Top 10 Dystopian Sci-Fi TV Shows

Dystopian Science fiction The television series are quite different from your normal sci-fi fare, with the best of the best taking these exciting fictional societies and corrupting them to the point of dysfunction. Dystopian fiction does this in a number of ways, often using the premise of its story to make a point about modern society. However, sometimes these dystopias simply feature memorable characters, using them to make their point in opposition to the state of their fictional society.

With this in mind, it’s important to note the popularity of dystopian science fiction. These series constitute some of the most shocking sci-fi twists on TV, and are a testament to the impact of their writing. However, like many similar shows, many sci-fi shows are canceled before their time, showing how important it is to support these series while they are still running, to ensure these iconic sci-fi shows stick around for longer.

10

Estação Eleven (2021-2022)

This post-apocalyptic miniseries is a terrifying mirror of reality

Taking place in a world that has been ravaged by a widespread pandemic, Eleven Station revolves around a traveling theater troupe and their survival. They face countless challenges in a world that seems a little too close to ours, even facing a dangerous cult that threatens to change everything. The world of Eleven Station It’s cruel and emptyoften making spaces that should theoretically be full of people feel strange and liminal.

The show itself was met with near-universal acclaim, even boasting an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. It even won awards for its achievement, with actress Mackenzie Davis even winning an award for her impactful performance. There are only ten episodes of this miniseries, making it the perfect show for anyone interested in dystopian fiction.

9

Silo (2023-)

Viewers are still unraveling this series of mystery boxes

Starring Rebecca Ferguson in another iconic role, Silo proposes to answer what life would be like if everything that was left of humanity was trapped living inside a huge silo. According to the Silo commanders, the world outside is dangerous and uninhabitable. However, Ferguson’s character, Juliette Nichols, isn’t so sure they’re telling the truth.

The mystery of Silo is instantly attractive, urging his viewers to keep watching in the hope that their numerous questions can be answered. The series’ production design is especially notable, impressive in its scale and even managing to win an award from the British Film Designers Guild. The series is still ongoing as SiloThe second season of is still on the way, making it a highly anticipated addition to the dystopian television lexicon.

8

The 100 (2014-2020)

Brutal dystopian fiction set in the distant future

Featuring a group of young prisoners who are sent to Earth after the space station humanity calls home begins to fail, the characters of The 100 are tasked with determining whether Earth is safe again 90 years after nuclear fallout. The premise continues to evolve throughout the series’ 7 seasons, changing as the characters solve the problems they present. The show can be incredibly brutal at timesespecially for a show that aired on the CW, without fear of killing off its characters in the first episode.

After a difficult first season, The 100 has quickly become a staple of CW television, with several of its seasons achieving an incredible 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s another award-winning series and for good reason. Its many seasons show how good the writing and character development were in this science fiction series, which began perhaps at the height of young adult dystopian fiction.

7

The Man in the High Castle (2015-2019)

Ridley Scott’s alternate universe series is a must-see

Directed by science fiction legend Ridley Scott, The Man in the High Castle is an alternate universe science fiction show set in a reality where the Axis powers won World War II. It is based on the 1962 novel of the same name and follows a group of people living under the regime, called the Japanese Pacific States of America, who slowly begin their journey towards rebellion. The dystopia developed in this series leaves us wondering how horrible things would have been if this was how World War II had originally gone.

Deeply conspiratorial and incredibly tense, The Man in the High Castle is an excellent example of how to create alternate reality fiction. The show not only tackles themes of fascism head-on, but manages to do so while creating a compelling narrative that eclipses many in the genre. The pilot was the most-watched original episode of the series at the time of its release, receiving rave reviews from fans and critics.

6

Western World (2016-2022)

It is based on the 1973 film Westworld

Originally based on the 1973 film of the same name Western World is a series about an amusement park built to imitate the American Wild West. However, this amusement park is filled with androids built for the express purpose of fulfilling guests’ fantasies, however dark and twisted those fantasies may be. It’s a frightening look at the lack of empathy humanity can have, especially when acting in the role of a god.

Western World is a quality series that balances its radical premise with grounded visuals and honest emotional storytelling. It tackles the question of what makes something human in a way that feels satisfying, leading the viewer to ask themselves the same question. The series was loved for that and more, ending its four-season run in 2022.

5

The Last of Us (2023-)

This zombie thriller was based on a video game

Notable for its powerful emotional throughline and strong characters, The last of us is an HBO zombie series set in a world where zombies are just hosts to a terrifying race of parasitic mushrooms that turn people into bloodthirsty zombies. The main character, Joel, finds himself in the care of a young girl named Ellie, who is miraculously immune to this zombie infection. The key to saving the world from this dystopia lies in their hands, but despite the initially hopeful premise, Joel and Ellie face trauma and hardship at every step of their journey.

The visuals are incredible, with zombie designs that look like they’re straight out of the 2013 video game this series is based on. The last of us took some creative liberties with the game’s plot to adapt the series for television, but did so with reverence for the original in a way that adds something to the game’s story rather than detracts from it. This show marked a shift in television adaptations of video games, showing that the stories told in these games are as good, if not better, than those currently on TV.

4

Black Mirror (2016-)

This anthology series offers a haunting mirror to real-life topics

A little unique in the way it presents itself, Black Mirror is a dystopia in which the premise changes from episode to episode. This is because it is an anthology series, introducing new actors and characters in each episode. Even though the series changes so radically, even within a single season, each story contained is utterly dystopian in ways that reflect the world around us, mirroring topics like the modern use of social media and the rise of artificial intelligence.

Inspired by other classics in the anthology such as The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror has become its own kind of modern classic. It was cited as one of the best series of the 2010s by several outlets, including Weekly entertainment, and both the series and its creators have won numerous awards for their achievements on a technical level and as a result of their incredible storytelling. The show is scary at its core, showing the possible realities the world could fall into because of technology.

3

Fallout Effect (2024-)

Amazon Prime’s newest hit is based on a beloved video game franchise

Amazon Prime Videos Precipitation It’s exactly what the title suggests: nuclear fallout. The series itself is set in an alternate world with a similar history to our own, except that after World War II the emphasis on creating nuclear technology was much more pronounced. Now, living under the consequences of a nuclear war that decimated the planet decades ago, many of the survivors live in vaults or deal with the aftermath of the irradiated wasteland.

This new series was based on the original Precipitation games, a long-running series of video games dating back to 1997. Precipitation It achieved immediate popularity the moment it was released, even being named one of the best science fiction shows of 2024. Precipitation The series was so popular on Amazon that not only did it become the second most viewed title on the entire streaming service, but the video games themselves received a wave of attention that resulted in a massive 160% increase in player numbers.

2

Termination (2022-)

An incredible mystery unfolds in this office dystopia

Termination begins with an immediately interesting premise, starting with Mark Scout and his office job at the somewhat obscure company Lumon Industries. Initially, it seems to be like any office job, except that to work there you have to go through a “termination”, completely separating the memories of work from the memories of the rest of your life. What follows starts slowly, building as the mystery that remains at the center of the series’ plot begins to unfold.

While not the most traditional dystopian series, Termination still manages to portray the alternate reality of this work-life nightmare in a way that speaks to the heart of the daily nine-to-five office worker. It also intertwines the larger mystery of Lumon Industries with the subtle horror of everyday office culture in a way that feels organic. Although there is only one season of the show at the moment, Termination season two is coming, set for release in January 2025.

1

The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-)

Margaret Atwood’s novel is fully realized in this series

Told through the lens of a woman named June, The Handmaid’s Tale It depicts the state of the world after a totalitarian government has recently established itself at the head of the United States. Renamed Offred after being forcibly assigned as a Handmaid to deliver Commander Fred Waterford’s children, June struggles to cope with her new reality. The series is haunting at its core, depicting the suffering of June and women like her in grave detail.

A masterclass in empathy-building, this series is a deeply feminist story rooted in the real-life atrocities women have faced around the world. The Handmaid’s Tale is a scathing critique of fascism, displaying rebellion in a world that has subjugated the people who live in it. With their powerful acting and fully realized story, both of them and others have earned the show all kinds of awards, including two Golden Globes and several Emmy Awards, The Handmaid’s Tale has become an incredible example of what Science fiction can achieve.