The Twilight Zone

An anthology series containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964) is a American science fiction anthology series created by Rod Serling for CBS. Each twenty-five minute episode presents a self-contained story of drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, suspense or horror, and Serling himself appears on camera as the host who frames each tale. The series runs five seasons and 156 episodes, and no character or storyline carries over from one episode to the next. Its engine is a single premise pushed to its logical extreme: an ordinary person meets an uncanny situation involving time, robots, aliens, or a second chance, and the story turns on a macabre or unexpected closing reveal. Episodes are built from concrete everyday settings such as diners, small towns, apartments and empty roads, which makes the strange feel uncomfortably close. The tone is wry, moralistic and unsettling, with a Cold War era anxiety about conformity and social commentary running beneath the eerie surface. Its look is stark black and white, with a mood of quiet dread and a sting in the last moment. Fans of Black Mirror, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Tales from the Crypt will find the same appeal in its compact parables and bold final turns.

Viewers broadly regard the series as an acclaimed landmark of anthology storytelling, praising its high concepts and moral craft despite uneven late-run output.

• Black Mirrorshared anthology format of self-contained speculative stories with twist endings
• Tales from the Cryptshared science fiction and fantasy anthology with moralistic twists and a host
• Alfred Hitchcock Presentsshared mood of suspense and psychological unease in standalone stories
• Black Mirrorshared anthology structure of standalone speculative episodes

Created by

Rod Serling

Release Date

1959-10-02

Episode runtime

25 min

Rating

9.0 / 10 (1090)

What is The Twilight Zone about?

A host-introduced anthology of standalone science fiction, fantasy and suspense stories that close on macabre or unexpected twists.

What is The Twilight Zone like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Twilight Zone as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is The Twilight Zone violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Twilight Zone.

What did critics think of The Twilight Zone?

Viewers broadly regard the series as an acclaimed landmark of anthology storytelling, praising its high concepts and moral craft despite uneven late-run output.

Which shows are like The Twilight Zone?

Shows with a similar feel include Black Mirror, Tales from the Crypt, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Black Mirror.

How long is The Twilight Zone?

The Twilight Zone: 5 seasons, 156 episodes.

Is The Twilight Zone still running?

No, The Twilight Zone has ended.

Where can I watch The Twilight Zone?

In United States, The Twilight Zone streams on Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.