10 Best Sci-Fi Anthology Episodes, Ranked

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Jon Hamm in White Christmas Black Mirror

Published Feb 21, 2026, 9:48 AM EST

Diego Pineda has been a devout storyteller his whole life. He has self-published a fantasy novel and a book of short stories, and is actively working on publishing his second novel.

A lifelong fan of watching movies and talking about them endlessly, he writes reviews and analyses on his Instagram page dedicated to cinema, and occasionally on his blog. His favorite filmmakers are Andrei Tarkovsky and Charlie Chaplin. He loves modern Mexican cinema and thinks it's tragically underappreciated.

Other interests of Diego's include reading, gaming, roller coasters, writing reviews on his Letterboxd account (username: DPP_reviews), and going down rabbit holes of whatever topic he's interested in at any given point.

There are very few genres that get along as well as science fiction and the anthology genre do. Over the course of history, there have been too many great anthology sci-fi shows to count, and as a natural consequence of that, there have also been countless excellent episodes hailing from these great series. Whether they're pure science fiction or mix the genre with horror, comedy, fantasy, or anything else, they're undeniably great.

Some of these are among the greatest episodes of any sci-fi show ever, let alone anthology sci-fi shows. Creative, intelligent, and taking full advantage of every trope that the genre affords them, these episodes prove that this genre can be one of the most entertaining on the small screen. From classics like The Twilight Zone to modern underrated gems like Electric Dreams, all sorts of sci-fi anthologies have produced these timeless episodes.

10 "Autofac" — 'Electric Dreams' (2017–2018)

Season 1, Episode 8 (2018)

Juno Temple looking at Janelle Monáe as she lies down in Electric Dreams.

The great Philip K. Dick was one of the greatest and most important science fiction writers of the 20th century, and several exceptional movies and TV shows, from Blade Runner toThe Man in the High Castle, are based on his legendary work. Electric Dreams is different: This prematurely canceled anthology series consists of ten episodes, each one adapting a different Dick story.

While the majority of the series' episodes are adaptations of short stories, its best episode is the only one based on a novelette: "Autofac." Proof of why this is one of the few Prime Video sci-fi shows that are a 10/10, the episode is visually striking, marvelously performed, and as complex and thematically layered as any fan of Dick's work might expect.

9 "The Duel" — 'Star Wars: Visions' (2021–Present)

Season 1, Episode 1 (2021)

Star Wars: Visions is one of those anthology shows where practically every episode is a masterpiece, but none come even close to the level of quality of "The Duel." Each episode of the series' first season is an anime short produced by a different studio. With "The Duel," studio Kamikaze Douga crafted one of the most memorable episodes of Star Wars television of all time.

The concept of a samurai tale much in the style of an Akira Kurosawa film, but set within the Star Wars universe, is delightful enough on paper. But "The Duel" is even better in execution, with incredible lightsaber choreography and a distinct black-and-white visual style. If anything, the only reason this episode is even better is that it should have been longer.

8 "Demon With a Glass Hand" — 'The Outer Limits' (1963–1965)

Season 2, Episode 5 (1964)

A man and woman talking in The Outer Limits.

Some might say The Outer Limits is the perfect replacement for The Twilight Zone, but this exceptional classic is more than able to stand on its own two feet. Though some prefer the '90s revival of the show, you just can't beat the original. The 1960s' Outer Limits is scary, inventive, and far more focused on sci-fi than The Twilight Zone, perfect for fans of the genre looking for a more "pure" experience.

The show's best episode is arguably "Demon With a Glass Hand," one of the best episodes of genre television of the era. The acting is fantastic, and the atmospheric tone packs a wallop. There have been allegations that James Cameron plagiarized the episode when he made The Terminator, and though plagiarism is a bit of a stretch, the influences are certainly noticeable. As such, for all those who love the sci-fi action classic and its sequels, the masterful "Demon With a Glass Hand" is a must-see.

7 "Bad Travelling" — 'Love, Death & Robots' (2019–Present)

Season 3, Episode 2 (2022)

Netflix is no stranger to great anthology series, and Love, Death & Robots is easily one of their best. Each episode of this excellent show tells a different story belonging to the sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror genres, often with a different animation style. It's one of the most mind-boggling original Netflix shows, and for proof, one needn't look further than the series' highest-rated episode on IMDb: "Bad Travelling."

Set entirely on a ship with a ravenous monster lying inside, "Bad Travelling" is scary, visually stunning, and delightfully mind-twisting. Directed by the legendary David Fincher, one of the show's executive producers, this is just about as tense and potent a thriller as any fan of the filmmaker might expect. The animation style is memorable, the voice performances are top-notch stuff, and the ending is one of the best of any episode of any sci-fi anthology series.

6 "Zima Blue" — 'Love, Death & Robots' (2019–Present)

Season 1, Episode 14 (2019)

Zima holding up a 'zima blue' ceramic tile

"Zima Blue" is the best story that Love, Death & Robots has told thus far. Based on a short story by Alastair Reynolds, this slow-burning character study is one of the most abstract and intensely philosophical episodes of any sci-fi anthology series, and that's precisely where its charm comes from.

It's the kind of intelligent, thematically sharp metaphor that every sci-fi fan loves to see every now and then. It's a reflection on art, fame, and mortality the likes of which only a show like Love, Death & Robots could have tackled, refreshingly mature and solemn for a series that can so often lean more toward camp and edgy humor.

5 "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" — 'The Twilight Zone' (1959–1964)

Season 5, Episode 3 (1963)

William Shatner looks concerned out a rainy airplane window in Twilight Zone's Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.

For all those who love science fiction, anthology series, and television as a whole, The Twilight Zone needs no introduction. Part sci-fi, part supernatural fantasy, and often quite scary, this is the kind of horror series whose every episode is perfect. Not all perfect Twilight Zone episodes are made equal, however, and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" is undoubtedly one of the best of the bunch.

Based on a short story by Richard Matheson, the episode stars a fantastic William Shatner three years before Star Trek: The Original Series enshrined him as an icon of sci-fi history. It's scary, it's incredibly iconic, and it has some of the best use of special effects of any Twilight Zone episode. When people talk about great anthology series episodes, they'll usually end up referencing this one at some point.

4 "Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear" — 'Secret Level' (2024–Present)

Season 1, Episode 5 (2024)

Space marines in 'Secret Level' 'Warhammer 40,000' episode

Video games used to have a pretty nasty track record when it came to big-screen adaptations. But in recent years, video game adaptations have found in the small screen their ideal home. As it turns out, this doesn't just include serialized stories: It includes anthology series, too. With Secret Level, Prime Video has proved that the anthology formula can work perfectly to make thrilling mini-adaptations of some of history's greatest games.

Every episode of the series is short and entertaining, making Secret Level one of Prime Video's most bingeable sci-fi shows. But the series' best story so far is the adaptation of the miniature wargame Warhammer 40,000, subtitled "And They Shall Know No Fear." It's 20 minutes of perfectly atmospheric, visually stunning, absolutely gripping storytelling that proves Secret Level still has a lot of gas left in the tank.

3 "White Christmas" — 'Black Mirror' (2011–Present)

Season 2, Episode 4 (2014)

Jon Hamm as Matt Trent in Black Mirror White Christmas looking at the camera depressed.

This generation's Twilight Zone, Black Mirror is one of the most popular anthology series currently airing—and certainly the most popular sci-fi anthology series. Like every anthology show (particularly those that tell a different story in each episode), it's had its fair share of ups and downs; but when Black Mirror hits, it really hits. Never has it hit harder than with "White Christmas."

Starring Jon Hamm at the top of his game, "White Christmas" is the type of episode that demonstrates why this is one of the most nearly-perfect Netflix shows. It's smart, it's chilling, and it makes the absolute best use of its limited budget. It was the last episode of the series that aired before it moved from Channel 4 to Netflix, and what a way of closing things off with a bang it was.

2 "Eye of the Beholder" — 'The Twilight Zone' (1959–1964)

Season 2, Episode 6 (1960)

Maxine Stewart, disillusioned by a group of hospital staff with pig faces behind her

They may or may not have known it at the time, but with The Twilight Zone, what CBS had on their hands would age as one of their greatest shows ever. Not only that: It's perhaps the most groundbreaking and influential science fiction show in history, as virtually every TV series that the genre has seen since its conclusion has drawn inspiration from it in some way.

Talking about what the best episode of The Twilight Zone is is a conversation that could very well have no end, but there's a particularly strong argument to be made for "Eye of the Beholder." It's scary, it's exciting, it's undeniably Lynchian, and it's one of the most creative episodes that the show ever produced. This kind of self-contained masterpiece is what anthology television is all about.

1 "Victory and Death" — 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' (2008–2020)

Season 7, Episode 12 (2020)

The entire "Siege of Mandalore" arc is arguably the greatest story arc in the history of anthology sci-fi shows, but there's no doubt about what its best episode is: the very last episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, "Victory and Death." Emotionally devastating, packed with adrenaline-pumping action, and cementing Ahsoka, Maul, and Rex as three of the best Star Wars television characters beyond a shadow of a doubt, it's one of the best pieces of media the galaxy far, far away has ever seen.

Granted, it's difficult to enjoy this episode if you're not a Star Wars fan or a staunch follower of The Clone Wars, but given either one of those conditions, it's an absolutely unforgettable experience. The action is thrilling, the character arcs come to entirely satisfying conclusions, and the tragic ending adds a bittersweet aura both to the prequel and original trilogies that simply wasn't there before. It is, without a doubt, the greatest episode ever made for a sci-fi anthology TV series.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Release Date 2008 - 2020-00-00

Network Cartoon Network, Netflix, Disney+

Directors Brian Kalin O'Connell, Steward Lee, Giancarlo Volpe, Bosco Ng, Danny Keller, Rob Coleman, Justin Ridge, Nathaniel Villanueva, Saul Ruiz, Jesse Yeh, Duwayne Dunham, Atsushi Takeuchi, Robert Dalva, Walter Murch