Last updated March 2024
Looking to watch sensational Best dark Tv Shows earning universal acclaim? See our list of 30 marvelous Best dark Tv Shows available for instant streaming. With near perfect scores from IMDB critics and glowing praise from our community of users, these exceptional titles are as good as it gets! Lend a hand to fellow viewers by voting up the titles you feel are keepers. We appreciate your help highlighting the finest entertainment!
Chernobyl (2019)
Plot Summary:
A dramatization of the true story of one of the worst man-made catastrophes in history, the catastrophic nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A tale of the brave men and women who sacrificed to save Europe from unimaginable disaster
Duration: 330 min
IMDB Rating: 9.3/10
IMDB Votes: 835000
Genere: Drama, History, Thriller
Country: USA, UK
Plot tags: radiation, nuclear holocaust, radiation poisoning, nuclear power plant, nuclear reactor, save the day, nuclear explosion, salvation, scientist, nuclear radiation, nuclear threat, disaster, abandoned city, evacuation, accident, heroic mission, cold war, save the world, society, post nuclear, nuclear power, propaganda, government coverup, government official, nuclear
Rick and Morty (2013)
Plot Summary:
An animated series that follows the exploits of a super scientist and his not-so-bright grandson
Duration: 23 min
IMDB Rating: 9.1/10
IMDB Votes: 582000
Genere: Animation, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: mad scientist, time travel, scientist, dark humor, prodigy, graphic violence, relatives, grandfather grandson relationship, family relations, youth, satire, imaginary, adolescence, grandparent and grandchild, social satire, inventor, escapades, monster, disorder, young kid, self involved, nihilism, adult humor, mature, outer space
As If (2021)
Plot Summary:
Yılmaz and İlkkan are two friends who are constantly fighting each other. Their biggest feature is always being able to do things that will turn their ordinary lives upside down. They magnify small events incredibly and give you a nervous breakdown. They are the embodiment of the misfortunes, strange events and despair we experience every day
Duration: 30 min
IMDB Rating: 9.0/10
IMDB Votes: 20000
Genere: Comedy
Country: Turkey
Plot tags: friendship, satire, lifestyle, friends, escapades, humour, absurd humor, slice of life, friendship between men, male friendship, turkish
Better Call Saul (2015)
Plot Summary:
Six years before Saul Goodman meets Walter White. We meet him when the man who will become Saul Goodman is known as Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer searching for his destiny, and, more immediately, hustling to make ends meet. Working alongside, and, often, against Jimmy, is “fixer” Mike Erhmantraut. The series will track Jimmy's transformation into Saul Goodman, the man who puts “criminal” in “criminal lawyer"
Duration: 3154 min
IMDB Rating: 9.0/10
IMDB Votes: 620000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: lawyer, workplace situations, legal, hotshot lawyer, criminal lawyer, family relations, dishonesty, dark humor, moral dilemma, anti hero, lawyer client relationship, cons and scams, organized crime, private investigator, drug cartel, psychosomatic illness, brother brother relationship, ambition, employer employee relationship, mental illness, drug trade, dysfunctional family, criminal underworld, foreshadowing, tragic hero
Fargo (2014)
Plot Summary:
A close-knit anthology series dealing with stories involving malice, violence and murder based in and around Minnesota
Duration: 53 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 398000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: dark humor, psychopath, small town, police investigation, law enforcement, policewoman, cop, snow, killings, small town life, social relations, dishonesty, killer, female police officer, scheme, sheriff, police officer, winter, gory, shooting, blackmail, victim, crime gone awry, gangster, family relations
Succession (2018)
Plot Summary:
The lives of the Roy family as they contemplate their future once their aging father begins to step back from the media and entertainment conglomerate they control
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.9/10
IMDB Votes: 248000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: wealth, family business, business, dysfunctional family, patriarchy, betrayal, dysfunctional relationship, father son relationship, ceo, family drama, businessman, parents and children, rivalry, family relations, siblings, employee employee relationship, finance, inheritance, corporation, intrigue, heir, workplace intrigue, company, megacorporation, society
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
Plot Summary:
High school mathlete Lindsay Weir rebels and begins hanging out with a crowd of burnouts (the "freaks"), while her brother Sam Weir navigates a different part of the social universe with his nerdy friends (the "geeks")
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 151000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: nerd, social misfits, coming of age, weed, socially awkward, cheerleader, friendship, social relations, teenager, teenage life, teacher, teacher student relationship, youth, high school, high school life, teen angst, young adult, suburbs, high school student, education, bully, love, serial killer, school, supernatural
BoJack Horseman (2014)
Plot Summary:
Meet the most beloved sitcom horse of the 90s - 20 years later. BoJack Horseman was the star of the hit TV show "Horsin' Around," but today he's washed up, living in Hollywood, complaining about everything, and wearing colorful sweaters
Duration: 1982 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 181000
Genere: Animation, Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: existentialism, depression, cynicism, down on your luck, sadness, anthropomorphism, hollywood, addiction, anthropomorphic animal, talking animal, mature, showbiz, satire, adult humor, nothing goes right, life is a bitch, mental illness, life philosophy, asexual, lesbian, serial killer, psychology, women, illness, moving
Alchemy of Souls (2022)
Plot Summary:
A powerful sorceress in a blind woman's body encounters a man from a prestigious family, who wants her help to change his destiny
Duration: 80 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: martial arts, soul transference, magical power, sword and sorcery, destiny, secret, chinese mythology, female assassin, strong female lead, royalty, assassin, heroes, body swapping, asian, hidden identity, secret organization, nobility, elite, power struggle, body swap, love, supernatural, master warrior, wizard, zombie
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
Plot Summary:
Two brothers find themselves lost in a mysterious land and try to find their way home
Duration: 22 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 68000
Genere: Animation, Short, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery
Country: USA
Plot tags: folk horror, siblings relations, beast, getting home, forest, danger, brother brother relationship, child protagonist, children, imaginary, brothers, travel, lost in the woods, lost, halloween, moving, darkness, life & death, trippy, hipster, woods, dream, frog, forest ranger, male protagonist
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)
Plot Summary:
Four egocentric friends who run a neighborhood Irish pub in Philadelphia try to find their way through the adult world of work and relationships. Unfortunately, their warped views and precarious judgments often lead them to trouble, creating a myriad of uncomfortable situations that usually only get worse before they get better
Duration: 22 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 246000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Plot tags: slacker, pub, stupidity, satire, bartender, buddies, alcoholic, friends who hate each other, friends, bad taste humour, misfit, drunkenness, conversation, dark humor, friendship, dimwit, antisocial behavior, serial killer, clubbing, nerd, humour, nihilism, colleague, pop culture, lgbtq
Blackadder Goes Forth (1989)
Plot Summary:
It is 1917, and lunatic General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett is leading the British troops at the front lines against the Germans, while everyone waits for Field Marshall Haig's big push. There are various emotions throughout the camp about it. For Captain Kevin Darling, Melchett's bull-dog-like right-hand man, it makes no difference, as it appears he will be safe and sound with the general when the big push occurs. For Lieutenant George Colhurst Saint Barleigh, he is overly excited at thrashing the Germans. For Private S. (probably for Sod-Off) Baldrick, it's a terrifying experience he is not looking forward to. For Captain Edmund Blackadder, however, it's something he's too cowardly too face. Self-centered, arrogant, and sarcastic, Blackadder is always constantly searching for a way out of this silly war, and will try various, often crazy, variations on escape, all of which will take a turn he never expected. Sharing a dugout with George and Baldrick, his main obstacle for
Duration: 175 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 56000
Genere: Comedy, War
Country: UK
Plot tags: world war one, great war, satire, spy, dark humor, love, wartime, humour, soldier, officer, insanity, captain, war, survival, army, military, escape, intelligence, escapades, dimwit, assistant, commander, weirdo, military life, disorder
Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
Plot Summary:
The off-kilter, unscripted comic vision of Larry David, who plays himself in a parallel universe in which he can't seem to do anything right, and, by his standards, neither can anyone else
Duration: 28 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 139000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Plot tags: antisocial behavior, comedian, lifestyle, misunderstanding, mishap, socially awkward, success, career, actor, showbiz, actress, social misfits, everyday life, nothing goes right, buddies, conversation, divorce, alienation, workplace, artists and showbiz, eternal love, writers, nerd, nihilism, satire
Chappelle's Show (2003)
Plot Summary:
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedians Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various sketches. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22, 2003, on the American cable television network Comedy Central. The show ran for two complete seasons and a third, truncated season. After numerous delays, production of the third season of the show was abruptly ended when Chappelle left the show. Three episodes were compiled from the completed work and these episodes aired from July 9 to July 23, 2006. Re-runs frequently air on Comedy Central and around the world on MTV in Germany, Comedy Central in Brazil, The Comedy Network in Canada, The Comedy Channel and 7mate in Australia and FX in the United Kingdom. Chappelle's Show was also shown on WGN America and was syndicated to various television stations across the U.S. including MyNetworkTV. TV Guide ranked it #31 on their list of "TV's Top 100 Shows"
Duration: 22 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 70000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Plot tags: marijuana, comedian, sketch, dark humor, racism, african american, interracial relations, guest, racial stereotype, media, artists and showbiz, black, sketch show, ethnic humor, stand up comedy, television, showbiz, stereotypes, absurd humor, interview, pop culture, prank, sexual humor, topical humor, hip hop
I, Claudius (1976)
Plot Summary:
Tracing the lives of several Roman emperors, this is an epic of ruthless ambition, shocking debauchery and murderous intrigue set in one of history's most fascinating eras. Bearing witness to the saga is Claudius, whose stutter and limp have marked him a fool - yet whom prophecies have foretold will one day rule Rome
Duration: 669 min
IMDB Rating: 8.8/10
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Plot tags: ancient, roman empire, ancient rome, political intrigue, ancient history, intrigue, ancient world, antiquity, politics, emperor, royal family, medieval, roman soldier, power struggle, roman emperor, incest, shakespeare, historical event, ambition, dictatorship, head of state, historical character, female nudity, peplum, lawyer
South Park (1997)
Plot Summary:
Follows the misadventures of four irreverent grade-schoolers in the quiet, dysfunctional town of South Park, Colorado
Duration: 22 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 399000
Genere: Animation, Comedy
Country: USA
Plot tags: gross out humor, social satire, satire, racial slur, elementary school, gay slur, mischievous children, young kid, young heroes, vicious, death, adult humor, friends, political humor, social criticism, social relations, selfishness, dysfunctional society, childhood, small town, stupidity, absurdism, killings, profanity, swearing
Line of Duty (2012)
Plot Summary:
Steve Arnott is a young officer who’s fallen foul of his superiors for refusing to help in the cover-up of an operation that ended in the shooting of an innocent father. He seems ideal to join AC-12, an anti-corruption police unit, just as it starts to investigate Detective Chief Inspector Tony Gates, the regional force’s Officer of the Year
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 68000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Plot tags: police corruption, honest law enforcer, corruption, female police detective, dirty cop, police detective, police, british police, policewoman, twists and turns, law enforcement, law enforcer, police procedural, secret, evidence, corrupt law enforcer, right and wrong, interrogation, police officer, officer, dishonesty, squad, investigation, internal affairs, murder mystery
Fleabag (2016)
Plot Summary:
As she hurls herself headlong at modern living, Fleabag is thrown roughly up against the walls of contemporary London, sleeping with anyone who dares to stand too close, squeezing money from wherever she can, rejecting anyone who tries to help her, and keeping up her bravado throughout
Duration: 27 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 190000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Plot tags: sister sister relationship, sexuality, sexual humor, female friendship, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, promiscuity, female protagonist, stepmother stepdaughter relationship, women, british, dark humor, promiscuous woman, serial killer, feminist, women power, priest, strong female lead, lgbt, femininity, father, adultery, moving, couples, humour, mission
Six Feet Under (2001)
Plot Summary:
A darkly comic look at members of a dysfunctional L.A. family that run a funeral business. When death is your business, what is your life? For the Fisher family, the world outside of their family-owned funeral home continues to be at least as challenging as--and far less predictable than--the one inside
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 145000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: funeral home, gay, dealing with death, gays and lesbians, dark humor, dysfunctional family, sibling relationship, depression, hopes, lgbt, self discovery, death, life changing experience, workplace problem, suburbs, family drama, lgbtq, lie, couples, grief, gender, women, mental illness, life changing, belief
Arrested Development (2003)
Plot Summary:
The story of a wealthy family that lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together
Duration: 22 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 320000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Plot tags: disorder, dysfunctional family, father son relationship, bankruptcy, adolescence, rivals, silly humor, immature, irresponsible, lifestyle change, workplace problem, uptight character, lawyer, sketch show, single father, sibling rivalry, stupidity, narration, sketch, workplace, twins, siblings relations, teenager, magic, relationships
Berserk (1997)
Plot Summary:
Guts, a man who calls himself "The Black Swordsman" looks upon his days serving as a member of a group of mercenaries, the Band of the Hawk, nicknamed "the Grim Reaper of the Battlefield." Led by an ambitious, ruthless, and intelligent man named Griffith, together they battle their way into the royal court, and are forced into a fate that may change their entire lives
Duration: 23 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance
Country: Japan
Plot tags: tragic hero, battles, destiny, vengeance, danger, sword fight, mercenary, one man army, supernatural, heroes, rivalry, determination, massacre, military, master warrior, supernatural ability, swords and armor, sword duel, demon, monster, protector, torture chamber, imaginary kingdom, cruelty, warrior
The Boys (2019)
Plot Summary:
A group of vigilantes known informally as “The Boys” set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue-collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 611000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: superhero, murder, society, dark humor, super speed, vengeance, superhuman, superhero team, gore, superheroine, corruption, supernatural power, rivalry, investigation, blood, violence, super powers, revenge, brutality, nudity, supernatural, sex scene, corporation, boyfriend girlfriend relationship, name calling
Foyle's War (2002)
Plot Summary:
As WW2 rages around the world, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front as he investigates crimes on the south coast of England. Foyle's War opens in southern England in the year 1940. Later series sees the retired detective working as an MI5 agent operating in the aftermath of the war
Duration: 90 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, War
Country: UK
Plot tags: world war two, investigation, police investigation, police detective, war crime, spy, police, espionage, homicide detective, whodunit, detective inspector, murder investigation, investigator, law enforcement, crimes of passion, murder, cold war, village, nazism, bomb, detective sergeant, wartime, robbery, fighting crime, world war
Jujutsu Kaisen (2020)
Plot Summary:
With his days numbered, high schooler Yuji decides to hunt down and consume the remaining 19 fingers of a deadly curse so it can die with him
Duration: 24 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 97000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: supernatural, spirit, magic, curse, student, demon, society, exorcism, secret organization, teamwork, rivalry, friendship, fight, violence, entity, danger, high school life, murder, paranormal, death, brutality, tragedy, youkai, possession, cursed object
It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
Plot Summary:
Desperate to escape from his emotional baggage and the heavy responsibility he’s had all his life, a psychiatric ward worker begins to heal with help from the unexpected—a woman who writes fairy tales but doesn’t believe in them
Duration: 80 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 32000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: South Korea
Plot tags: anti social, mental health, psychiatric ward, psychological trauma, friendship, hospital, death, eccentric woman, countryside, male nurse, sibling relationship, caregiver, madhouse, mental patient, mental institution, female writer, childhood trauma, post traumatic stress disorder, writers, friends, faith, couples, asian, strong female character, storytelling
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (2019)
Plot Summary:
It is the Taisho Period in Japan. Tanjiro, a kindhearted boy who sells charcoal for a living, finds his family slaughtered by a demon. To make matters worse, his younger sister Nezuko, the sole survivor, has been transformed into a demon herself. Though devastated by this grim reality, Tanjiro resolves to become a “demon slayer” so that he can turn his sister back into a human, and kill the demon that massacred his family
Duration: 24 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 138000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: demon, danger, friendship, supernatural, sword, murder, mentor, magic, death, vengeance, destiny, youth, human monster, violence, death of family, redemption, parents and children, martial artist, samurai, sense of smell, adaptation, friends, darkness, mutilation, monster
Coupling (2000)
Plot Summary:
Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from May 2000 to June 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating and sexual adventures and mishaps of six friends in their thirties, often depicting the three women and the three men each talking among themselves about the same events, but in entirely different terms. The series was inspired by Moffat's relationship with producer Sue Vertue, to the extent that they gave their names to two of the characters. Coupling is an example of the "group-genre", an ensemble show that had proven popular at the time. Critics compared the show to the American sitcoms Friends and Seinfeld. The critical reaction was largely positive, and the show was named "Best TV Comedy" at the 2003 British Comedy Awards. The show debuted to unimpressive ratings, but its popularity soon increased and by the end of the third series the show had achieved decent ratings in the UK. The series began airing on PBS stations and on BBC America in the United States in late 2002 and quickly gained a devoted fanbase there as well. The show is syndicated around the world. Short-lived American and Greek adaptations were briefly produced in 2003 and 2007 respectively
Duration: 30 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 47000
Genere: Comedy, Romance
Country: UK
Plot tags: couples, looking for sex, casual sex, lovers, looking for love, love triangle, lifestyle, group of friends, seduction, couple relations, infidelity, ex couple relations, sexual relations, boyfriend, sex, dating, sexuality, friends, hot and sexy, colleague, gay, relationships, women, clubbing, psychotherapy
Mr Inbetween (2018)
Plot Summary:
Ray Shoesmith is a father, ex-husband, boyfriend and best friend: tough roles to juggle in the modern age. Even harder when you’re a criminal for hire
Duration: 30 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 27000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Australia
Plot tags: hitman, organized crime, mercenary, violence, betrayal, murder, chases and races, escapades, danger, family drama, secret past, fight scenes, psychopath, criminal, sociopath, father daughter relationship, parents, nypd, anti hero, lone hero, tough guy, deadly, show, anti-hero, anti heroes
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988)
Plot Summary:
A stranded spaceship pilot captured by mad scientists survives a blitz of cheesy B movies by riffing on them with his funny robot pals
Duration: 92 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 26000
Genere: Comedy, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: robot, space and aliens, space, outer space, androids, satire, love, machine, artificial intelligence, monkey, supernatural, cyborgs, halloween, friends, star wars, fandom, space opera, sketch, asexual, mad scientist, puppetry, scientist, experiment, androids and robots, research
Black-Adder II (1986)
Plot Summary:
Sixty years after the demise of Prince Edmund Plantagenet, Queen Elizabeth I, who's as insane as her ancestors, is England's current leader. Seductive, easy-to-impress, spoiled, and always seeking a husband, "Queenie" has a leading courtier: Lord Edmund Blackaddder, great-grandson of the original. Now, however, he is dryly cynical and intelligent, but still trying to become king; this time by marrying the queen. However, her right-hand-man, Lord Melchett, will always serve as fair competition for her hand. Blackadder is again assisted by the clueless but fashionable Lord Percy Percy and dung-eating, "cunning" peasant Baldrick
Duration: 176 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Comedy
Country: UK
Plot tags: satire, medieval, parents, humour, peplum, sketch, sketch show, queen, royalty, dark humor, king, prince, politics, intelligence, insanity, heir, society, royal court, dimwit, assistant, enemy, head of state, historical character, rivals, stupidity