFY. Watch the trailer for now.

What do moviegoers say:

• “Plots are intelligent, scientifically accurate projections of the unknown possibilities of the sometimes frightening and imminent future.” – Geodata, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]
• “These shows always have some type of moral story to them which most of the time (if not all the time) is very true! You can feel that the man whose voice is dubbed over the credits and in the beginning and ending believes what he is saying wholeheartedly! Not only do these shows have great story lines, they also throw you into them, get your mind racing, and your blood pumping.” – Grissle Mcthornbody, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]

1. Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

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[/one_half]First Episode: May 25, 1997

Creators:

Host: Jonathan Frakes

Why Its Great: This only beat Outer Limits because it was interactive. I used to watch with my mom and we would try to guess which stories were fact and which ones were fiction. It was like our pseudo bonding time, and I had so much fun with her during that time when it was on. This Is another one that I would love to see a repeat of.

Where to see it right now: Check out Youtube here for some episodes.

What do moviegoers say:

• “Watching the stories on this wonderful show was like eating potato chips, you couldn’t stop at just one. What fun, its like you got to play detective in finding which of the stories was fact or not. Some of the most outlandish ones turned out to be true!” – D Tucker, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]
• “MAN this show can totally FREAK you out after watching this show I am scared to death They know how to really play with your mind if you see something that you think is totally not true it may be true I think everyone should watch this show it’s sooo scary!” –  spikelovesbuffy2002, IMDB Reviewer. [Review from IMDB]

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P.S. You might be thinking, well you’re a romance writer, why aren’t there any romance anthology series? And I think it’s a belief that because of the nature of romance that it wouldn’t work in short series form. But I actually have two ideas that might actually work. I won’t say them here just in case I ever get to be the Rod Sterling of anthology romance.