# Creepshow (TV series)
**Creepshow** is an American horror anthology television series that premiered on the streaming service Shudder on September 26, 2019, based on the 1982 anthology film written by [Stephen King](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-king) and directed by [George A. Romero](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-a-romero).[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) • [2](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/sdcc-2019-shudder-creepshow) It was showrun and executive produced by makeup effects artist Greg Nicotero, known for his work on AMC's *The Walking Dead*, and was Shudder's first long-form original TV series.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) The series ran for four seasons, totaling 24 episodes and two specials, before Shudder confirmed in September 2025 that it would not return.[3](https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3897347/creepshow-canceled-by-shudder-blu-ray-box-set-announced/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | September 26, 2019, on Shudder, with one episode released weekly[2](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/sdcc-2019-shudder-creepshow) |
| Format | Each roughly 47-minute episode presents two self-contained stories, often by different directors, framed by comic-book-style illustrations[4](https://www.slashfilm.com/568860/creepshow-production/) • [5](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/creepshow-seasons-1-4/) |
| Showrunner | Greg Nicotero, executive producer on *The Walking Dead*; his KNB EFX Group handled creature and makeup effects[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) |
| Production | Filmed in Atlanta, Georgia; each episode shot in three and a half days on a small budget[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) • [4](https://www.slashfilm.com/568860/creepshow-production/) |
| Run | Four seasons (2019–2023), 24 episodes plus two specials; canceled by Shudder, confirmed September 2025[3](https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3897347/creepshow-canceled-by-shudder-blu-ray-box-set-announced/) |
| Reception | Season 1 Metascore 64 (7 critics); average Tomatometer 85% across 43 reviews, with Season 1 at 97%[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/creepshow/critic-reviews/) • [7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/creepshow) |
## Spoilers
### Season 1
Season 1 consisted of six episodes presenting twelve stories. The premiere paired "Gray Matter," an adaptation of King's 1973 short story from his collection *Night Shift*, directed by Nicotero from a script by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi, with "The House of the Head," written by Josh Malerman and directed by [John Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-harrison).[9](https://www.tvguide.com/news/creepshow-review-shudder-amc/) • [10](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2020/04/15/amc-to-air-the-first-season-of-shudders-hit-horror-anthology-series-creepshow/) The cast included [David Arquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-arquette), Adrienne Barbeau (who appeared in the original film), [Tobin Bell](https://www.edgepedia.org/tobin-bell), Big Boi, Kid Cudi, Bruce Davison, Giancarlo Esposito, Tricia Helfer, and Jeffrey Combs.[10](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2020/04/15/amc-to-air-the-first-season-of-shudders-hit-horror-anthology-series-creepshow/)
Shudder renewed the series for a second season, announced on October 31, 2019.[11](https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/greg-nicotero-shudder-anthology-creepshow-gets-second-season/ffSU4vLPV0J1VwSxAuILtK/) In April 2020, AMC began airing the first season on the linear network in two-episode blocks on Monday nights from May 4 through May 18, an experiment in sharing shows across [AMC Networks](https://www.edgepedia.org/amc-networks)' brands.[10](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2020/04/15/amc-to-air-the-first-season-of-shudders-hit-horror-anthology-series-creepshow/)
## Origin and development
Shudder, AMC Networks' horror-focused streaming service, greenlit the series in collaboration with Nicotero and announced in February 2019 that production had begun in Atlanta, Georgia.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) • [8](https://www.c21media.net/news/shudder-takes-peek-at-creepshow) The project drew heavily on Nicotero's personal history: he grew up in Pittsburgh, visited the original film's set as a teenager, and provided makeup effects on *[Creepshow 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/creepshow-2)* (1987) in one of his earliest screen credits.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/)
Nicotero recruited writers by calling in favors from across the horror field. He wrote to Stephen King directly, saying it could not be [Creepshow](https://www.edgepedia.org/creepshow) without a King story, and King proposed "Gray Matter" within twenty minutes.[4](https://www.slashfilm.com/568860/creepshow-production/) The first season's announced source material included stories by King, [Joe Hill](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-hill-writer) (King's son, who had acted in the 1982 film's wrap-around segments), Josh Malerman, Joe R. Lansdale with Kasey and Keith Lansdale, Christopher Buehlman, Bruce Jones, John Esposito, and Rob Schrab.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) Directors included Nicotero, David Bruckner, Roxanne Benjamin, Rob Schrab, and John Harrison, who had been first assistant director on the original film and composed its theme.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/)
## Format and production
Each episode contains two stories from different directors, a structure Nicotero settled on after initially planning three shorter segments per episode.[4](https://www.slashfilm.com/568860/creepshow-production/) Every episode was filmed in three and a half days on a small budget, a schedule Nicotero described as punishing but energizing, and the series emphasized practical effects and makeup inspired by the original film and other 1980s horror.[4](https://www.slashfilm.com/568860/creepshow-production/) KNB EFX Group, Nicotero's Oscar- and Emmy-winning effects company, created the creatures and makeup.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/)
The series was produced by The Cartel with Monster Agency Productions, Taurus Entertainment, and Striker Entertainment.[1](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/) Recurring touches connect the episodes to the 1982 film, including a marble ashtray from the film's "Father's Day" segment hidden in each episode as an [Easter egg](https://www.edgepedia.org/easter-egg).[2](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/sdcc-2019-shudder-creepshow)
## Later seasons and conclusion
Season 2 premiered in April 2021 and Season 3 in September 2021, each with six episodes.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/creepshow) Season 4, also six episodes, premiered on October 13, 2023, on AMC and AMC+ as a full-season binge release.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/creepshow) • [12](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/37790/creepshow) Two specials aired in 2020: *A Creepshow Animated Special* (featuring [Kiefer Sutherland](https://www.edgepedia.org/kiefer-sutherland) voicing a character) and *A Creepshow Holiday Special*.[3](https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3897347/creepshow-canceled-by-shudder-blu-ray-box-set-announced/) • [5](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/creepshow-seasons-1-4/)
The series' fate went unannounced for nearly two years after Season 4. In September 2025, Shudder confirmed the show would not return; while no official end was declared, a source told Variety that it had been planned for only four seasons.[3](https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3897347/creepshow-canceled-by-shudder-blu-ray-box-set-announced/) • [13](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65456079/) A "Creepshow: Complete Series" Blu-ray box set collecting all 24 episodes and both specials was released on November 11, 2025.[3](https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3897347/creepshow-canceled-by-shudder-blu-ray-box-set-announced/)
## Reception
Season 1 holds a Metascore of 64 on Metacritic, based on seven critic reviews, indicating generally favorable reception.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/creepshow/critic-reviews/) On Rotten Tomatoes the series averages 85% across 43 reviews, with Season 1 certified at 97% and Season 4 at 100%.[7](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/creepshow) Critics noted the anthology's inherent unevenness; [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide)'s review called it gruesome fun aimed at horror aficionados rather than casual viewers, and praised the premiere's pairing of "Gray Matter" and "The House of the Head."[9](https://www.tvguide.com/news/creepshow-review-shudder-amc/) Starburst described the series as tongue-in-cheek despite its gory practical effects, with a hit-to-miss ratio it judged good for an anthology, and highlighted stories such as Season 1's "Skincrawlers," Season 2's "Public Television of the Dead," and Season 4's "George Romero in 3D!"[5](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/creepshow-seasons-1-4/)
## References
1. [Production Starts on Greg Nicotero's 'Creepshow' Anthology Series for Shudder, AMC Global Media (February 9, 2019)](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2019/02/09/production-starts-on-greg-nicoteros-creepshow-anthology-series-for-shudder/)
2. [SDCC 2019: Creepshow has risen from the crypt at Shudder, SYFY WIRE (July 16, 2019)](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/sdcc-2019-shudder-creepshow)
3. ['Creepshow' Canceled by Shudder; Blu-ray Box Set Announced, Bloody Disgusting (September 2, 2025)](https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3897347/creepshow-canceled-by-shudder-blu-ray-box-set-announced/)
4. [A Tight Schedule And A Thousand Favors: How The New 'Creepshow' Got Made, SlashFilm (September 4, 2019)](https://www.slashfilm.com/568860/creepshow-production/)
5. [Creepshow (Seasons 1–4) review, Starburst Magazine](https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/creepshow-seasons-1-4/)
6. [Creepshow critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/creepshow/critic-reviews/)
7. [Creepshow, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/creepshow)
8. [Shudder takes peek at Creepshow, C21Media](https://www.c21media.net/news/shudder-takes-peek-at-creepshow)
9. [Creepshow Review: AMC's Anthology Is Gruesome Fun for Horror Fans, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/creepshow-review-shudder-amc/)
10. [AMC to Air the First Season of Shudder's Hit Horror Anthology Series Creepshow, AMC Global Media (April 15, 2020)](https://www.amcglobalmedia.com/2020/04/15/amc-to-air-the-first-season-of-shudders-hit-horror-anthology-series-creepshow/)
11. [Greg Nicotero’s Shudder anthology ‘Creepshow’ gets second season](https://www.ajc.com/blog/radiotvtalk/greg-nicotero-shudder-anthology-creepshow-gets-second-season/ffSU4vLPV0J1VwSxAuILtK/)
12. [Creepshow, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/37790/creepshow)
13. ['Creepshow' Series Officially Wraps After Four Seasons on Shudder, Variety via IMDb (September 1, 2025)](https://www.imdb.com/news/ni65456079/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Genre and subject-scripted series › Fantasy, supernatural, and horror series › Horror drama and thriller series › Psychological, slasher, and anthology horror*
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