Black Summer, Fear the Walking Dead, The Society, The Walking Dead, TV Shows, Z Nation

Top 10 Alternatives to The Walking Dead While We Wait for Season 11

The Walking Dead

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We were originally promised an 11th season of The Walking Dead, as well as 10 additional episodes (including the finale) for Season 10 to release this year, but the COVID-19 pandemic had other plans.

The good news is that there are plenty of other post-apocalyptic zombie offerings to keep us entertained until 2021 when the fresh TWD content is said to finally release.


Sure, I could simply list a bunch of zombie shows and leave it at that, but here’s the thing: there’s a special recipe for The Walking Dead that has made it a success. The ingredients in that zombie casserole (ew) have kept fans coming back for more season after season. So I wanted to break down those basic elements and recommend other TV shows and movies that could help you scratch that TWD itch for another year.

First, let’s take a look at those storyline ingredients that make The Walking Dead what it is:

1. Eclectic group of people surviving together
2. Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting
3. Crazy surprises
4. Love stories within a horror story
5. Zombies!

Now let’s explore my personal picks for the top 10 TV shows and movies that come closest to replicating that formula.

10. The Society

The Society  | TV Series (2019) 3480min | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi | TV Series (2019) Summary: When everyone else mysteriously vanishes from their wealthy town, the teen residents of West Ham must forge their own society to survive.
Countries: USALanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Love stories within a horror story
What it’s missing: Crazy surprises, Zombies
Special similarities: The apocalypse is one big mystery and normal rules are out the window
Where you can watch it: Netflix

9. Survivors

Survivors  | TV Series (2008–2010) 60min | Drama, Sci-Fi | TV Series (2008–2010) Summary: An unknown virus pandemic kills more than 90% of the world's population. Those immune must strive to survive and overcome the difficulties of this new world order, hoping that the virus will not mutate.
Countries: UKLanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Love stories within a horror story
What it’s missing: Crazy Surprises, Zombies
Special similarities: Very reminiscent of the first season of TWD
Where you can watch it: Amazon

8. Jericho

Jericho  | TV Series (2006–2008) 2700min | Action, Drama, Mystery | TV Series (2006–2008) Summary: A small town in Kansas is literally left in the dark after seeing a mushroom cloud over near-by Denver, Colorado. The townspeople struggle to find answers about the blast and solutions on how to survive.
Countries: USALanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy surprises, Love stories within a horror story
What it’s missing: Zombies
Special similarities: Similar group of survivors completely confused by the apocalypse and how to handle it
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, CBS, Google Play

7. Maggie

Maggie (2015) 95min | Drama, Horror | 8 May 2015 (USA) Summary: A teenage girl in the Midwest becomes infected by an outbreak of a disease that slowly turns the infected into cannibalistic zombies. During her transformation, her loving father stays by her side.
Countries: USA, SwitzerlandLanguages: English

What it has: Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Love stories within a horror story, Zombies
What it’s missing: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Crazy surprises
Special similarities: The power of a father’s love for his child
Where you can watch it: Amazon, Apple TV, Fandango Now, Google Play, Vudu, Tubi, Redbox

6. Carriers

Carriers (2009) 84min | Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi | 2 September 2009 (Indonesia) Summary: As a lethal virus spreads globally, four friends seek a reputed plague-free haven. But while avoiding the infected, the travelers turn on one another.
Countries: USALanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic(ish) group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy Surprises, Love stories within a horror story
What it’s missing: Zombies
Special similarities: Very horror-centric
Where you can watch it: Amazon, Google Play, Fandango Now, Vudu, Apple TV, Tubi, Fubo, Showtime


5. Falling Skies
Falling Skies  | TV Series (2011–2015) 2520min | Action, Adventure, Drama | TV Series (2011–2015) Summary: Survivors of an alien attack on earth gather together to fight for their lives and fight back.
Countries: USA, CanadaLanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy surprises, Love stories within a horror story
What it’s missing: Zombies
Special similarities: It’s basically TWD with aliens.
Where you can watch it: Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, Hoopla

4. The Crazies

The Crazies (2010) 101min | Horror, Thriller | 26 February 2010 (USA) Summary: After a strange and insecure plane crash, an unusual toxic virus enters a quaint farming town. A young couple are quarantined, but they fight for survival along with help from a couple of people.
Countries: USA, United Arab EmiratesLanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy surprises, Love stories within a horror story, Zombies (kinda)
What it’s missing: Nothing
Special similarities: Main character is a no-nonsense Law Enforcement Officer
Where you can watch it: Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, Hoopla, Tubi, Redbox

3. Z Nation

Z Nation  | TV Series (2014–2018) 2640min | Action, Comedy, Drama | TV Series (2014–2018) Summary: Three years after the zombie virus has gutted the United States of America a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood.
Countries: USALanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy surprises, Love stories within a horror story, Zombies
What it’s missing: Nothing
Special similarities: One of the closest TV shows to get that complete TWD formula right.
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango Now, Vudu, Google Play

2. Black Summer

Black Summer  | TV Series (2019– ) 2400min | Action, Drama, Horror | TV Series (2019– ) Summary: In the dark, early days of a zombie apocalypse, complete strangers band together to find the strength they need to survive and get back to loved ones.
Countries: Canada, USALanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy surprises, Love stories within a horror story, Zombies
What it’s missing: Nothing
Special similarities: This is made by the Z Nation folks, so it’s another that gets the TWD formula right
Where you can watch it: Netflix

1. Fear The Walking Dead

Fear the Walking Dead  | TV Series (2015– ) 2640min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi | TV Series (2015– ) Summary: A Walking Dead spin-off, set in Los Angeles, following two families who must band together to survive the undead apocalypse.
Countries: USA, MexicoLanguages: English

What it has: Eclectic group of people surviving together, Modern-day post-apocalyptic setting, Crazy surprises, Love stories within a horror story, Zombies
What it’s missing: Nothing
Special similarities: It’s a spin-off of TWD, so everything!
Where you can watch it: Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon, Fandango Now, Vudu, Google Play, Redbox

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    Shawn has been infatuated with the post-apocalyptic genre since he wore out his horribly American-dubbed VHS of the original Mad Max as a child. Shawn is the former Editor-in-Chief at Massively.com, creator of the Aftermath post-apocalyptic immersion event, and author of "AI For All," a guide to navigating this strange new world of artificial intelligence.
    He currently resides on top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere with his wife and four children.

    Don't even think about sharing this article.

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