If you were a fan of horror movies in the 1990s, you probably had a blast watching some of the best horror TV shows of the decade. Building on the success of horror films of previous years, these series delivered weekly shock, suspense and gore, paving the way for the horror boom of later decades (with TV shows such as The Walking Dead, True Blood, American Horror Story, and countless more). With a balanced mix of programs for adults and scary kids, there was something for everyone.
Icons like Beetlejuice, Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees were already household names by the time the ’90s rolled around. So it’s no surprise that some of the best horror TV shows of the decade were based on these popular slasher villains. There was also a notable shift towards more science fiction and supernatural horror during this period. Let’s take a look at some of the best horror TV shows of the 90s.
11/11 Goosebumps
RL Stine’s Goosebumps books were all the rage in the early 90s. So it was only a matter of time before they were adapted for television. The Goosebumps The TV show ran for four seasons from 1995 to 1998 and featured several scary stories from the books each week. The tone of the show was quite light and focused more on tension than outright fear. But that didn’t stop it from becoming one of the best horror TV shows of the 90s.
10/11 Are you afraid of the dark?
Are you afraid of the dark? was a Canadian horror anthology series that aired from 1990 to 1996. The show followed a group of kids calling themselves “The Midnight Society,” and each week one of the members told a scary story around a campfire. The stories were often creepy and exciting, but almost always had a moral lesson at the end. Are you afraid of the dark? was one of the first horror TV shows aimed at children, and it continues to be praised for its imaginative storytelling and chilling atmosphere.
9/11 American Gothic
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American Gothic was a short-lived but groundbreaking horror TV show that aired for one season on CBS from 1995 to 1996. Set in the fictional town of Trinity, South Carolina, the series followed the town’s sheriff, Lucas Buck (Gary Cole) , which had a sinister influence on those around him.
American Gothic was one of the first horror TV shows to feature a truly evil protagonist, breaking away from the traditional good-versus-evil dynamics of most shows in the genre. While it found no commercial success during its first run, the series has since gained cult following.
8/11 Poltergeist: The Legacy
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First debut in 1996, Poltergeist: The Legacy follows a secret society known as ‘The Legacy’. Society is charged with investigating and stopping supernatural threats. Poltergeist: The Legacy combines elements of science fiction, horror, and mystery, making it one of the more unique shows on this list. Though it was canceled after four seasons, the series has a loyal following and is often available to stream on various platforms.
7/11 charmed
charmed is a supernatural drama that aired on the WB for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006. The series follows the Halliwell sisters, Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), and Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), who are powerful witches with power to to defeat evil demons.
charmed was one of the most popular shows of the late 90s and early 2000s and featured numerous guest stars over the years. Additionally, in the later seasons, Rose McGowan joined the cast and took over from Shannen Doherty’s character, Prue, bringing the show to a new level of popularity.
6/11 Nightmare Cafe
Nightmare Cafe was a short-lived but intriguing horror TV show that aired for six episodes on NBC in 1992. The series followed the owners of a supernatural cafe where people came to face their fears. Nightmare Cafe featured Robert Englund (better known as Freddy Krueger from the A nightmare on Elm Street franchise) in a leading role, which helped bring the show to the fore. Unfortunately, Nightmare Cafe was canceled after only six episodes and never got a chance to reach its full potential.
5/11 The outer limits
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The outer limits was a science fiction anthology series that originally aired on ABC from 1963 to 1965. The series was revived in 1995 and ran for seven seasons on the Showtime cable network. The outer limits featured a mix of standalone episodes and ongoing storylines, with each season focusing on a different theme. The series was known for its high quality of writing and directing and received multiple Emmy Awards and nominations during its original series.
4/11 Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a supernatural drama that aired on the WB for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. The series follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), a young woman chosen to fight vampires, demons, and other supernatural creatures. Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a critical and commercial success and led to a successful spin-off series (Angel) and numerous books, comics and video games. There was even talk of a reboot, although it was put on indefinite hiatus in 2022.
3/11 Twin Peaks
Created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, Twin Peaks is a surreal mystery drama with some disturbing horror elements that follows FBI agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) as he investigates the murder of high school student Laura Palmer in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. The series is known for its distinct visuals, quirky characters and strange plot.
Though it only lasted two seasons, Twin Peaks has gained cult following in the years since its cancellation, resulting in a brilliant follow-up season in 2017, with many fans still begging for more after that limited series on Showtime. While Twin Peaks is an artistic masterpiece, the horror genre is much milder in this series than others, so it can’t really be at the top of this list.
2/11 The X files
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The X files is a science fiction/mystery drama that aired for nine seasons on Fox from 1993 to 2002. The series follows FBI agents Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigate cases involving the paranormal. The X files changed television in many ways, being one of the most popular shows of the 90s and helping launch the careers of both Duchovny and Anderson. The show was revived for a tenth six-episode season in 2016 and an eleventh ten-episode season in 2018. There are also two feature films based on the series, which The X files one of the most successful TV show franchises of all time.
1/11 Stories from the Crypt
Stories from the Crypt is a horror anthology series that aired for seven seasons on HBO from 1989 to 1996. The series was based on the EC Comics of the same name and featured stories about ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other supernatural creatures. The iconic Crypt Keeper character (voiced by John Kassir) introduced each episode with pun-filled jokes, adding to the show’s dark humor. Stories from the Crypt was one of the most popular shows on HBO during its run and still holds up as a great series.