The 10 Best Zombie TV Shows Ranked
There are so many TV shows about or related to zombies that it can almost become a genre of its own and that is all the more proven by the best zombie TV shows out there. streaming online. Zombie TV shows are at least a subgenre of dramas, thrillers, post-apocalyptic shows, and sometimes even comedies. The concept of zombies – undead former humans roaming around with the singular mission of finding human flesh to feast on – has been approached from every angle imaginable in the past few decades, and even in 2023, they are only getting better with more inventive narratives, greater star power, and higher budgets.
With the release of The Last of Us Part 1, HBO revived the subgenre even further. Not only is the series the first really big movie adaptation of a video game, it’s also completely revived zombie shows with its vast scope, incredible storytelling, and quality. film. It has elevated the genre more than any zombie show since The Walking Dead premiered over a decade ago. However, all the other great graphic horror series should not be forgotten. There are plenty of zombie movies out there, but these are really the best zombie TV shows that tell compelling stories in unique ways over a longer period of time.
Daybreak (2019)
With a humorous perspective on the zombie apocalypse, Daybreak is about a 17-year-old high school outcast named Josh. Following an apocalyptic event in California, he goes searching for his British girlfriend. Daybreak is chock full of pop culture references, throughout Josh’s journey, which is almost entertaining enough. But it’s the eclectic group of helpers that Josh meets along the way that make the one-season show so entertaining, including a 10-year-old pyromaniac and a former bully. Together, they must fight enemies they encounter, among them are adults who have turned into zombies they call Ghoulies.
Helix (2014–2015)
Unfortunately, Helix only lasted two seasons, but Syfy’s attempt at the zombie invasion series was warmly received by critics and audiences alike. Helix tells of a viral outbreak that had two effects on those exposed to it. Either viruses are deadly and they die instantly, or they become violent, dangerous and bloodthirsty creatures. The premise doesn’t look like anything original and has been done hundreds of times, but there’s a reason it’s proven. Helix nailed the formula and its emphasis on the sci-fi aspects of the story as scientists tried to control the contagion, painting the premise in a different way.
Fear The Walking Dead (2015–2023)
The first spin-off series to The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead follows a different cast of characters doing their best to survive in other parts of the U.S., starting pre-outbreak in the first season. Beginning in Los Angeles, the show moves around throughout Mexico, Texas, Virginia, and other locations. The fact that the show continually refreshes its main cast, including some of the best characters introduced after season one of Fear the Walking Dead, helps breathe new life into it each season. Like the original, the biggest enemies the main characters face through each season are mortal ones, but the spin-off leans a little too much into that element.
Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
Netflix’s own horror drama, Brand New Cherry Flavor, is a limited series that’s based on the book of the same name written by Todd Grimson. The film follows Lisa, a young woman who comes to Los Angeles in hopes of finally being able to direct her first film. However, she soon finds herself in a nightmare situation involving not only zombies but also assassins, supernatural kittens, and a tattoo artist capable of cursing people.. Zombies are only one part of the larger theme of Brand New Cherry Flavor, which keeps the show entertaining, but it still counts as one of the best Zombie TV shows.
iZombie (2015–2019)
iZombie, a loose adaptation of DC’s comic book series of the same name, follows Olivia “Liv” Moore, a medical examiner turned zombie. However, this did not prevent him from working with the police department. Instead, she eats her victims’ brains, which allows her to temporarily inherit their memories and personalities so she can provide insights that help police solve cases. It’s a unique piece of procedural crime drama, and while the high concepts in the procedural format pose great risks, iZombie is utterly satisfying. Ironically, iZombie is a human story about a zombie character seeking to satisfy his carnal desires that can actually help others.
Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019)
Santa Clarita Diet only lasted three seasons, but it’s still one of the best zombie TV shows thanks to its gripping storyline and stellar cast that includes Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. The film’s actors play Joel and Sheila, a happy couple working in real estate but their lives are forever changed when Sheila begins to have zombie symptoms and has a strange desire. is cannibalism. It’s an interesting twist on the typical zombie genre that mixes elements of horror with comedy, and it’s fun to see Drew Barrymore return to the horror genre for the first time since Scream.
Kingdom (2019–2020)
Kingdom is a South Korean political thriller film set in a fictional, medieval-inspired Joseon period. At the heart is a crown prince who investigates what’s going on in his community when a plague seems to take over, causing humans to become infected and turn into zombies. The film is extremely well built, whether it’s the story, The series is unbelievably well crafted, whether it’s the story, the surprisingly great digital and practical effects, or the Korean actors’ performances, which helped make Kingdom one of the highest-rated K-dramas. In addition to the two seasons, there’s a special feature-length episode called Kingdom: Ashin of the North, which is just as great as the proper series.
Ash Vs Evil Dead (2015–2018)
Ash vs. Evil Dead was a fun spin-off comedy from the original Evil Dead trilogy, but it was canceled after three seasons on Starz. Therefore, Ash vs. Evil Dead has become a cult classic just like the beloved movie franchise the series is based on. Bruce Campbell returns to reprise his role as Ash Williams, who became the iconic horror protagonist with his chainsaw hand and the shotgun he calls his broom. The series was less scary than the comedy-horror movies, but just as funny, and Ash becoming more of a developed character in a long-form series was exactly what he deserved.
The Walking Dead (2010–2022)
The longest running zombie series of all time, The Walking Dead, begins at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse. Dead humans “transformed” shortly after, becoming mindless, wandering “walkers”. When Rick Grimes finds out, everyone is infected and will come back when they die, not just those bitten. When it comes to the best Zombie TV shows, The Walking Dead deserves a mention simply for its impressive 11 seasons. Despite a marked drop in quality in the following seasons, between the number of seasons, the spin-off and becoming a major part of pop culture zeitgeist in the 2010s, the series ri AMC retains a legacy that other shows cannot match.
The Last Of Us (2023 )
The Last of Us is a part, but HBO has tweaked the source material with care and respect, resulting in one of the most epic and grueling series the network has ever produced. The film follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), a smuggler who must escort a teenager through a zombie-infested America. The network picked up Pascal, who has become one of today’s most beloved movie actors, and from a cinematic perspective, the show is spectacular, too .the show looks spectacular too. It was a huge challenge to adapt an overwhelmingly universally praised video game, but HBO effortlessly pulled it off and made one of the best Zombie TV shows ever.