# Amazing Stories (1985)

> An anthology of self-contained fantastical tales, from magic and time travel to ghosts and psychic powers, presented by Steven Spielberg.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/963

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 45
- Episode runtime: 25 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: science fiction, fantasy, comedy, family
- Created by: Steven Spielberg, John Falsey, Joshua Brand
- Network: NBC
- Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Kyra Sedgwick, Brooke Ashley, David Rappaport, Joe Pantoliano, Ian Wolfe, Gregory Hines, Gabriel Damon
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088478/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: whimsical, eerie, playful, endearing, wistful

## What critics say

Viewers rate the anthology positively for its mix of fantasy, science fiction, humor and sentiment, with the stronger second season rated above the first.

## Synopsis

Amazing Stories (1985-1987) is a US science fiction and fantasy anthology series created by Steven Spielberg, John Falsey and Joshua Brand for NBC. Presented by Spielberg and featuring guest appearances from a rotating roster of well-known actors and directors, it runs for two seasons and forty-five episodes, each self-contained with fresh characters and its own premise. Episodes deliver magic, psychic powers, ghosts, time travel and healing abilities, often channeling ordinary people who stumble onto something extraordinary. Kiefer Sutherland, Kyra Sedgwick and Joe Pantoliano appear in one-off roles among the ensemble, so the stories rely on whichever guest star anchors a given tale rather than on a recurring lead. The tone swings between whimsical and eerie, funny and quietly sad, with a warm, endearing core that suits family viewing. Fans of The Twilight Zone and Tales from the Crypt will find a similar mix of moral sting and wonder, and the format rewards viewers who like picking up any episode without prior context. Each story is set in contemporary American life, with no recurring narrative to track between installments.

## Shows like Amazing Stories

- [Creeped Out (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/67429)
- [Goosebumps (1995)](https://ember.film/tv/5503)
- [Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (2006)](https://ember.film/tv/4125)
- [The Twilight Zone (1959)](https://ember.film/tv/5960)
- [The 10th Kingdom (2000)](https://ember.film/tv/37176)
- [The Fantastic Journey (1977)](https://ember.film/tv/10469)
- [The Outer Limits (1995)](https://ember.film/tv/19862)
- [The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985)](https://ember.film/tv/5351)
- [Freddy's Nightmares (1988)](https://ember.film/tv/4131)
- [Masters of Science Fiction (2007)](https://ember.film/tv/3770)

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