Skip to content Best Dystopian TV series you might have missed
With the world in a state of political, social, and environmental turmoil, it’s no wonder that we’re all drawn to tales of the end of the world. There are many great Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian TV series out there, but sometimes it can be hard to keep up with them because of long hiatus periods or cancellations. However, thanks to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, it’s easier than ever to sit back and enjoy these shows without having to wait forever for the next season or episode! Here are some of the best dystopian TV series, that you might have missed but can stream right now.
Fallout
Release date: 10 April 2024, Channel: Amazon Prime, Created by: Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Graham Wagner, Starring: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins
In a future, post-apocalyptic Los Angeles brought about by nuclear decimation, citizens must live in underground bunkers to protect themselves from radiation, mutants and bandits.
Based on the popular video game series Fallout.
Silo
Status: Ongoing, Years: (2023-), Seasons: 1, Score: 8.3/10 (IMDB), Channel: AppleTV, Watch now on: AppleTV
In a post-apocalyptic science fiction world where humanity is forced to live in underground silos due to the toxic atmosphere outside, Juliette, a skilled mechanic, who becomes suspicious of the official narratives surrounding the outside world starts uncovering dangerous secrets about the silo’s past. As she delves deeper into the mysteries, she becomes embroiled in a struggle for power and survival, challenging the oppressive regime that governs the silo.
Created by: Graham Yost Based on books by: Hugh Howey Starring: Rebecca Ferguson, Iain Glen, Tim Robbins
The Last of Us
Status: Ongoing, Years: (2023-), Seasons: 1, Score: 9.3/10 (IMDB), Channel: HBO, Watch now on: HBOMax
A survivor of a global pandemic that destroys civilization takes on the charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity’s last hope. Based on the Playstation video games series: The Last of Us.
Created by: Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin Starring: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna
12 Monkeys
Status: Canceled, Years: (2015-2018), Seasons: 4, Score: 7.7/10 (IMDB), Channel: SyFy, Watch now on: Hulu
A time traveler from the future travels to the present day and attempts to uncover and eradicate the source of a plague that will eventually be the doom of the human race. Originally a 1995 film by Terry Gilliam.
Created by: Travis Fickett, Terry Matalas Starring: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Noah Bean
3%
Status: Ended, Years: (2016-2020), Seasons: 4, Runtime: 46′, Score: 7.4/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
In a post-apocalyptic, dystopian world filled with poverty and despair only 3% of the mainland population, the ”Inland”, are given a chance for a ticket to a better future and join the island elite, the “Offshore”, as each year, 20 youths compete to be among the 3%.
Created by: Pedro Aguilera Starring: Bianca Comparato, Vaneza Oliveira, Rodolfo Valente
Alice in Borderland
Status: Renewed, Years: (2020-), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 47′, Score: 7.6/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
In a future world where the government controls all aspects of life, Alice discovers that she has the power to see through the lies and propaganda that surround her. When she starts to question the government’s authority, she is targeted for elimination and must use her powers to survive. Along the way, she meets a group of rebels who help her learn the truth about the government’s secrets. Together, they fight for freedom and justice in a world that is controlled by lies.
Starring: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Nijirô Murakami
Altered Carbon
Status: Canceled, Years: (2018-2020), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 52′, Score: 8/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
In the future, people can transfer their consciousness into new bodies, or “sleeves”. When police officer Takeshi Kovacs wakes up in a new body after 250 years in prison, he is hired by wealthy businessman Laurens Bancroft to investigate his own murder. As Kovacs delves deeper into the mystery, he realizes that the answer may lie in a conspiracy that reaches far beyond his own death.
Created by: Laeta Kalogridis, Starring: Chris Conner, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Dichen Lachman
Black Mirror
Status: Ongoing, Years: (2011-), Seasons: 6, Runtime: 59′, Score: 8.8/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
Black Mirror is a dark and twisted TV series that explores the dark side of human nature and technology. Set in a dystopian future where technology has advanced to a point where it greatly impacts society and humanity, each episode tells its own standalone story, with different themes explored throughout.
Created by: Charlie Brooker, Starring: Daniel Lapaine, Hannah John-Kamen, Michaela Coel
Dark
Status: Ended, Years: (2017-2020), Seasons: 3, Runtime: 60′, Score: 8.8/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
“Dark” is a suspenseful and thrilling ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s a must-watch for fans of dystopian fiction. Set in a dystopian future where a small town is plagued by disappearances. The town’s teenagers start to investigate the disappearances and discover that there is a much bigger mystery at play. As they dig deeper, they find out that the disappearances are part of a larger plan that could mean the end of the world.
Created by: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese Starring: Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Lisa Vicari
Dark Angel
Status: Ended, Years: (2000-2002), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 60′, Score: 7.4/10 (IMDB), Channel: Fox
TV series “Dark Angel” is set in a world where the US is taken over by a totalitarian government. The main character, Max, joins a group of rebels fighting against the government. She eventually becomes the leader of the group. The series was canceled after two seasons, but it is still considered one of the best dystopian TV series ever made.
Created by: James Cameron, Charles H. Eglee, Starring: Jessica Alba, Michael Weatherly, Richard Gunn
Daybreak
Status: Canceled, Years: (2019), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 60′, Score: 6.7/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
In the TV series Daybreak, high school students must band together to survive in a post-apocalyptic world where adults have been wiped out by a nuclear blast. The teens must find food and shelter while dealing with cannibalistic gangs and other threats in this new world. They must also find a way to rebuild society and create their own rules.
Created by: Aron Eli Coleite, Brad Peyton (co-creator), Starring: Colin Ford, Alyvia Alyn LindSophie Simnett
Falling Skies
Status: Ended, Years: (2011-2015), Seasons: 5, Runtime: 42′, Score: 7.1/10 (IMDB), Channel: TNT
Falling Skies tells the story of the human race’s struggle to survive after an alien invasion. The aliens have destroyed most of the world’s major cities, and the survivors must work together to rebuild and fight back against the alien invaders. The series follows a group of survivors, led by Tom Mason, as they fight to save humanity from extinction.
Created by: Robert Rodat, Starring: Noah Wyle, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight
The Handmaid’s Tale
Status: Ongoing, Years: (2017-), Seasons: 5, Runtime: 60′, Score: 8.4/10 (IMDB), Channel: Hulu
Set in a future America that has been taken over by a theocratic regime, this series follows the story of June/Offred (Elisabeth Moss), a handmaid who is forced into sexual servitude in order to bear children for a powerful commander and his wife. The Handmaid’s Tale is a harrowing and gripping dystopian tv series that will leave you both shocked and captivated.
Created by: Bruce Miller (created for television by), Margaret Atwood (novel), Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes
Into the night
Status: Ongoing, Years: (2020-), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 35′, Score: 7/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
In the not-too-distant future, the world is a bleak and scary place. The government has tight control over everything, and anyone who steps out of line is punished. But there is still hope for a better tomorrow, and that hope comes in the form of a secret society called Into the Night. This group of rebels is dedicated to overthrow the government and restore freedom to the people. But they’re not the only ones with this goal. There are other groups out there, and they’re all fighting for the same thing.
Created by: Jason George, Starring: Pauline Etienne, Laurent Capelluto, Mehmet Kurtulus
Jericho
Status: Ended, Years: (2006-2008) , Seasons: 2, Runtime: 45′, Score: 7.9/10 (IMDB), Channel: CBS
In the year 2036, the world is a bleak and scary place. A group of survivors in the small town of Jericho must band together to fight against the evil that surrounds them. With the help of their friends and family, they must find a way to rebuild their lives and keep hope alive.
Created by: Stephen Chbosky, Josh Schaer, Jonathan E. Steinberg, Starring: Skeet Ulrich, Lennie James, Ashley Scott
Revolution
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2012-2014), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 42′, Score: 6.6/10 (IMDB), Channel: NBC
In the future, the world is a wasteland. A small group of survivors is left in a dystopian society where technology has been turned off and the government is tyrannical. The group must find a way to restore power and overthrow the government in order to rebuild society.
Created by: Eric Kripke, Starring: Billy Burke, Tracy Spiridakos, Giancarlo Esposito
Salvation
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2017-2018), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 43′, Score: 6.9/10 (IMDB), Channel: CBS
Salvation is a tv series set in a world where the apocalypse is imminent. The series follows the lives of people who are trying to survive, and also follows the government’s efforts to find a way to save the world.
Created by: Elizabeth Kruger, Craig Shapiro, Matt JL Wheeler, Starring: Santiago Cabrera, Jennifer Finnigan, Charlie Rowe
See
Status: Ended, Years: (2019-2022), Seasons: 3, Runtime: 60′, Score: 7.6/10 (IMDB), Channel: AppleTV
In the twenty-first century, a viral epidemic killed almost everyone on Earth. Only two million individuals survived, and their descendants have lost their sense of sight. When society evolved new ways to socially interact, build, hunt, and survive without seeing in later years, See takes place several centuries after that. Vision has subsequently become a myth and a heresy. All is about to change when a pair of twins are born with the gift of sight.
Created by: Steven Knight, Starring: Jason Momoa, Sylvia Hoeks, Hera Hilmar
Snowpiercer
Status: Renewed, Years: (2020-2023), Seasons: 4, Runtime: 60′, Score: 6.9/10 (IMDB), Channel: TNT/Netflix
“The Snowpiercer” is a post-apocalyptic tv show that takes place in a world where a global warming experiment gone wrong has turned the world into a frozen wasteland. The only survivors are those who live on board a massive train that circles the globe. The train is divided into classes, with the rich at the front and the poor at the back. Tensions are high as the rich hoard all the food and resources while the poor struggle to survive.
Created by: Graeme Manson, Josh Friedman, Starring: Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Alison Wright
Station Eleven
Status: Ended, Years: (2021-2022), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 44′-59′, Score: 7.6/10 (IMDB), Channel: HBO
Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic tv show set in the near future. The world has been devastated by a pandemic, and most of civilization has been wiped out. The show follows a group of survivors as they travel across the country in search of a safe place to live. Along the way, they encounter various dangers and challenges, and must use all their skills and resources to survive.
Created by: Patrick Somerville (created for television by), Starring: Mackenzie Davis, Himesh Patel, Matilda Lawler
Survivors
Status: Ended, Years: (2008-2010), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 60′, Score: 7.5/10 (IMDB), Channel: BBC
The Survivors is a post-apocalyptic, dystopian tv series about a group of people who are stranded in a world where most of the population has been killed by a virus. The group must find a way to survive in this new world, and they must also avoid the people who are trying to kill them.
Created by: Adrian Hodges, Starring: Julie Graham, Max Beesley, Paterson Joseph
Sweet Tooth
Status: Renewed, Years: (2021-), Seasons: 1+, Runtime: 37-53′, Score: 7.8/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
Sweet Tooth is a dystopian thriller set in the future where the world has been taken over by a disease that has turned most of the world’s population into vampires. The main character, Gus, is a young boy who was born with a special ability to see the vampires for what they are and he uses his gift to help protect the people he loves.
Created by: Jim Mickle, Beth Schwartz, Starring: Nonso Anozie, Christian Convery, Aliza Vellani
Colony
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2016-2018), Seasons: 3, Runtime: 42′, Score: 7.3/10 (IMDB), Channel: USA Network
The United States has been invaded by an alien force and is now under their control. The world is now a dystopian society. A small group of people have managed to escape and are now living in Los Angeles, which has been turned into a colony. The group is led by a man named Will Bowman and his wife, Katie. They are trying to find a way to overthrow the alien force and free the rest of the world.
Created by: Ryan J. Condal, Carlton Cuse, Starring: Josh Holloway, Sarah Wayne Callies, Peter Jacobson
The 100
Status: Ended, Years: (2014-2020), Seasons: 7, Runtime: 43′, Score: 7.6/10 (IMDB), Channel: CW
The 100 is a post-apocalyptic drama following the lives of a group of teenagers who have returned to Earth after a nuclear war. They must learn to survive in a world where the air is toxic, the food is scarce, and the danger is constant. The 100 follows these teens as they struggle to find a new home, build relationships, and create a new society. Dystopian TV series at its best!
Created by: Jason Rothenberg, Starring: Eliza Taylor, Bob Morley, Marie Avgeropoulos
The Expanse
Status: Ended, Years: (2015-2022), Seasons: 6, Runtime: 60′, Score: 8.5/10 (IMDB), Channel: Amazon Prime
In the future, the human race has expanded out into the solar system, with colonies on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. A detective from Earth is called to investigate a murder on a space station, and uncovers a conspiracy that could threaten the entire human race. As the detective digs deeper, he discovers that the conspiracy is linked to a powerful and shadowy organization known as the Protomolecule. The Protomolecule is a mysterious alien substance that has been unleashed on the solar system, and its effects are far-reaching and dangerous.
Created by: Daniel Abraham (based on the novels by) Mark Fergus Ty Franck (based on the novels by), Starring: Steven Strait, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham
The Last Ship
Status: Ended, Years: (2014-2018), Seasons: 5, Runtime: 60′, Score: 7.4/10 (IMDB), Channel: TNT
The Last Ship is an American military sci-fi television series based on the 1988 novel of the same name by William Brinkley. This dystopian tv series chronicles the aftermath of a global viral pandemic that wipes out over 80% of the world’s population, leaving the crew of a U.S. Navy destroyer, the USS Nathan James, as some of the few remaining survivors. The series follows the ship’s captain, Tom Chandler (played by Eric Dane), and his crew as they search for a cure to the outbreak while trying to maintain order and save as many lives as possible.
Created by: Steven Kane, Hank Steinberg, Starring: Eric Dane, Adam Baldwin, Charles Parnell
The Rain
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2018-2020), Seasons: 3, Runtime: 45′, Score: 6.3/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
Six years after a virus carried by rainfall wipes out almost all humans in Scandinavia, two Danish siblings emerge from a bunker to search for their father. Along the way, they join a group of young survivors and together they travel across Denmark and Sweden in search of a safe place. The siblings’ father may be able to provide answers and a cure, but he is not the only one with answers. The virus has affected everyone differently, and each person they meet has their own story to tell about how they’ve survived.
Created by: Jannik Tai Mosholt (head writer), Christian Potalivo, Esben Toft Jacobsen, Starring: Alba August, Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
The Society
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2019), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 58′, Score: 7/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
When all of the adults in West Ham disappear, the town’s teenagers are left to fend for themselves. At first, they try to carry on with their lives as usual, but soon they realize that things are not the same. Without any adults around to set rules or provide guidance, the kids start to split into factions and conflict begins to erupt. In order to survive, the teens must figure out how to work together and create their own society.
Created by: Christopher Keyser, Starring: Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy
The Stand
Status: Ended, Years: (2020-2021), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 49′-65′, Score: 5.5/10 (IMDB), Channel: Amazon Prime
In this post-apocalyptic, dystopian tv series, a small group of survivors gathers in Las Vegas to wait out the end of the world following the aftermath of a pandemic that has decimated the world’s population. But when they learn that other pockets of humanity are still alive, they must choose whether to stay in Vegas or venture out into a dangerous world to find them. As the group splinters and new alliances are formed, they come face-to-face with the evil forces that caused the pandemic in the first place.
Created by: Josh Boone, Benjamin Cavell, Stephen King (novel), Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden
The Wilds
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2020-2022), Seasons: 2, Runtime: 60′, Score: 7.2/10 (IMDB), Channel: Amazon Prime
In a future world, the earth has been ravaged by environmental disasters. The remaining population lives in a society that is ruled by a totalitarian government. The people are forced to live in tightly controlled settlements, and they are not allowed to leave without authorization. One day, a group of rebels decides to break out of their settlement and cross the wilderness in order to find a new home. Along the way, they must face the dangers of the wild and contend with the government’s soldiers, who are determined to capture them.
Created by: Sarah Streicher, Starring: Rachel Griffiths, Sophia Ali, Shannon Berry
Tribes of Europa
Status: Hiatus, Years: (2021-), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 49′, Score: 6.7/10 (IMDB), Channel: Netflix
Tribes of Europa is a dystopian tv series set in a world where the government has collapsed and society has been divided into factions based on their occupation. The series follows the fight for power between the different factions as they struggle to rebuild society.
Created by: Philip Koch, Starring: Henriette Confurius, Emilio Sakraya, David Ali Rashed
Westworld
Status: Ongoing, Years: (2016-), Seasons: 4, Runtime: 62′, Score: 8.5/10 (IMDB), Channel: HBO
Set in a dystopian future world where technology allows people to visit a Western-themed amusement park populated by android “hosts,” Westworld tells the story of one visitor’s journey into the heart of the park, and the dark secrets he discovers there.
Created by: Lisa Joy, Jonathan Nolan, Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris
Y: The Last Man
Status: Cancelled, Years: (2021), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 60′, Score: 5.9/10 (IMDB), Channel: FOX/Hulu
In the year 20xx, the world is a bleak and scary place. A pandemic has wiped out most of the population, leaving behind a handful of survivors who are struggling to stay alive. The series follows the journey of one man, known only as “The Last Man”, as he tries to make his way across the country and find a safe place to call home. Along the way, he must face both the dangers of the world and the dangers of other survivors who are determined to take what he has for themselves. Based on the comic book series “Y: The Last Man.”
Starring: Diane Lane, Ashley Romans, Ben Schnetzer
Years And Years
Status: Ended, Years: (2019), Seasons: 1, Runtime: 60′, Score: 8.3/10 (IMDB), Channel: HBO
Set in the near future, “Years and Years” is a dystopian TV series that follows the Lyons family over a period of 15 years. The show centers around their eldest son Stephen, a political activist who is trying to save the world from what he believes is an impending apocalypse, and his loved ones who all deal with their own personal struggles in a world that is constantly changing. “Years and Years” is an unflinching look at what our future could be like, and it’s not always pretty.
Created by: Russell T. Davies, Starring: Rory Kinnear, Anne Reid, T’Nia Miller
Zoo
Status: Ended, Years: (2015-2017), Seasons: 3, Runtime: 42′, Score: 6.6/10 (IMDB), Channel: CBS
In a future dystopian world where animal populations have gone out of control, a team of scientists and researchers work to keep the animals at bay. But as the animals become smarter and more dangerous, the team must also face their own personal demons and challenges in order to save the world from total destruction.
Created by: Josh Appelbaum, André Nemec, Jeff Pinkner, Starring: James Wolk, Kristen Connolly, Nonso Anozie
As our world is rapidly turning into Dystopia, these TV series are just a brief glimpse of the challenges and turmoil we might face. After all, Science Fiction is Real!
Sometimes there are TV shows that take all the hype and sometimes there are TV shows that get canceled to the dismay of some of the fans. That doesn’t mean that they are not worth watching. There are a few TV shows that have been recently canceled but deserve a second chance. Sci-Fi is not for everyone but it definitely has a cult following. These are just some of the reasons why these TV shows deserve to be renewed. Which ones do you think should have been renewed? Do you have any other dystopian TV series to recommend that missed all the hype?
