Top 10 Fantasy TV Shows Of The 1990s, Ranked

10 Best 1990s Fantasy Shows, Ranked

The main cast of Angel TV show

By Adrienne Tyler Published 59 minutes ago Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

The 1990s saw some of the best fantasy TV shows of all time, in different styles and tones, and with different target audiences, too. The list of the best TV shows of all time has titles from all genres, but if there's one genre where the 1990s excelled, it was fantasy.

The fantasy genre is one of the most popular ones thanks to its variety and ability to push limits. This allows fantasy TV shows to explore all types of worlds, creatures, and characters, through which they also address a variety of topics and social issues.

There's a fantasy TV show for everyone, and the 1990s have many for viewers of all ages and for different tastes – and as good as they are, some are better than others, for different reasons.

10 Sabrina The Teenage Witch

1996-2003

Hilda, Sabrina, and Zelda posing together for a Sabrina the Teenage Witch promotional image

Sabrina the Teenage Witch is a sitcom created by Nell Scovell and based on Archie Comics’ Sabrina Spellman. Sabrina the Teenage Witch follows the title character (played by Melissa Joan Hart), who, on her 16th birthday, learns she’s a witch with magical powers. What follows is Sabrina’s efforts to control her magic, aided by her aunts Hilda and Zelda, who are also witches.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch blends magic, comedy, coming-of-age stories, and bits of drama, with relatable characters despite the show’s fantasy elements. Sabrina the Teenage Witch is one of those shows that grow up with their audience, and as a bonus, there’s the talking cat Salem, who more often than not serves as the voice of reason with a lot of attitude.

9 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

1995-1999

Hercules holds a dying man in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is based on the tales of the mythological Greek hero Heracles, known as “Hercules” in Roman tales. Set in a fantasy version of ancient Greece, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys follows the title hero (played by Kevin Sorbo) and his sidekick as they save villagers from all types of monsters and creatures.

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys has lots of action but also humor, the latter mostly brought by Hercules’ sidekick, Iolaus (Michael Hurst), and it’s a lighthearted TV show with a likable lead and exciting action sequences. Of course, don’t expect accurate Greek mythology, just some good old 1990s campy fun.

8 Goosebumps

1995-1998

Slappy the dummy in the 90s Goosebumps TV show

The 1990s were a great decade for fantasy horror shows for kids, and among them is Goosebumps. Based on R. L. Stine’s book series of the same name, Goosebumps is an anthology TV series. As such, every episode tells a different story, most of them from the books, with some original stories, as well.

Goosebumps brought to life some real and common fears among children, with creative practical effects (that might look cheap now, but they keep their charm) and served as an introduction to horror for many children. Goosebumps also had a campy vibe to it, which adds to its unique charm and to the scare factor in some stories.

7 Gargoyles

1994-1997

Goliath and Demona in Gargoyles©Buena Vista Television/Courtesy MovieStillsDB

Gargoyles is one of the best animated TV shows of all time, as well as one of the best TV shows of the 1990s. Gargoyles introduces a group of nocturnal creatures known as gargoyles, who turn to stone during the day and come to life at night.

The gargoyles live in a castle in Scotland, but are betrayed in 994. Those who survive are cursed to be frozen in stone until the castle “rises above the clouds.” Many years later, in 1994, billionaire David Xanatos has the castle reconstructed atop his New York skyscraper, thus breaking the curse. As they adapt to the modern world, the gargoyles become the city’s nighttime protectors.

Gargoyles earned its place on this list thanks to its animation style, voice performances, well-developed characters, and the themes addressed in it, which were quite mature for its time and target audience.

6 Charmed

1998-2006

Prue, Piper, and Phoebe looking at a vase in Charmed.

Prue, Piper, and Phoebe in Charmed

Created by Constance M. Burge, Charmed introduces the Halliwell sisters: Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), Prue (Shannen Doherty), and Piper (Holly Marie Combs), who learn they are the most powerful witches of all time. The sisters use their combined “Power of Three” to protect innocent lives from different forces of darkness.

Charmed is a perfect mix of magic, supernatural action, and family drama, as it focuses not only on the powers of the Halliwell sisters but also on their dynamics as sisters. At the core of Charmed is the theme of empowerment, which, along with its well-developed lead female characters, makes it one of the best and most influential TV shows of all time.

5 Are You Afraid of the Dark?

1992-1996, 1999-2000

The kids in Are You Afraid Of The Dark screaming

Are You Afraid of the Dark? is a horror anthology TV show created by D. J. MacHale and Ned Kandel. Are You Afraid of the Dark? follows a group of teens who call themselves “The Midnight Society” and meet at a secret spot in the woods at midnight to tell scary stories. Every episode, then, is a different story told by one member of the Midnight Society.

Are You Afraid of the Dark? has genuinely scary stories, not just for kids but also adults, with great practical effects, creative villains and monsters, and a suspenseful and scary atmosphere that still holds up to this day. Through these stories, Are You Afraid of the Dark? also addresses serious topics such as death, grief, loss, identity, and family.

4 Highlander: The Series

1992-1998

Adrian Paul holding a sword in Highlander: The Series.

Highlander: The Series is a sci-fi action-adventure TV show and an alternative sequel to the 1986 movie Highlander. Highlander: The Series follows Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul), an Immortal hunted by others of his kind, as the winner will take the power of the murdered Immortals in a process known as the "quickening".

Highlander: The Series has a complex and unique world, with a layered and compelling story and a more grounded approach than the movies through the exploration of themes like love, loss, loneliness, and more. Highlander: The Series also has well-developed characters, exciting action scenes, and a good dose of drama.

3 Angel

1999-2004

David Boreanaz as Angel

Angel is a spinoff of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, focusing on David Boreanaz’s vampire character of the same name. Angel follows him after he moves to Los Angeles, where he works as a private detective and battles demons and humans allied with them, while he continues to battle his inner demons.

Angel is one of the best spinoff shows of all time, thanks to its darker tone (compared to Buffy’s), complex and well-developed characters, performances, stories, and how it expands the Buffyverse. Angel is a more mature show than Buffy, which shows in every aspect of it.

2 Xena: Warrior Princess

1995-2001

Xena holding a weapon with flames behind her

Xena: Warrior Princess is a sword-and-sorcery TV show and a spinoff of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Xena: Warrior Princess follows the title character (played by Lucy Lawless), a legendary but infamous warrior looking for redemption by using her fighting skills to help the innocent. Like Angel, Xena: Warrior Princess is considered one of the best spinoffs of all time.

Xena: Warrior Princess has a perfect mix of action, fantasy, drama, and comedy, without giving up quality in its stories and characters. Xena not only has one of the most notable female lead characters of all time, but also complex and well-developed characters, compelling stories, and covers themes such as redemption, power, and friendship.

1 Buffy the Vampire Slayer

1997-2003

Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the best TV shows of all time and one of the best shows of the 1990s. Created by Joss Whedon, Buffy the Vampire Slayer introduces Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a succession of young women chosen by fate and known as “Vampire Slayers.”

As such, Buffy’s mission is to battle vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness, with the guidance of her Watcher, Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and the help of her friends Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows Buffy from her teenage years and into her young adulthood, growing up alongside her audience. Buffy the Vampire Slayer brings together horror, fantasy, sci-fi, drama, and comedy, with complex and relatable characters, relatable stories, and exploration of themes like identity, friendship, loss, addiction, and more.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also one of the most influential TV shows of all time, with its strong female lead, LGBTQ+ representation, cultural impact, and social commentary through its fantasy elements.

272 9.1/10

9/10

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed Action Comedy Drama Horror Supernatural Release Date 1997 - 2003 Network The WB Showrunner Joss Whedon Directors Joss Whedon Writers Joss Whedon

Cast

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Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy Summers
Nicholas Brendon Alexander Harris

Genres Action, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Supernatural Powered by

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