Top 10 Twilight Zone Episodes
“This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.” Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 episodes of “The Twilight Zone.”
For this list, we're taking a look at the most character-driven, thought-provoking, and timeless episodes of the original “Twilight Zone” anthology series that still stick with us several decades later.
Special thanks to our users jwiking62, Luke Herron and jkellis for suggesting this idea, check out the voting page at http://WatchMojo.comsuggest/Top+10+Twilight+Zone+Episodes
#10: “Living Doll”
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Leave it to “The Twilight Zone” to take an innocent toy doll and turn it into a genuinely intimidating presence. When Erich Streator scorns his stepdaughter’s new doll, Talky Tina talks back to the disgruntled parent. When verbal abuse doesn’t work, she threatens physical hostility as a way to put Streator in time-out. And things just get worse as the show goes along. Is Tina doing all this or is someone playing a trick on Streator? Or is it all in his demented mind? Whatever the case, it’s hard to not get chills every time Tina opens her freaky eyes.
#9: “Five Characters in Search of an Exit”
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What do this clown, hobo, bagpiper, ballerina, and army major have in common? They don’t know who or where they are, which is never a good sign in the Twilight Zone. Rod Serling scripted this masterfully written episode which finds our players questioning their creation, sanity, and existence as they attempt to escape a cylindrical prison. It generates a sense of genuine mystery that doesn’t disappoint with its explanation. Without giving too much away, it’s one of the few stories where a beloved holiday becomes a villain.
#8: “It’s a Good Life”
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Are children born innocent and corrupted by society or are they born spoiled brats and society keeps them in check? Young Anthony Fremont, chillingly played by Bill Mumy, is undoubtedly born with zero empathy. Unfortunately, he also was born with mighty magical powers and society is powerless to control him. Unless people think happy thoughts, this six-year-old boy will send them to an unknown place known as the cornfield or turn them into jacks-in-the-boxes. This classic makes the most of its horrifying premise, which keeps its characters and audience in a constant state of terror. In short, it’s real good.
#7: “The Hitch-Hiker”
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It’s easy to get paranoid when driving by yourself. On a cross-country road trip, Nan Adams is followed by a shabby hitch-hiker who disappears as quickly as he emerges. Even more unsettling, she appears to be the only one who can see him. Bolstered by a gripping central performance from Inger Stevens, the episode keeps us guessing as to whether Miss Adams is going crazy or if this mysterious man is out to get her. Our fear grows with every passing mile and the final destination will stop anyone in their tracks.
#6: “The Masks”
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The only “Twilight Zone” episode directed by a woman, “The Masks” is also one of the grimmest tales ever told about inner ugliness. As Jason Foster lies on his deathbed, his self-absorbed family eagerly awaits the old man’s demise so they can collect their inheritance. Jason doesn’t write his rotten relatives out of his will, but expects them to pay a price in exchange. He forces them to wear grotesque masks that match their hideous interiors, creating a captivatingly uncomfortable evening and a twist that really gets under your skin.
#5: “To Serve Man”
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Even if you’ve never watched “The Twilight Zone” once in your life, chances are you still know about this episode’s shocking final act reveal. We won’t give the ending away here, but it’s nothing short of classic and forever embedded in our popular culture. Although “To Serve Man” is often remembered for one iconic line, the fact is that the whole episode is a wonderfully constructed half hour of television. Giving us great reason to forever be suspicious of strangers, the episode demonstrates that sometimes the most peaceful outsiders can be the hardest to read.
#4: “Eye of the Beholder”
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If you’re going to introduce somebody to “The Twilight Zone,” this haunting episode is a perfect launching point. From a production standpoint, it’s one of the series’ most stunning outings with engrossing cinematography and a brilliant use of shadows. From a storytelling standpoint, it’s an intense, emotionally involving tale about a deformed woman’s last chance to blend in with society. As for the big unveiling, let’s just say it provides a fascinating commentary on conformity, how society perceives physical attractiveness, and how beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.
#3: “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street”
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If there was ever a “Twilight Zone” episode guaranteed to chill you to the core, this Rod Serling classic is it. A tranquil day on Maple Street takes a terrible turn as the power goes out and it appears something paranormal is going on. Friends and neighbors become enemies as tensions escalate to a modern day witch-hunt. While the story is grounded in fiction, the underlying themes it embodies feel all too believable. As evolved as humans have become, it doesn’t take much to turn us into a frantic, distrusting mob.
#2: “Time Enough at Last”
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Some misunderstood souls simply can’t make a connection with the rest of humanity so they lose themselves in the worlds of television, video games, or, in Henry Bemis’ case, books. Oppressed by his wife and boss, this bug-eyed bookworm never has enough time to read. When the rest of the world is wiped out in an explosion, it appears that Henry can live out the rest of his days happily reading book after book. Through a simple yet ingenious twist, however, Henry’s fate takes an unexpected turn for the tragic. Before we submit our top pick for your approval, here are a few honorable mentions: - “The Invaders” - “Walking Distance” - “The Howling Man” - “The Obsolete Man” - “Nick of Time”
#1: “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”
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Before William Shatner boldly commanded the Starship Enterprise, he was a distressed aircraft passenger having a close encounter of another variety. Seeing a creepy gremlin tearing apart the wing of the plane, this former mental patient’s mind is either spiraling back into madness or the plane is spiraling towards destruction. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” challenges both its protagonist and audience to contemplate what’s real and what’s imagination – a recurring theme in “The Twilight Zone.” Director Richard Donner injects the story with plenty of uncertainty, thrills, and payoffs, fashioning an episode for the ages. Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite Twilight Zone episode? For more entertaining Top 10s published for your consideration every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
