Tales from the Crypt

“Tales from the Crypt,” occasionally referred to as “HBO’s Tales from the Crypt,” is an American horror anthology TV series that aired on HBO from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996. Spanning seven seasons and comprising 93 episodes, the series drew inspiration from the 1950s EC Comics series of the same name, along with four other EC Comics from that era. Produced by HBO, with uncredited contributions from The Geffen Film Company and Warner Bros. Television, the show should not be mistaken for the 1972 film of the same title or “Tales from the Darkside,” another horror anthology series with a similar theme.

Being broadcast on HBO, a premium cable network, the series enjoyed a rare level of creative freedom, free from the usual network censorship. This allowed it to feature explicit content, including graphic violence, profanity, gore, nudity, and sexual situations, which would likely earn it a TV-MA rating by today’s standards. However, when shown in syndication or on basic cable, the series is edited to remove such content. Although initially produced in the United States, the final season was filmed in Britain, leading to episodes centered around British characters.