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TV Shows & Series: Best "anthology" TV Shows/Series

An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme, premise, or author. Sometimes each one is directed by a different director or written by a different author, or may even have been made at different times or in different countries. Anthology films are distinguished from "revue films" such as Paramount on Parade (1930)—which were common in Hollywood in the early decades of sound film, composite films, and compilation films. Anthology films are often mistaken with hyperlink cinema. Hyperlink cinema shows parts of many stories throughout a film, whereas anthology films show story segments of one at a time. Some mistaken examples include Pulp Fiction (1994) and Amores Perros (2000), distributing their storylines non-chronologically, separated by segments. ()

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350 TV shows/series found (page 1/12):

Play for Today(1970-1984)

1h 15min per episode | Drama
2.9/5 (with 4 votes)

Play for Today is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage plays and novels, were transmitted. The individual episodes were between fifty and a hundred minutes in duration.

The Twilight Zone(1985-1989)

3.8/5 (with 90 votes)

This 1980s revival of the classic sci-fi series features a similar style to the original anthology series. Each episode tells a tale (sometimes two or three) rooted in horror or suspense, often with a surprising twist at the end. Episodes usually feature elements of drama and comedy.

Fargo(2014-)

FSK: 16+ years
| Crime, Drama
4.1/5 (with 1,221 votes)

A close-knit anthology series dealing with stories involving malice, violence and murder based in and around Minnesota.

Studio One(1948-1958)

1h per episode | Drama
2.1/5 (with 5 votes)

An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher Markle, who came to CBS from the CBC. Studio One, presented by Westinghouse, was one of the first of the anthology TV programs. The episodes were often abridged remakes of movies from years gone by and many future well-known television and movie actors appeared in the productions.

Directed by Yul Brynner

Robert Montgomery Presents(1950-1957)

1h per episode | Drama
2.5/5 (with 2 votes)

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC from January 30, 1950 until June 24, 1957. The live show had several sponsors during its seven-year run, and the title was altered to feature the sponsor, usually Lucky Strike cigarettes, for example, Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theater, ....The Johnson's Wax Program, and so on.

Directed by Vincent J. Donehue

The Philco Television Playhouse(1948-1956)

1h per episode | Drama
2.7/5 (with 3 votes)

The Philco Television Playhouse is an American anthology series that was broadcast live on NBC from 1948 to 1955. Produced by Fred Coe, the series was sponsored by Philco. It was one of the most respected dramatic shows of the Golden Age of Television, winning a 1954 Peabody Award and receiving eight Emmy nominations between 1951 and 1956.

Directed by Fred Coe

Black Mirror(2011-)

4.2/5 (with 2,309 votes)

Over the last ten years, technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives before we've had time to stop and question it. In every home; on every desk; in every palm - a plasma screen; a monitor; a smartphone - a black mirror of our 21st Century existence.

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962-1965)

FSK: 12+ years
| 1h per episode | Crime, Mystery, Drama
3.9/5 (with 27 votes)

A continuation of the dramatic anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, hosted by the master of suspense and mystery.

Thirty-Minute Theatre(1965-1973)

30min per episode | Drama
2.1/5 (with 2 votes)

Thirty-Minute Theatre is an anthology drama series of short plays shown on BBC Television between 1965 and 1973, which was used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short running length, and which therefore attracted many writers who later became well known. Thirty-Minute Theatre followed on from a similarly named ITV series, beginning on BBC2 in 1965 with an adaptation of the black comedy Parsons Pleasure. In 1967 BBC2 launched the UK's first colour service, with the consequence that Thirty-Minute Theatre became the first drama series in the country to be shown in colour.

The Twilight Zone(1959-1964)

FSK: 18+ years
| 30min per episode | Science-Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery, Drama
4.2/5 (with 411 votes)

A series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.

Tales of the Unexpected(1979-1988)

25min per episode | Drama
3.3/5 (with 21 votes)

A British television anthology of stories, often with sinister and wryly comedic undertones, and a twist at the end. With early episodes written and presented by Roald Dahl, the series featured a plethora of big name guest stars.

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre(1956-1961)

30min per episode | Western, Drama
2.4/5 (with 4 votes)

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, sometimes simply called Zane Grey Theatre, is an American Western anthology series which ran on CBS from 1956 to 1961.

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The Outer Limits(1995-2002)

FSK: 18+ years
| 44min per episode | Drama, Science-Fiction & Fantasy
3.9/5 (with 93 votes)

Anthology series of composed of distinct story episodes, sometimes with a plot twist at the end, with occasional recurring story elements that were often tied together during season-finale clip shows.

As the Saying Goes(2011-)

50min per episode | Comedy, Drama
2.4/5 (with 2 votes)

Dramatization of real-life situations and stories that are related to popular sayings, by Don Tomas.

Four Star Playhouse(1952-1956)

30min per episode | Drama, Comedy
2.6/5 (with 3 votes)

Four Star Playhouse is an American television anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956, sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by The Singer Company; Bristol-Myers became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953. The original premise was that Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino, David Niven, and Dick Powell would take turns starring in episodes. However, several other performers took the lead from time to time, including Ronald Colman and Joan Fontaine. Blake Edwards was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series. Edwards created the recurring character of illegal gambling house operator Willie Dante for Dick Powell to play on this series. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own series starring Howard Duff, then-husband of Lupino. The pilot for Meet McGraw, starring Frank Lovejoy, aired here, as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama Nightbeat.

True Detective(2014-)

FSK: 16+ years
| 1h per episode | Drama
4.2/5 (with 1,498 votes)

An American anthology police detective series utilizing multiple timelines in which investigations seem to unearth personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within or outside the law.

Armstrong Circle Theatre(1950-1967)

1h per episode | Drama
1.5/5 (with 2 votes)

Armstrong Circle Theatre is an American anthology drama television series which ran from 1950 to 1957 on NBC, and then until 1963 on CBS. It alternated weekly with The U.S. Steel Hour.

Tales from the Darkside(1984-1988)

20min per episode | Drama, Science-Fiction & Fantasy
3.6/5 (with 37 votes)

Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series created by George A. Romero, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot twist. The series' episodes spanned the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, and some episodes featured elements of black comedy or more lighthearted themes.

American Crime Story(2016-)

FSK: 16+ years
| Crime, Drama
3.8/5 (with 453 votes)

An anthology series centered around some of history's most famous criminal investigations.

Play of the Month(1965-1983)

1h 30min per episode | Drama
2.5/5 (with 4 votes)

Play of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles. The series was transmitted from October 1965 to September 1983; the producer most associated with the Play of the Month was Cedric Messina. Some of the 121 episodes are missing from the archives, having been junked in the 1960s and 1970s. Unless stated otherwise, the indication that the play is "lost" is taken from the lostshows.com website page as of 25 May 2013.

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour(2010-2014)

FSK: 12+ years
| 25min per episode | Kids & Family, Drama
4.1/5 (with 97 votes)

R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour is a Canadian/American original anthology horror-fantasy series, with episodes each half an hour long. The series is based on The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It Movie, and the books The Haunting Hour and Nightmare Hour anthology by R. L. Stine.

Directed by Peter DeLuise

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre(1963-1967)

1h per episode | Drama, Comedy, Talk-Show
2.5/5 (with 3 votes)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic, and comedy.

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1985-1989)

FSK: 12+ years
| 30min per episode | Drama, Mystery, Crime
3.6/5 (with 24 votes)

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1985 to 1986, and on the USA Network from 1987 to 1989. The series is an updated re-imagining of the classic 1955 series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Love, Death & Robots(2019-)

4.1/5 (with 1,482 votes)

Terrifying creatures, wicked surprises and dark comedy converge in this NSFW anthology of animated stories presented by Tim Miller and David Fincher.

Genius(2017-)

43min per episode | Drama
3.9/5 (with 120 votes)

The life stories of history's greatest minds. From their days as young adults to their final years we see their discoveries, loves, relationships, causes, flaws and genius.

The Comic Strip Presents(1982-2016)

30min per episode | Comedy
3.7/5 (with 7 votes)

The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents... which was labelled as an example of alternative comedy. The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Alexei Sayle with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and others.

The Twilight Zone(2002-2003)

3.6/5 (with 49 votes)

A 2002 revival of Rod Serling's 1950/60s television series, The Twilight Zone, with actor Forest Whitaker assuming Serling's role as narrator and on-screen host.

Tales from the Crypt(1989-1996)

FSK: 18+ years
| 25min per episode | Comedy, Mystery, Crime, Science-Fiction & Fantasy
4.0/5 (with 408 votes)

Cadaverous scream legend the Crypt Keeper is your macabre host for these forays of fright and fun based on the classic E.C. Comics tales from back in the day. So shamble up to the bar and pick your poison. Will it be an insane Santa on a personal slay ride? Honeymooners out to fulfill the "til death do we part" vow ASAP?

One Step Beyond(1959-1961)

FSK: 16+ years
| 30min per episode | Mystery, Drama, Science-Fiction & Fantasy
2.7/5 (with 6 votes)

Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond is an American anthology series created by Merwin Gerard. The original series ran for three seasons on ABC from January 1959 to July 1961.

Directed by John Newland

Star Wars: Visions(2021-)

3.6/5 (with 158 votes)

This anthology of animated shorts from around the world celebrates the myth of Star Wars through unique cultural lenses.

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