Zombie TV shows might trace their roots back to movies and the slow-shuffling undead of George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead in 1968, but they’ve since found new unlife on the small screen. Over the last few decades, the genre has evolved from gritty horror to sharp satire, teen drama, and beyond. When done right, zombie TV shows rival any movies.
The 2010s especially saw an explosion of zombie content across streaming platforms and cable alike. While some were quickly buried by formulaic plotting or weak characters, a handful stood out as instant classics. With so many shows to choose from, only the most inventive, emotionally resonant, or downright terrifying efforts have managed to hold up.
The absolute best of the best are the zombie shows that don’t just deliver blood, gore, and brain-munching chaos, but also elevate the genre. Whether they’re playing it for laughs, slow-burn dread, or clever social commentary, each of these entries deserves to be called a masterpiece.
11
Freakish (2016-2017)
Mutant Zombies And High School Drama Collide In This Fun And Fast-Paced Cult Hit
Freakish doesn’t try to reinvent the zombie wheel, but it spins it in a different direction by trapping a group of teens (including Liza On Demand star Liza Koshy) in their high school after a chemical plant explosion unleashes mutant, rage-filled creatures. It’s a perfect “what if The Breakfast Club had to survive a zombie outbreak” scenario – and it works surprisingly well.
Freakish blends horror and teen survival drama into something distinctive
The appeal of Freakish comes from its tension-packed setting and lean episodes that never overstay their welcome. The show’s zombie-like mutants aren’t exactly traditional undead, but they’re still terrifying, fast-moving predators. Their origins are tied to a mysterious biochemical incident, giving the series a slight sci-fi edge.
Freakish’s breakneck pacing and solid production values keep it engaging. It may not have the prestige of some other zombie TV shows, or their budget, but Freakish blends horror and teen survival drama into something distinctive, and it’s a must-watch for fans who like their apocalypse with a side of high school angst.
10
Helix (2014-2015)
This Cerebral Sci-Fi Horror Blends Zombie Tropes With Chilling Biotech Paranoia
Helix
- Release Date
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2014 – 2015-00-00
- Directors
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Steven A. Adelson, Jeremiah S. Chechik, Brad Turner, Duane Clark, Bradley Walsh, Grant Harvey, Mike Rohl, Jeff Renfroe
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Billy Campbell
Dr. Alan Farragut
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Cat Lemieux
Dr. Doreen Boyle
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Julian Bailey
Lt. Humphries
Syfy’s Helix may not look like a traditional zombie show at first glance, but its infected subjects – black-goo-oozing, hive-minded, fast-moving humans – are pure nightmare fuel. Created by writer Cameron Porsandeh, this unique zombie TV show follows CDC scientists investigating a viral outbreak at a remote Arctic base.
It’s the relentless tension and claustrophobic setting that really make Helix shine
What starts as a clinical procedural quickly descends into full-blown body horror and conspiracy territory. Helix leans heavily into its biotech themes, asking disturbing questions about genetic experimentation and the ethics of controlling evolution. The virus turns victims into aggressive, infected carriers with zombie-like behavior, all underpinned by a sinister corporate agenda.
Billy Campbell leads a strong cast, but it’s the relentless tension and claustrophobic setting that really make Helix shine. While season 2 diverges into more surreal territory, the first season is tightly plotted, atmospheric, and utterly gripping. If you’re into zombie horror with a heavy dose of paranoia and scientific dread, Helix is worth the deep dive.
9
The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
The Most Influential Zombie Show Of All Time, And Still One Of The Best
The Walking Dead
8/10
- Release Date
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2010 – 2022
- Showrunner
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Frank Darabont, Angela Kang, Scott M. Gimple, Glen Mazzara
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Norman Reedus
Daryl Dixon
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Melissa McBride
Carol Peletier
Few shows redefined a genre the way The Walking Dead did. With its brutal realism, deep character arcs, and some of the most harrowing moments in modern television, it became a phenomenon that extended far beyond the horror niche. At its peak, it was a cultural juggernaut.
The Walking Dead at its best remains unmatched in scale, world-building, and emotional impact.
From Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) waking up in a hospital to face the end of the world, to unforgettable episodes like “The Grove” and “No Sanctuary,” The Walking Dead built a sprawling narrative of survival, loss, and the cost of humanity. Its zombies – referred to as walkers – are grotesque and terrifying, but the show smartly makes humans the real threat.
Yes, it had a few slow seasons, but The Walking Dead at its best remains unmatched in scale, world-building, and emotional impact. The franchise has since expanded into multiple spin-offs, but none quite capture the original’s raw power when it was firing on all cylinders.
8
Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)
This Horror-Comedy Serves Up Undead Hijinks With A Perfect Bite Of Suburban Satire
Santa Clarita Diet isn’t your typical zombie show. When Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) suddenly develops a taste for human flesh, her husband Joel (Timothy Olyphant) does what any loving spouse would do: help her discreetly murder people. It’s absurd, charming, and surprisingly heartfelt.
Santa Clarita Diet still stands as one of the most inventive takes on the zombie genre
Rather than portraying zombies as mindless monsters, Santa Clarita Diet flips the script with Sheila retaining her personality – aside from an inconvenient craving for raw human organs. This approach gives the show room to explore themes of identity, morality, and marriage, all while delivering plenty of laughs.
The chemistry between Barrymore and Olyphant is a major highlight, but the writing is equally sharp, with witty dialogue and a twisted sense of humor. Though it was cut short after three seasons, Santa Clarita Diet still stands as one of the most inventive takes on the zombie genre, proving horror can be hilarious and still bloody as hell.
7
iZombie (2015-2019)
A Crime Procedural With A Brain-Eating Twist And Surprising Emotional Depth
From Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas, iZombie takes a wildly different approach to the undead. Liv Moore (Rose McIver) is a medical resident turned zombie who eats brains to maintain her humanity while temporarily absorbing the memories and personalities of the deceased. Naturally, she uses this to help solve murders.
It balances humor, horror, and heart better than most
What sounds like a gimmick becomes an engine for wildly creative storytelling. Every episode sees Liv take on a new persona – anything from a country singer to a conspiracy theorist – giving McIver space to flex her comedic and dramatic range. It’s like CSI meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with brains.
Beyond the weekly mysteries, iZombie dives into a deeper mythology around the zombie outbreak, government cover-ups, and power struggles in a world on the brink of apocalypse. It balances humor, horror, and heart better than most, and its bold finale cements it as one of the most underrated genre gems of the 2010s.
6
Black Summer (2019-2021)
A Brutal And Relentless Look At Survival That Makes Every Second Count
Black Summer is not a zombie TV show for the faint of heart. This Z Nation prequel abandons lighthearted action in favor of raw, nerve-shredding realism. Its fast-moving zombies, long unbroken takes, and near-total lack of exposition make it feel like a found-footage survival nightmare – one that never lets up.
It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of a zombie outbreak ever made
Season 2’s 100% Rotten Tomatoes score isn’t surprising. It refines everything that made the first season compelling: nonlinear storytelling, unpredictable character deaths, and jaw-dropping action sequences. The series doesn’t care about traditional narrative structures – it cares about immersing viewers in pure chaos.
There’s no comic relief, no safety, and barely any dialogue in parts. However, that’s the point. Black Summer turns the apocalypse into a series of tense, brutal encounters where survival depends on instinct and luck. It’s one of the most realistic portrayals of a zombie outbreak ever made – and arguably one of the scariest.
5
The Last Of Us (2023-Present)
A Heartbreaking And Cinematic Adaptation That Redefines Zombie Storytelling
Based on the beloved video game, The Last of Us isn’t just a faithful adaptation – it’s a masterclass in character-driven horror. Starring Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the show follows their perilous journey across a post-apocalyptic America ravaged by a fungal outbreak that turns victims into grotesque, mushroom-faced monstrosities.
The Last of Us has already made a massive cultural impact.
While the infected are terrifying (especially the Clickers), it’s the emotional weight that truly defines the series. Every episode feels meticulously crafted, with standout chapters like “Long, Long Time” offering devastating detours into love, loss, and survival. The show doesn’t just depict a world falling apart – it explores what’s worth holding onto within it.
As evidenced by its slew of awards, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Television Series – Drama, The Last of Us has already made a massive cultural impact. It’s a haunting, stunning piece of television that shows just how far zombie stories can go when character and humanity are placed at the forefront.
4
Dead Set (2008)
A Savage And Satirical Bloodbath That’s Big Brother Meets 28 Days Later
Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker gave the zombie genre one of its sharpest, bloodiest entries with Dead Set. Set during a fictional season of the UK’s Big Brother, the five-part miniseries traps housemates inside the studio while a real zombie apocalypse breaks out across the country – and they have no idea it’s happening.
Dead Set is a brutal, high-concept survival story that never overstays its welcome.
It’s a brilliant setup that weaponizes reality TV absurdity and turns it on its head. Once the housemates realize what’s going on, the show becomes an all-out siege thriller with razor-sharp satire. The zombies are fast, furious, and unrelenting, and the gore is impressively grisly.
Its impressive 92% Rotten Tomatoes score highlights just how enjoyable this zombie TV show truly is. The lean runtime makes every pulse-pounding minute count, and Dead Set is a brutal, high-concept survival story that never overstays its welcome. It’s nihilistic, tense, and at times deeply cynical – but that’s exactly what makes it such a standout. Few zombie shows go for the jugular like this one does.
3
In The Flesh (2013-2014)
A Deeply Human Drama About Zombies Seeking Redemption In A World That Fears Them
In The Flesh flips the zombie script completely. Instead of focusing on survival or carnage, this heartfelt yet creepy British TV show explores the aftermath of an undead uprising. Those infected – now called PDS (Partially Deceased Syndrome) sufferers – have been medicated and reintroduced into society. But prejudice, trauma, and guilt still haunt them and the communities that survived the outbreak.
One of the most emotionally resonant pieces of zombie media ever created.
Kieren Walker (Luke Newberry) returns home to a hostile village where he must hide his past and cope with both internal shame and external discrimination. The show isn’t about zombie attacks – it’s about healing, forgiveness, and the societal scars left behind. Think of it as The Returned meets District 9.
With a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score and a BAFTA win for Best Mini-Series, In The Flesh stands as one of the most emotionally resonant pieces of zombie media ever created. It’s poetic, heartbreaking, and far more thought-provoking than its premise might suggest. It’s a true one-of-a-kind masterpiece, and there’s almost nothing quite like it out there.
2
Ash Vs Evil Dead (2015-2018)
Hilarious, Gory, And Endlessly Creative – This Is Zombie Horror At Its Wildest
Picking up decades after the original Evil Dead films, Ash vs Evil Dead sees Bruce Campbell return as chainsaw-handed, demon-slaying legend Ash Williams. Equal parts slapstick and splatter, the show delivers relentless action, inventive kills, and outrageous one-liners all while still honoring the horror roots of the franchise.
Ash vs Evil Dead is pure, unfiltered genre joy.
The Deadites in this series are more demonic than traditional zombies, but the show is packed with the kind of undead mayhem zombie fans crave. From head-splitting carnage to cabin-in-the-woods chaos, every episode is a blood-soaked fever dream. And somehow, it all works perfectly.
Critically adored with a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Television Series, Ash vs Evil Dead is pure, unfiltered genre joy. It’s campy, clever, and constantly surprising. Whether you’re a die-hard Evil Dead fan or new to the franchise, this is must-see horror television.
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
