Ranker TVList RulesVote up your favorite live-action TV series that have elements of surrealism. No animated series.
Surrealist TV shows keep viewers tuning in week after week by combining supernatural elements with everyday dramas. The best bizarre TV shows feature imaginative storylines that keep characters - and fans - intrigued. This is a list of the greatest surreal TV shows including everything from Mr. Robot to American Horror Story to Adventure Time.
What programs will you find on this list of the best surreal TV shows? David Lynch's twisted hit Twin Peaks originally ran for only two seasons, but over 20 years after its finale, Showtime picked up the show for another run. Kyle MacLachlan, Sherilyn Fenn, and Sheryl Lee are just a few of the talented cast members who keep this bizarre show rooted in reality. Lost is another one of the most popular surreal TV shows of all-time. And of course, it's impossible to talk about bizarre TV shows without mentioning the Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone. Other good programs featured here include Tales From the Crypt, Baskets, and Black Mirror.
Do you have a favorite bizarre TV series? Give the best shows a thumbs up to move them to the top of the list, and please add any great shows that are missing. And if you're a fan of the surreal, be sure to check out our list of the best surrealist films of all time.
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326103Twin Peaks
Kyle MacLachlan, Russ TamblynPremiered: 1990
Twin Peaks (ABC, 1990) is an American mystery horror drama television series created by Mark... more2
9425The Eric Andre Show
Hannibal Buress, Tom KanePremiered: 2012
The Eric Andre Show (Adult Swim, 2012) is an American surreal comedy television series created... more3
14062The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling, Robert McCordPremiered: 1959
The Twilight Zone is a 1959 American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. It is... more4
200110Black Mirror
Daniel Kaluuya, Toby KebbellPremiered: 2011
Black Mirror (Netflix, 2011) is a British television anthology series created by Charlie... more5
10349Legion
Dan Stevens, Rachel KellerPremiered: 2017
Legion (FX, 2017) is an American cable television series created by Noah Hawley, based on the... more6
178121Lost
Naveen Andrews, Emilie de RavinPremiered: 2004
Lost (ABC, 2004) is an American drama television series created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J.... more7
8140Monty Python's Flying Circus
Graham Chapman, John CleesePremiered: 1969
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a British sketch comedy series commissioned by David... more8
147103Westworld
Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie NewtonPremiered: 2016
Westworld (HBO, 2016) is an American science fiction western thriller television series... more9
6730Atlanta
Donald Glover, Brian Tyree HenryPremiered: 2016
Atlanta (FX, 2016) is an American comedy-drama television series created by Donald Glover.... more10
4014Maniac
Jonah Hill, Emma StonePremiered: 2018
Maniac (Netflix, 2018) is an American dark comedy television series created by Patrick... more11
8963American Horror Story
Connie Britton, Dylan McDermottPremiered: 2011
American Horror Story (FX, 2011) is an American anthology horror television series created by... more12
8055Mr. Robot
Rami Malek, Christian SlaterPremiered: 2015
Mr. Robot (USA Network, 2015) is an American drama-thriller television series created by Sam... more13
335323Sense8
Aml Ameen, Doona BaePremiered: 2015
Sense8 (Netflix, 2015) is an American science fiction drama web television series created by... more14
6643Fringe
Anna Torv, Joshua JacksonPremiered: 2008
Fringe (Fox, 2008) is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams,... more15
339The Prisoner
Patrick McGoohan, Angelo MuscatPremiered: 1967
The Prisoner is a 17-episode British television series first broadcast in the United Kingdom... more16
4127The Outer Limits
Bob Johnson, Ben WrightPremiered: 1963
The Outer Limits (ABC, 1963) is an American horror and speculative fiction anthology... more17
3227Carnivàle
Michael J. Anderson, Adrienne BarbeauPremiered: 2003
Carnivàle is an American television series set in the United States during the Great... more18
3227The Mighty Boosh
Julian Barratt, Noel FieldingPremiered: 2004
The Mighty Boosh is a British comedy troupe featuring comedians Julian Barratt and Noel... more19
3736Tales from the Crypt
John Kassir, Roy BrocksmithPremiered: 1989
Tales from the Crypt, sometimes titled HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is an American horror... more20
2522Orphan Black
Tatiana Maslany, Dylan BrucePremiered: 2013
Orphan Black is a Canadian science fiction television series created by screenwriter Graeme... more21
2117Wayward Pines
Matt Dillon, Carla GuginoPremiered: 2015
Wayward Pines (Fox, 2015) is an American mystery, science fiction television series developed... more22
114The End of the F***ing World
Alex Lawther, Jessica BardenPremiered: 2018
The End of the F***ing World (Netflix, 2018) is an eight-part British absurdist dark... more23
114American Gods
Ricky Whittle, Emily BrowningPremiered: 2017
American Gods (Starz, 2017) is an American television series developed by Bryan Fuller and... more24
82Dark
Louis Hofmann, Oliver MasucciPremiered: 2017
Dark (Netflix, 2017) is a German science fiction thriller web television series created by... more25
2525Eerie, Indiana
Omri Katz, Justin ShenkarowPremiered: 1991
Eerie, Indiana is an American television series that originally aired on NBC from 1991 to... more
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