There’s something particularly horrifying about watching a dystopian TV series or film. Instead of the blood-soaked, monster-filled fear fest of a classic horror movie, the dystopia is much subtler in its terror: and that’s exactly what makes them so scary.

The opposite of utopia, dystopia is simply a fictional state or society in which things are going wrong. The term itself encompasses a bunch of different scenarios, from a state wrought by extreme injustice at the hands of an evil totalitarian government to a world destroyed by an apocalyptic event. But no matter what’s going on at the heart of the dystopia, the crux of the issue at hand is the same: things are going downhill. Fast.

While some may prefer to steer clear of dystopia after the (rather dystopic) events of the pandemic, others might feel like now is the perfect time to dive into a world even more horrific and terrifying than the one we’re in. And if that’s you, we’ve got you covered.

Keep reading to check out our pick of the best dystopian TV shows to watch now, from the horror of The Handmaid’s Tale to the chilling, post-apocalyptic vibes of The Last Of Us.

10 gripping dystopian TV shows to watch now