Anthology series are quickly becoming a major trend, with several great new TV shows coming out in the last few years. Anthology shows tell a variety of different stories, following different characters and locations either in each new season or in smaller chunks of just a single episode or two. Frequently, these shows are tied together with an overall theme, genre, or some other detail to have some degree of commonality between them. In recent years, many new anthology shows have been released, highlighting the popularity of the format.
From single episodic adventures of horror anthologies like American Horror Stories to larger sweeping narratives like those found in each new season of The White Lotus, anthologies are fresh and exciting. These incredible narratives come in many different genres, making them appealing to other audiences, with sci-fi, crime drama, and superheroes all having anthology shows to be explored. With so many options to choose from, it’s helpful to have a guide to see some of the best anthology shows to come out in the last few years.
10 American Horror Stories
2021 – Present
American Horror Stories
The creators of American Horror Story reunite to launch American Horror Stories, a horror anthology series created for FX and Hulu. Centering on a new, unique horror story each episode, AHS follows various new characters through each episode as they experience their own terrifying tales, often including the supernatural.
- Cast
- Sierra McCormick , Paris Jackson , Merrin Dungey , Matt Bomer , Naomi Grossman , John Carroll Lynch , Charles Melton , Billie Lourd
- Seasons
- 3
- Network
- FX
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Writers
- Manny Coto , Brad Falchuck
- Showrunner
- Ryan Murphy , Brad Falchuck
American Horror Story creators, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are responsible for popularizing the horror anthology genre. Following on from the release of their original series, AHS, the pair decided to explore some even more granular stories on an episode-by-episode basis in American Horror Stories. These bite-sized horror stories can be equally haunting, with creepy and creative mysteries. However, with the much-reduced format, it doesn’t have as much time to build relationships with characters, which is why it’s at the bottom of this ranking.
9 Roar
2022 – Present
Roar
Roar is a black comedy anthology series from the creators of GLOW, Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch. Each episode tells a story about a woman’s experiences in everyday life and what it means to be a woman. But certain stories take it a step further by using magical realism and futuristic worlds.
- Cast
- Hugh Dancy , Fivel Stewart , Betty Gilpin , Merritt Wever , Jake Johnson , Issa Rae , Meera Syal , Nicole Kidman , Alison Brie , Cynthia Erivo
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Apple TV+
- Directors
- So Yong Kim
However, one series that manages to do a lot in each single story is the incredibly creative and dynamic, Roar. This dramedy series follows short stories about women in a series of “feminist fables.” Inspired by a book by Cecilia Ahern with the same title, the stories cover a wide variety of unusual events focused on women in unique situations. The series does not take itself too seriously, with some off-the-wall narratives, but it’s an incredibly interesting and thought-provoking watch, comparable to Black Mirror, but with comedy and focused on female leads.
Roar Characters, Ranked By Intelligence
The Apple TV+ series Roar is full of many fascinating and compelling characters, many of whom display various kinds of intelligence.
8 Cruel Summer
2021 – 2023
Cruel Summer
Cruel Summer is set in Texas, where Kate Wallis, a popular teen in high school, is kidnapped. The series takes place over the summer of 1993, 1994, and 1995, showing Jeanette Turner becoming the new popular girl in her town to one of the most hated women in America. Cruel Summer stars Chiara Aurelia as Jeanette and Olivia Holt as Kate.
- Cast
- Michael Landes , Allius Barnes , Olivia Holt , Froy Gutierrez , Brooklyn Sudano , Chiara Aurelia , Harley Quinn Smith , Blake Lee
- Network
- ABC
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , Prime Video , Apple TV+
- Writers
- Taylor Swift
- Directors
- Jessica Biel
- Showrunner
- Bert V. Royal
After just two seasons, Cruel Summer was canceled, despite having won awards and debuting as Freeform’s most-watched new series ever (via Deadline). The show is a teen mystery thriller that follows a brand-new cast in each season. The time, location, and mystery at the center of each season shifts, but they are tied together by the genre, and both season 1 and season 2 managed to be incredibly compelling. It could be possible that the series will be picked up and renewed elsewhere, but for now, at least two seasons of this brilliant show exist.
7 Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
2022 – Present
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer story is another limited crime drama biography series created by Ian Brennan and Ryan Murphy, starring Evan Peters in the titular role. This series tells the story of Jeffrey Dahmer from the perspective of surviving victims while exploring the missteps taken by the police that allowed Dahmer to continue his three-decade-long killing spree, leading to the murder of at least seventeen young men. In addition, the show covers the earlier years of Dahmer’s life, including the difficult divorce between his parents, his murderous origins back in high school, and his demise in prison.
- Cast
- Evan Peters , Niecy Nash , Molly Ringwald , Richard Jenkins , Michael Learned
- Network
- Netflix
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Writers
- Ryan Murphy , Ian Brennan
- Directors
- Ian Brennan
- Showrunner
- Ian Brennan
AHS creator Ryan Murphy teams up with Ian Brennan to tell the horrifying true-crime stories of the world’s most infamous serial killers in Monster. At present, only the first season has been released, but the second season is set for release in 2024, with it and subsequent seasons focusing on new stories of monstrous figures in history. The debut series, The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,starring Evan Peters, was incredibly popular and helped secure a future for the show, exploring dark true-crime stories with as much insight as can be gathered and captured in a serialized retelling of history.
6 Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet Of Curiosities
2022
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a horror anthology series, comes from a collection of visionary filmmakers, including and curated by Guillermo del Toro. Eight terrifying tales, both new and adapted from classic writers, are brought to the small screen to challenge modern horror conventions and get some of the works of del Toro to life. Each episode tells a unique tale with a different cast, with the beginning of each one starting with an introduction by del Toro himself. Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities positions itself as anthology series set to give new minds a chance to shine in a crowded medium.
- Cast
- Lize Johnston , Kevin Keppy , Kate Micucci , F. Murray Abraham , Tim Blake Nelson , David Hewlett , Martin Starr , Sebastian Roche , Glynn Turman , Dan Stevens , Alexander Eling , Elpidia Carrillo
- Network
- Netflix
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Writers
- Guillermo del Toro , Haley Z. Boston , Emily Carroll , Regina Corrado , Panos Cosmatos , David S. Goyer , Jennifer Kent , Henry Kuttner , Lee Patterson , Aaron Stewart-Ahn , Mika Watkins
- Directors
- Guillermo del Toro
- Showrunner
- Guillermo del Toro
Legendary filmmaker, Guillermo del Toro also teamed up with Netflix to bring to life anthology stories under the title Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The limited series consisted of eight episodes, exploring the darkest and most unusual corners of horror, drama, and mystery. The series consists of several stories inspired by other short works of fiction, including two original works by GdT himself. The series experiences highs and lows, but it delivers on its promise to explore the genre in great detail with an incredibly rich and visually dynamic series of episodes.
5 Dr. Death
2021 – 2023
Dr. Death
Dr. Death is an anthology true crime drama series created for Peacock based on a podcast that covers true stories of murderous doctors. Each season covers and dramatizes the terrifying stories surrounding different doctors and surgeons who committed atrocities worldwide, with the first season focusing on an American neurosurgeon named Christopher Duntsch.
- Cast
- Joshua Jackson , Grace Gummer , Alec Baldwin , Christian Slater , AnnaSophia Robb , Edgar Ramirez , Mandy Moore , Rita Volk , Judy Reyes , Jack Davenport
- Streaming Service(s)
- Peacock
- Writers
- Ashley Michel Hoban , Patrick Macmanus
- Directors
- Jennifer Morrison , So Yong Kim , Maggie Kiley , Laura Belsey
- Showrunner
- Ashley Michel Hoban , Patrick Macmanus
Dr. Death is a dramatized retelling of real doctors who committed major acts of malpractice that endangered the lives of their patients and often resulted in death. The series ran for two seasons, with each telling the story of a different doctor and their criminal and immoral behaviors. For fans of medical dramas and crime thrillers, this series is a perfect blending of both in a way that is eerie, and compelling and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Again, the show received largely positive reviews, but at present, no news about season 3 has been confirmed.
The True Story Of Dr. Death & Christopher Duntsch
Peacock’s anthology series, Dr. Death, portrays the riveting and horrific story of a maniacal doctor, and here’s his true story explained.
4 What If…?
2021 – Present
What If…?
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
- Cast
- Samuel L. Jackson , Stanley Tucci , Michael Douglas , Sean Gunn , Mark Ruffalo , Karen Gillan , Tom Hiddleston , Jeffrey Wright , Michael B. Jordan , Toby Jones , Sebastian Stan , Paul Rudd , David Dastmalchian , Natalie Portman , Josh Brolin , Dominic Cooper , Jeff Goldblum , Hayley Atwell , Djimon Hounsou , Chadwick Boseman , Taika Waititi , Chris Hemsworth , Neil McDonaugh , Jeremy Renner , Michael Rooker
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney Plus
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
- Writers
- Ashley Bradley , Matthew Chauncey
- Directors
- Bryan Andrews
- Showrunner
- Ashley Bradley
What If…? is a Marvel Studios animated series that explores possible alternate realities from the original MCU stories, similar to how different comic book storylines take canon in different directions. The series is easily one of the best TV shows from the MCU, with a series of disjointed stories that typically resolve each season with a crossover event. While other MCU shows have suffered from criticism and poor ratings, What If…? has managed to excite many audiences with imaginative storylines and fun visuals in this animated series.
3 Love, Death & Robots
2019 – Present
Love Death and Robots
Love, Death & Robots is an animated dark-comedy anthology series created for Netflix that springs from the creative minds of the sci-fi animated film, Heavy Metal. Each episode of the show follows a new story created by different animation and directorial crews as they explore at least one of the three titular themes.
- Cast
- Topher Grace
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Writers
- Tim Miller
- Directors
- Craig Ferguson
- Showrunner
- David Fincher
The first season of Love, Death & Robots debuted in 2019, but it is easily one of the very best anthology shows in recent history and deserves a place on this listing. The series consists of episodes where each has a different creative team, with unique stories, and animated styles. However, each episode is focused on at least one of the three themes: love, death, or robots. This simple linking narrative, combined with the incredible global talents on display make this a powerful series that is a must-watch for anyone with an interest in animation, or the three themes.
2 Star Wars: Tales Of The Jedi
2022 – Present
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi is an animated action-anthology series set in different periods during the first three episodes of the film series. The show follows two different characters, Ahsoka Tano and Count Dooku, at different points in their lives, with Ahsoka’s padawan days and beyond, as well as the rise and fall of Count Dooku, exploring his descent into the dark side.
- Cast
- Matt Lanter , Liam Neeson , Janina Gavankar , Corey Burton , Bryce Dallas Howard , Clancy Brown
- Network
- CBS
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney+
- Franchise(s)
- Star Wars
- Writers
- Dave Filoni
- Directors
- Charles Murray
- Showrunner
- Dave Filoni
Star Wars recently released two separate anthology series, Star Wars: Visions, and Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi. While Visions explores other peripheral stories set within the Star Wars universe, Tales of the Jedi revisits Jedi who have already appeared in the franchise and their individual stories. This exploration of familiar characters is incredibly satisfying and entertaining for fans of the series, and equally engaging and invigorating for people who are new to the franchise. The series is beautifully animated and full of captivating stories, making it one of the best anthologies of the 2020s.
1 The White Lotus
2021 – Present
The White Lotus
The White Lotus is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various employees and guests at an exclusive Hawaiian resort over the span of one highly transformative week. As darker dynamics emerge each day, this series gradually reveals the complex truths of the seemingly picture-perfect travelers, cheerful hotel employees, and idyllic locale itself. Each season follows a new cast of characters with a greater mystery lying at the center of each new location.
- Cast
- Alexandra Daddario , Fred Hechinger , Connie Britton , Murray Bartlett , Sydney Sweeney , Brittany O’Grady , Natasha Rothwell , Jake Lacy , Jennifer Coolidge , Molly Shannon , Steve Zahn , Aubrey Plaza , Theo James , Haley Lu Richardson , Michael Imperioli , F. Murray Abraham , Tom Hollander , Meghann Fahy , Adam DiMarco , Will Sharpe , Leslie Bibb , Dom Hetrakul , Jason Isaacs , Michelle Monaghan , Parker Posey , Tayme Thapthimthong
- Network
- HBO Max
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu , HBO Max
- Writers
- Mike White
- Directors
- Mike White
- Showrunner
- Mike White
The White Lotus explores the lives, interactions, and misadventures of guests and employees in high-end luxury resorts. The story gets increasingly wild and entangled as the series progresses, with dark comedy at its core, but it’s easily one of the most clever and well-written shows in recent years. It does feature a recurring cast, with roles repeating, but it sufficiently alters the settings and focuses from episode to episode to qualify as an anthology series. As a measure of what the anthology genre is capable of, The White Lotus is an excellent example of the power of anthology storytelling.
