As Netflix prepares to launch its latest horror offering, Something Bad Is Going to Happen, in March, entertainment enthusiasts are revisiting some of the genre's standout television series. The upcoming show, starring Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco as an engaged couple encountering strange events in the week before their wedding, has sparked interest in the broader landscape of horror TV. According to a recent ranking by Us Weekly, four series stand out as the best of all time, blending supernatural chills, historical drama, and psychological terror.
The list, compiled by the publication's Watch With Us section, highlights shows that have left lasting impressions on viewers and critics alike. Topping the rankings is the anthology series Channel Zero, which aired on Syfy from 2016 to 2018. Each of its four seasons adapts a different creepypasta—a type of internet horror story—into a self-contained miniseries, offering fresh scares with varied casts and directors.
Season one, subtitled Candle Cove, revolves around a seemingly innocent children's television program from 30 years earlier that appears connected to the unsolved murders of five children. As described in Us Weekly, the story "surrounds a children’s program that seems linked to the mysterious, unsolved murders of five children from thirty years prior." This setup draws viewers into a web of nostalgia turned nightmare, with the show's atmospheric tension building through subtle unease rather than overt jump scares.
Following in season two, No-End House, a group of friends enters what they believe is a haunted house art installation, only to find it reluctant to let them leave. The third installment, Butcher’s Block, follows a troubled woman and her sister as they relocate to a city plagued by enigmatic figures from its history. The final season, The Dream Door, explores a couple's encounter with an old imaginary friend that manifests in terrifying reality.
Us Weekly praises Channel Zero as "arguably the best horror series of all time," noting its ability to transform short stories into "affecting, distinct and visually brilliant miniseries." The publication points out the show's reliance on "a mastery of psychological and atmospheric horror, with textured scriptwriting, complex characters and an effective use of practical effects to make the horror feel even more grounded." Despite its cancellation by Syfy after four seasons, the series has garnered a dedicated following for its innovative approach to the anthology format.
In the number two spot is the French limited series Marianne, which captivated audiences with its blend of supernatural mystery and personal trauma. Released in 2019, the show centers on popular horror novelist Emma Larsimon, played by Victoire Du Bois, who decides to end her book series about a powerful witch named Marianne. Soon after, a childhood friend visits, claiming her mother believes she is the witch herself, leading to a suicide and a haunting warning about Emma's parents.
Disturbed by these events, Emma returns to her small hometown in the French countryside, where her nightmares of Marianne originated. Us Weekly describes the narrative as following "a riveting supernatural-mystery narrative," emphasizing that Marianne is "one of the scariest and most atmospheric horror stories in recent memory across both the television and movie landscapes." The publication highlights Mireille Herbstmeyer's "nightmarish performance" as a key element, alongside "rich character-writing, strong visual style, dense psychological horror and moments of shocking, visceral gore."
With just one season, Marianne packs a punch, leaving old wounds unhealed and blending folklore with real emotional depth. Critics and fans have lauded its cultural specificity, drawing from French witchcraft legends to create a uniquely terrifying experience. The series' brevity—eight episodes in total—allows it to maintain relentless tension without overstaying its welcome, a factor that Us Weekly says makes it "all the better for only having one season."
Ranking third is the first season of The Terror, a 2018 AMC series based on Dan Simmons' 2007 novel of the same name. The show fictionalizes the real-life disappearance of the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus during their 1845-1848 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. After departing Beechey Island toward King William Island and uncharted Arctic territory, the ships become trapped in ice, setting the stage for survival horror amid historical accuracy.
Officers like Francis Crozier (Jared Harris), James Fitzjames (Tobias Menzies), and Sir John Franklin (Ciarán Hinds) struggle to maintain order as the crew faces mutiny, a mysterious illness, and an elusive beast stalking the frozen landscape. Us Weekly calls it "an absolute tour de force of prestige period thriller," weaving "riveting character drama, creeping atmosphere and genuinely scary moments into one of the best (and most underrated, honestly) horror shows of the past few years." The publication notes that while the anthology's second season received less acclaim and bears no relation to Simmons' novel, the debut remains a benchmark for blending historical fiction with supernatural dread.
The series' patient storytelling and psychological depth have drawn comparisons to classics like The Revenant, but set against the unforgiving Arctic. Production details reveal that filming took place in harsh conditions to capture the isolation, with Harris's portrayal of Crozier earning particular praise for its emotional range. Us Weekly underscores how season one combines "patient storytelling with psychological character study, resulting in a truly terrifying series."
Coming in at number four is Ash vs. Evil Dead, which brought Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise to television on Starz from 2015 to 2018 across three seasons. Bruce Campbell reprises his role as Ash Williams, now middle-aged but still battling the Deadites—demonic entities from the original films. After 30 years of bachelor life, a careless incident summons the evil once more, prompting Ash to team up with friends Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo).
The show masterfully mixes horror with comedy, earning impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores: 98 percent for season one from critics, and perfect 100 percent scores for the subsequent seasons. Us Weekly describes it as "a sublime mixture of horror and comedy," featuring "slapstick comedy, exhilarating action sequences, gross-out gore and a masterful command of tone." The publication laments Hollywood's oversight in not making Campbell a bigger movie star, calling him "magnetic, handsome and full of charisma as he’s ever been."
This ranking arrives at a time when horror TV is experiencing a renaissance, with streaming platforms like Netflix investing heavily in the genre. Something Bad Is Going to Happen, produced by A24 and directed by Sam Esmail, promises to continue this trend by exploring wedding-week anxieties through a horror lens. Industry observers note that the success of shows like those on the Us Weekly list has paved the way, proving that limited series and anthologies can deliver high-stakes scares without committing to endless seasons.
While tastes in horror vary—some prefer the gore of Ash vs. Evil Dead, others the subtlety of Channel Zero—the ranked series share a commitment to strong storytelling and character development. As Us Weekly points out in its related coverage, these picks complement top horror films, with IMDb ratings often guiding broader recommendations. The anticipation for Netflix's new entry suggests that 2024 could see even more innovative takes on fear, building on the foundations laid by these acclaimed shows.
Looking ahead, fans can stream most of these series on platforms like Shudder, Netflix, or Hulu, depending on region and availability. The enduring appeal of horror TV lies in its ability to tap into universal fears, from isolation in the ice to the horrors of the mind. With Something Bad Is Going to Happen on the horizon, the genre shows no signs of slowing down, offering fresh nightmares for a new generation of viewers.