Zombies on screen are not just about horror: series about them can be survival dramas, historical thrillers, school stories and even family comedies. We picked ten series that are already out, from a 2008 British miniseries about a reality show hit by an outbreak to a 2023 anime about an office worker who feels free for the first time. There are the best-known American series of the genre, Korean Netflix series and two comedies. Each entry gives the years, the channel or service, the number of seasons and episodes and a reason to watch, without spoilers. We do not describe gory details: only the setup and what makes each series stand out. This is not a ranking: we do not invent our own ratings or viewing figures. We take English titles from English Wikipedia, and the data was checked on October 23, 2026.
Dead Set
Official trailer · “Dead Set” (2008)Dead Set is a British satirical miniseries created and written by Charlie Brooker and directed by Yann Demange. The outbreak begins on the very night of an eviction on Big Brother: the housemates, locked in the house with no contact with the outside world, take a long time to realize what is happening outside, while the producers and crew end up trapped along with them. The main character, the production assistant Kelly, is played by Jaime Winstone. The five episodes aired on E4 every night from October 27 to 31, 2008; the series was nominated for a BAFTA. There is no Ukrainian Wikipedia page for it, so the Ukrainian version of this article also uses the original title. Why watch: a sharp satire of television from the writer who later came up with Black Mirror.
The Walking Dead
Official trailer · “The Walking Dead” (2010)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Skybound YouTube channel
The Walking Dead is an AMC post-apocalyptic drama that Frank Darabont developed from the comics by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) wakes up from a coma to find that the world has already been overrun by “walkers”. He leads a group of survivors near Atlanta, and over time they have to deal not only with the dead but also with other communities of people who live by their own rules. The series became the channel’s flagship: starting with the third season, according to Wikipedia, it drew the most viewers aged 18–49 of any TV series in the US. Why watch: a long saga that grew into a whole universe of spin-offs.
Z Nation
Official trailer · “Z Nation” (2014)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Universal Pictures At Home YouTube channel
Z Nation is an American series that mixes horror with comedy; it was created by Karl Schaefer and Craig Engler and produced by The Asylum. The story begins three years after the outbreak started. Former prisoner Murphy, who was used to test a vaccine, has survived several bites without turning, so his blood could become the basis for a cure. A small squad led by Lieutenant Roberta Warren has to deliver him from New York to the last remaining lab in California. The series was filmed around Spokane, Washington. Why watch: a road adventure across America with a generous dose of humor.
Fear the Walking Dead
Official trailer · “Fear the Walking Dead” (2015)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the The Walking Dead YouTube channel
Fear the Walking Dead is the first spin-off of The Walking Dead, created by Robert Kirkman and Dave Erickson. The first three seasons are a prequel: high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens), her fiancé Travis and their children in Los Angeles see the very beginning of the outbreak and have to learn to live in a new world. From the fourth season on, the focus shifts to Morgan Jones (Lennie James), whom viewers know from the original series. It was filmed in Los Angeles, Texas, Vancouver, Mexico and Georgia. Why watch: to see how it all began and look at the same catastrophe through the eyes of other characters.
Santa Clarita Diet
Official trailer · “Santa Clarita Diet” (2017)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Netflix YouTube channel
Santa Clarita Diet is a horror comedy by Victor Fresco for Netflix starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant. Realtors Joel and Sheila Hammond live a quiet suburban life until Sheila suddenly becomes a zombie and her personality changes sharply: she becomes impulsive and unpredictable. The family tries to find a cure while hiding from the neighbors what is going on at home. The episodes are short, 26–36 minutes; the series was canceled after the third season. There is no Ukrainian Wikipedia page for it, so the Ukrainian version of this article also uses the original title. Why watch: a light black comedy about a marriage in which something very unusual has happened.
Kingdom
Official trailer · “Kingdom” (2019)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Netflix YouTube channel
Kingdom is Netflix’s first original Korean series, written by Kim Eun-hee based on the webtoon she created with Yang Kyung-il. It is set in 1601 in a fictional Joseon, three years after the Imjin War: Crown Prince Lee Chang investigates the king’s mysterious illness and finds himself in the middle of an epidemic sweeping the country, while his rivals try to seize the throne. The series combines historical drama, political thriller and horror. After two seasons, the feature-length special episode Kingdom: Ashin of the North came out in 2021. Why watch: a zombie epidemic in 17th-century Korea, where palace intrigue is no less dangerous.
Black Summer
Official trailer · “Black Summer” (2019)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Netflix YouTube channel
Black Summer is a series by Karl Schaefer and John Hyams, a prequel to Z Nation, but a much darker one: it shows the very first and hardest days of the outbreak. A mother named Rose (Jaime King) is separated from her daughter in the general chaos and tries to find her. Hyams wrote and directed most of the episodes, and the series was filmed mostly in and around Calgary. The episodes vary greatly in length, from 21 to 58 minutes. Why watch: a serious story, with almost no humor, about the first days of the catastrophe.
All of Us Are Dead
Official trailer · “All of Us Are Dead” (2022)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Netflix YouTube channel
All of Us Are Dead is a South Korean adaptation of Joo Dong-geun’s webtoon (2009–2011). A highly contagious zombie virus spreads through a school, and the students of one class have to find a way out on their own. The series combines horror with a coming-of-age story, so alongside the fight for survival, ordinary school relationships still have their place. All 12 episodes came out on Netflix on January 28, 2022; according to Wikipedia, they were watched for more than 474 million hours in the first 30 days. Why watch: a school drama in which an ordinary school day turns into a fight for survival.
The Last of Us
Official trailer · “The Last of Us” (2023)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the HBO Max YouTube channel
The Last of Us is an HBO post-apocalyptic drama that Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann created based on the Naughty Dog video games. Several decades have passed since a mass fungal infection that turns people into zombie-like creatures destroyed society. The first season, based on the 2013 game, follows Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they set out on a journey across the United States. The music was written by Gustavo Santaolalla, who composed the soundtracks for the games, and David Fleming. According to Wikipedia, it is HBO’s most popular debut season, and the series has won nine Emmy Awards. Why watch: a drama about the journey of two characters, based on one of the best-known stories in gaming.
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
Official trailer · “Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead” (2023)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the vizmedia YouTube channel
Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is an anime by the studio Bug Films based on the manga by Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata. Twenty-four-year-old Akira Tendo has spent three years at an exploitative marketing company, living by a monotonous schedule, and when a zombie apocalypse hits Tokyo, he unexpectedly feels free. He makes a list of a hundred things he wants to do before he turns himself, and sets out with new friends to tick them off. The twelve episodes aired from July to December 2023; a live-action Netflix film of the same name came out that same year. Why watch: the most optimistic story about the end of the world in this selection.
How we chose
A zombie apocalypse can play out as a survival drama, a historical thriller, a school story or even a comedy, and this list has all of them. There’s The Walking Dead and its spin-off, Korea’s Kingdom and All of Us Are Dead, The Last of Us and the anime Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead. Our picks are based on viewer reviews, critics’ scores and our own viewing experience. If you’re new to the genre, try the British Dead Set: just five episodes.
What to choose by mood
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| A long saga for many evenings | The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, Z Nation |
| A drama about people, not monsters | The Last of Us, Black Summer |
| History and palace intrigue | Kingdom |
| School and teenagers | All of Us Are Dead |
| A good laugh | Santa Clarita Diet, Z Nation, Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead |
| Short, for one or two evenings | Dead Set (5 episodes), All of Us Are Dead (12 episodes) |
If you want a film for one evening rather than a series, see our selection of zombie movies, and if other creatures of the night are more your thing, try vampire TV shows. If you liked the satire of Dead Set, try series like Black Mirror.
Tip. For a first taste of the genre, Dead Set is a good fit: just five episodes of 23 to 46 minutes. For a lighter mood, pick Santa Clarita Diet, with episodes of 26 to 36 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Where should you start if you don’t like horror?
With the comedies: Santa Clarita Diet and the anime Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead are more funny than scary. Z Nation also mixes horror with humor.
Do you need to watch The Walking Dead to follow Fear the Walking Dead?
No. The first three seasons of the spin-off are a prequel about the very beginning of the outbreak with different characters. Knowing the original will come in handy later, when Morgan Jones appears in the story.
Which of these series have already ended?
Dead Set (2008), The Walking Dead (2022), Z Nation (2018), Fear the Walking Dead (2023), Santa Clarita Diet (2019) and Black Summer (2021). As of October 23, 2026, The Last of Us has two seasons, while All of Us Are Dead and Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead have one each.
Are there spoilers here?
No. We only describe the starting situation and general information about the series from Wikipedia pages.
Sources
- The Walking Dead (TV series) (Wikipedia)
- The Last of Us (TV series) (Wikipedia)
- Kingdom (South Korean TV series) (Wikipedia)
- All of Us Are Dead (Wikipedia)
- Dead Set (Wikipedia)
Data was checked against Wikipedia on October 23, 2026.
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