I’m back! This one is going to be a little different, honestly. Seeing that I started with zombie shows before going on to movie lists, the idea had always been in my mind. That said, there really aren’t nearly as many shows when it comes to creature features, slashers, and sharks. At least comparatively. And more often than not, when the shows are made, they feature demons and aliens. Although a series-style Jaws could actually slap!
With that said, I think I have a decent group of Creature Feature shows to share, but please do keep in mind that some of these may be a little out there.
Same as with my Zombie movies / shows, Slashers, Creature Features, Shark Week, and Halloween recommendations, these will all be things I have seen before. Surely with varying degrees of enjoyability maybe, but you all know the drill at this point.
We don’t discriminate; we watch, and we don’t judge.
So, without further ado…
For the sake of this post, a creature feature is any horror, sci-fi, action, or thriller that features a monster, alien, animal, or beast that is after a human/s. This is mostly universal, of course, but if you disagree with any, let me know!
One Creature Feature Show List To Rule Them All
Goosebumps (1995)
A series of scary anthology stories based on the children’s books by R.L. Stine.
*Adapting Stine’s series, these are obviously not all CF stories, but there are plenty to pick from! This show introduced me to horror and subsequently scared me away from it for years when I was a kid.
Watch on Tubi, Paramount+ & Netflix
Stranger Things
In 1980s Indiana, a group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, the children unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries.
*The show added more and more as additional seasons were ordered, but it started as a pretty strange forward CF. Read a full review here.
Watch on Netflix
Alien: Earth
When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.
*Finally, the Xenomorph gets the TV treatment. For me, this was nearly a perfect season of television. Great practical effects and a fantastic cast.
Watch on Hulu
Resident Evil
Nearly three decades after the discovery of the T-virus, an outbreak reveals the Umbrella Corporation’s dark secrets.
*I’ve seen some of the movies, but played very little of the games. Personally, this worked for me. Zombies and zombie-adjacent … like a giant catapillar monster-thing
Watch on Netflix
The Boroughs
In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have – time.
*Prematurely canceled despite rave reviews. Personally, I absolutely loved this show. I always appreciate when elderly folks are allowed to exist as real people. Enjoyable creepy creature, too.
Watch on Netflix
Below
When a mysterious sea creature terrorizes a remote town, a fisherman must fight to protect his family, his community, and his way of life.
*Leans too far eco, and forgets to be a CF. It also plays right up next to horror tropes then tucks itself back in. Ultimately, a fun evening watch, though. Performances are good. Giant squid looks good.
Watch on Netflix
It: Welcome to Derry
In 1962, a couple with their son move to Derry, Maine just as a young boy disappears. With their arrival, very bad things begin to happen in the town.
*I mean Pennywise in general, right? But this first season really played around with him inhabiting different creatures/entities. I really enjoyed it.
Watch on HBO Max
Lovecraft Country
A young African-American travels across the U.S. in the 1950s in search of his missing father.
*I really enjoyed this show for what it was and was sad when it wasn’t brought back. And it’s based on a book! Love that it introduced me to Wunmi Mosaku, too. Monsters and transformations.
Watch on HBO Max
The Last of Us
Joel and Ellie, a pair connected through the harshness of the world they live in, are forced to endure brutal circumstances and ruthless killers on a trek across a post-outbreak America.
*Based on one of the best games ever. I love Pedro as Joel, and frankly, Bella gets a bad rap. So many of the complaints are about the writing! Clickers and Bloaters go beyond just simple zombies.
Watch on HBO Max
Game of Thrones
Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
*A bit of a stretch and mostly for fun (kind of like this show’s finale). While the White Walker horde is undead ice zombies, the WW themselves, giants, and dragons are pretty solidly CF(ish) in fantasy territory!
Watch on HBO Max
Evil
A skeptical psychologist and scientist join a Catholic priest-in-training to investigate the church’s backlog of unexplained mysteries, miracles, and demonic possessions.
*A religion-based TV series where they mostly face off against demons, but their manifestations are super CF, landing it on this list. The cast of this show was electric together. I was sad to see it end.
Watch on Paramount+
The Witcher
Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter, struggles to find his place in a world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.
*Perhaps another oddball choice, but the beginning of this show really gave us a monster-of-the-week feel in fantasy form. They should never have let Cavill go. Such a huge miss for them.
Watch on Netflix
Goosebumps (2023)
“Goosebumps” is a horror series telling the story of a group of five high school students who unleash supernatural forces upon their town. Now, they must work together in order to save it.
*I liked that this reboot amped things up to a young adult level and that they turned it into an intertwined story rather than a full anthology. I would have liked to see more.
Watch on Disney+
Tales from the Crypt
*”Tales from the Crypt” was a ’89 horror anthology series based on the gruesome E.C. comic books of the ’50s presented by the legendary “Crypt Keeper”, a sinister ghoul obsessed with gallows humor and horrific puns
*An anthology series that finally hit streaming. Certainly not all creature feature episodes, by any means. There’s the Crypt Keeper himself, of course, but there are more on-the-nose ones to be sure, too.
Watch on AMC+ & Tubi
Wednesday
Follows Wednesday Addams’ years as a student, when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a killing spree, and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents.
*Season 1 really gave us a monster hunt whodunnit disguised as a coming-of-age creepy story. I liked it, but haven’t dipped into season 2 yet personally.
Watch on Netflix
As always, if you made it this far, you’re a real one! I’ll be honest, it feels really nice to finish one of these lists without working on it for multiple days and the brainrot setting in. Still, if you have any recs for good shows, please let me know! I’m shocked at how few there are. Especially if you have some straight-up CF recs.
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