9 Anthology Shows That Are 10/10 but Nobody Remembers Today

We put together a list of some of the best anthology series out there that haven't gotten their due. Whether overshadowed by more successful brands or simply passed up on by more popular television outings, these anthology shows deserve more than just an honorable mention. We've got everything from fantasy and science fiction to horror and Western genres. These are the anthology shows that you just cannot pass up.

1 'Night Gallery' (1969–1973)

Admittedly, there are plenty who still adore Rod Serling's Twilight Zone follow-up, but for the rest of the world, Night Gallery has fallen to the wayside of his original hit's shadow. After a three-part premiere in 1969, Serling launched the anthology show on NBC, which went more in the dark fantasy direction than science fiction, ala Twilight Zone. Even Steven Spielberg directed a few episodes.

With hour-long episodes in the first two seasons and half-hour installments in its third, Night Gallery delved into horror especially, but also fantasy, and, strangely, comedy. The program even took inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's catalog and even did a whole episode about "What if Count Dracula had to withdraw from the blood bank?" ("A Matter of Semantics," where Batman actor Cesar Romero played the vampire). It's an underrated gem that certainly deserves praise besides Serling's original anthology triumph.

2 'Dead Man's Gun' (1997–1999)

The '90s sparked a resurgence in the Western genre for the first time in decades, and that interest even bled over into the realm of television. Created by Kung Fu and The Young Riders creators Ed Spielman and Howard Spielman, Dead Man's Gun is a curious Western anthology that takes inspiration from Winchester '73, namely in that it follows the adventures of a seemingly cursed gun that changes hands all throughout the Old West. Narrated by Kris Kristofferson, this is a two-season anthology worth another look.

With Twilight Zone-esque twists that elevate it beyond standard Western fare, Dead Man's Gun ran for two years on Showtime. The series featured guest stars like C. Thomas Howell, Ed Asner, Graham Greene, Laurie Holden, and Gary Cole, and had no trouble coming up with creative new ways to curse each new owner of the titular firearm. The end of the series even ties the whole thing together, noting that the seemingly unconnected events were all part of a grand scheme by Death itself.

3 'Castle Rock' (2018–2019)

Not all anthology shows are episodic in nature. Sometimes anthologies spend a whole season on a single plot, and after the success of American Horror Story, Hulu was primed and ready for Castle Rock. Based on the extensive work of Stephen King, the Maine-based series pulls from various tales by the King of Horror, smashing them together for season-long thrills that might just keep you up at night.

Produced by J. J. Abrams, Castle Rock ran for two seasons before the streaming giant prematurely cancelled the show. Nevertheless, the two 10-part tales are everything you could hope for from a King-inspired anthology tale. Just don't play the drinking game when it comes to King-themed references, especially if you plan to binge the season all at once.

4 'Love, Death & Robots' (2019–Present)

Okay, some would argue that a show can't be forgotten if it's still being made. That's a fair point, but considering Love, Death & Robots is up against Black Mirror for the title of Netflix's best anthology series, we thought it deserved a mention. With only four seasons released since it first premiered in 2019, this animated anthology series lives up to its curious name with strange, mind-bending sci-fi/fantasy/horror stories.

Created by Deadpool director Tim Miller, Love, Death & Robots is a triumph that contains absolutely zero weak episodes. With episodes ranging from six minutes to 20, each episode is a masterclass in creative ingenuity and genre thrills. From werewolf soldiers and mechsuit battles to zombie miniatures and fallen angels who make their way to Earth during World War II, you'll never guess as to what might happen next.

5 'Playhouse 90' (1956–1960)

One of the original television anthology dramas, Playhouse 90 is an impressive program that fought to reach new heights of what episodic storytelling can do. With hour-and-a-half episodes, the series pulled in big-name directors like George Roy Hill, John Frankenheimer, and Sidney Lumet, among others, emphasizing stellar performances and tight scripts that pulled in audiences for four seasons between 1956 and 1960. Some of the scripts were so popular that certain episodes were remade as feature-length motion pictures.

Originally filmed in front of a live audience, all 134 episodes are full of killer performances, memorable stars, and connections to larger pop culture, be it through Rod Serling and even Eloise (yes, that Eloise). Easily one of the best-written shows of all time, the genres ranged from mystery and romance to war and crime. You never knew what you were going to get with Playhouse 90, except for a good time.

6 'The Outer Limits' (1963–1965)

The lesser-remembered cousin of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits was another science fiction anthology that helped raise the creative bar for genre television. No, we're not talking about the '90s revival that lasted several seasons, but rather the original two-season ABC program that spawned from the imagination of Leslie Stevens. The great thing about anthology shows is that even those that contain similar formats and subject matter can stand apart due to the distinct episodic material.

While often (and understandably) compared to the Twilight Zone, the original Outer Limits never held back from leaning further into the weirdness of science fiction. With episodes penned by Harlan Ellison, the series generally shied away from fantasy and overt supernatural elements, instead highlighting the delightfully dated sci-fi strangeness that makes it such an underrated classic. Sure, the remake may be better known, but the original deserves its place here too.

7 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' (1955–1965)

When Alfred Hitchcock was at the very top of his game, he turned to television to continue thrilling audiences at home. Alfred Hitchcock Presents (which later morphed into The Alfred Hitchcock Hour) was a mystery/thriller/horror anthology that specialized in the very sort of films that Hitchcock made best. Originally a half-hour program, Hitchcock pushed the boundaries of the CBS-turned-NBC series in the early '60s by extending each episode to an hour.

Hitchcock himself directed 18 episodes of the famed anthology program, which deserves to be remembered as fondly as some of his best big-screen contributions. After all, he put his name and face on every episode. If you haven't had the pleasure of binging through Alfred Hitchcock Presents, it's long overdue.

8 'Death Valley Days' (1952–1970)

Another Western anthology series, Death Valley Days was unique in that it began on radio before graduating to television, where it became even more successful. The brainchild of Ruth Cornwall Woodman, who penned every single episode of the original radio series, each installment was based on a real-life historical event. While not strictly based in the American Southwest, most episodes took place in that region during the Old West period of the late 19th century.

Spanning 20 seasons and 452 episodes, Death Valley Days is one of the longest-running anthology shows of all time. The show was hosted by several well-known names at the time, including future U.S. President Ronald Reagan, and was memorable for being the first Western TV appearance of Clint Eastwood (even before Rawhide). For thrilling single-episode Western TV thrills, you can't pass this one up.

9 'Dekalog' (1989)

If you want to enjoy a television miniseries that truly stands on its own and doubles as an anthology, don't sleep on Dekalog. Created by Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieślowski, each episode in this 10-part anthology series is based on one of the biblical Ten Commandments (hence, Dekalog). Set in a housing complex in Communist Poland, the series is oddly specific but considerably human as it dives into the human condition with an artistic and meditative style that is cinematic in quality long before that was the norm on streaming.

Following a series of different ethical dilemmas, Dekalog is a masterclass in anthology storytelling. Although most episodes aren't directly connected, they all exist in the same space with occasional character crossover, namely through Artur Barciś' mysterious figure. For those who want more, episodes "Five" and "Six" were later extended into feature-length installments, retitled as A Short Film About Killing and A Short Film About Love.