20 TV Shows to Watch If You Love ‘It: Welcome to Derry’

If the eerie small town vibe and creeping childhood terrors of ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ hooked you, there are plenty of series that tap similar nerves. From missing kids and buried secrets to shapeshifting threats and haunted communities, these shows build dread through character focused storytelling and unsettling mysteries. You will find anthologies with standalone arcs, ensemble dramas that track trauma across generations, and folklore tinged nightmares that crawl under your skin. Here are twenty TV shows that explore kindred themes of friendship, fear, and the monsters that thrive in the shadows of ordinary places.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–present)

Set in a quiet Midwestern town, ‘Stranger Things’ follows kids and teens who uncover a government experiment that opens a gateway to a hostile parallel dimension. The story balances school life and family dynamics with secret labs and a deadly creature stalking the streets. The group depends on bikes, walkie talkies, and shared courage to face what adults miss. Investigations weave through missing person cases, cover ups, and a looming entity tied to the town.

‘Castle Rock’ (2018–2019)

‘Castle Rock’ draws characters and locations from Stephen King stories into new plots centered on a cursed Maine town. The first season tracks a death row inmate whose strange presence sets off a chain of disturbances. The second season explores a feud that spirals into supernatural violence and identity horror. Each arc links personal histories to a geography soaked with malevolent memory.

‘The Outsider’ (2020)

Based on a Stephen King novel, ‘The Outsider’ begins with a brutal crime that has airtight evidence pointing to two impossible suspects. Detectives uncover a pattern of similar cases that suggests a predatory force able to imitate people. A private investigator brings folklore and forensics together to trace the entity’s movements. The series examines grief, doubt, and the way fear spreads through a town.

‘Channel Zero’ (2016–2018)

Anthology seasons adapt internet born urban legends into cinematic horror. ‘Channel Zero’ explores corrupted childhood shows, a house that rearranges reality, and a suburb infested by tooth bearing creatures. Each season centers on communities that ignore or distort the truth until it consumes them. Practical effects, strange rituals, and unreliable memories drive the nightmares.

‘American Horror Story’ (2011–present)

This long running anthology resets each season with a new setting that often traps a group inside a cursed space. ‘American Horror Story’ visits a murder filled mansion, an isolated asylum, and a small town ruled by hunger. Characters face cults, witchcraft, and deals that twist into doom. Recurring cast members play different roles across seasons that echo one another.

‘Yellowjackets’ (2021–present)

A high school girls soccer team survives a plane crash and must build a rough society in the wilderness. ‘Yellowjackets’ alternates between the past ordeal and the present lives of the survivors as secrets resurface. Rumors of rituals and a presence in the woods complicate rescue efforts and alliances. The adult timeline shows how trauma binds and poisons friendships.

‘From’ (2022–present)

Travelers entering a rural town cannot leave and nightfall brings creatures that imitate loved ones. ‘From’ organizes the trapped residents into factions that enforce strict rules to survive. Talismans, fortified homes, and coded warnings become part of daily life. New arrivals bring clues tied to the town’s origin and a deeper labyrinth below ground.

‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018)

A family returns to a mansion that warped their childhood after a tragedy connected to its halls. ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ constructs its mystery through shifting perspectives and recurring rooms. Ghosts appear as manifestations of grief and unfinished stories. The siblings’ adult lives intersect as they piece together what the house wants.

‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ (2020)

A young governess takes a job at a secluded estate where two children behave strangely. ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ layers hidden figures and whispered rules over a love story marked by possession. The lake and grounds hold the origin of a recurring faceless visitor. Narration frames the events as a caution about memory and promises.

‘Midnight Mass’ (2021)

An isolated island parish welcomes a charismatic new priest as miracles and disappearances begin. ‘Midnight Mass’ explores addiction, faith, and hunger as a nocturnal threat spreads. Town meetings and candlelit services turn into containment efforts. The shoreline and ferries become crucial chokepoints when escape fails.

‘Twin Peaks’ (1990–1991)

The murder of a local teenager exposes a logging town’s hidden lives and supernatural undercurrents. ‘Twin Peaks’ blends small town gossip, dream logic, and a malevolent lodge that preys on human weakness. An unconventional agent uses intuition and symbols to navigate the case. A later limited series revival returns to unfinished business and wider consequences.

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

In a German town, a missing child triggers discoveries about a cave system that links different eras. ‘Dark’ traces families across generations as a time loop shapes crimes and loyalties. A power plant, a bunker, and a traveler’s device become key to the puzzle. The show maps how choices ripple through bloodlines and repeat.

‘The Mist’ (2017)

After a mysterious fog engulfs a town, survivors shelter in public buildings while creatures hunt outside. ‘The Mist’ studies how fear fractures groups into rival camps with competing rules. Conflicts in a mall, a church, and a hospital turn as deadly as the threat outdoors. The mist itself hides both predators and revelations about the event.

‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ (1990–1996)

A group of kids gathers at night to tell stories that come to life for viewers. ‘Are You Afraid of the Dark?’ presents urban legends, cursed objects, and vengeful spirits through self contained episodes. The Midnight Society’s rituals frame each tale and create continuity. Many stories place ordinary settings like schools and parks at the edge of the uncanny.

‘Goosebumps’ (2023–present)

A fresh adaptation follows teens who uncover a tragic incident that links their parents to a haunting. ‘Goosebumps’ threads multiple classic book concepts into a single ongoing mystery. Relics like masks and cameras unleash specific dangers that echo earlier cases. The investigation ties suburban homes and school events to a larger plan.

‘Marianne’ (2019)

A novelist returns to her hometown when a witch from her books starts appearing in real life. ‘Marianne’ follows childhood friends who reconnect to confront a presence that targets families. The coastal setting provides lighthouses, attics, and empty streets for set pieces. Diaries and manuscripts reveal how stories can invite something in.

‘The Returned’ (2012–2015)

In a mountain community, people who died quietly return as themselves with missing time. ‘Les Revenants’ observes how families and neighbors adapt to the impossible while strange phenomena escalate. Water levels, power outages, and wildlife patterns hint at a wider disturbance. A dam and an old incident connect the town to recurring cycles.

‘Wayward Pines’ (2015–2016)

A federal agent wakes up in a remote town governed by strict rules and surveillance. ‘Wayward Pines’ hides the reason for the isolation behind staged emergencies and a menacing fence. Local authority figures enforce rituals that keep order and maintain a myth. The truth about the outside world reshapes alliances and survival strategies.

‘Hemlock Grove’ (2013–2015)

A murder in a Pennsylvania town exposes rival families tied to biotech experiments and folklore. ‘Hemlock Grove’ tracks a friendship between two teens with secrets in their bloodlines. Investigations reveal shapeshifters, clandestine labs, and a project with global reach. The mill and school serve as hubs for rumors and confrontations.

‘True Detective’ (2014–present)

Each season follows a new case that uncovers conspiracies anchored in specific regions. ‘True Detective’ studies how crimes reflect local history, industry, and belief systems. Detectives navigate civic corruption, missing children, and ritual symbols. Interrogations and timelines interlock to expose buried networks and the cost of obsession.

Tell us which show you would start with and what other eerie small town series belong on this list in the comments.