Top 10 Mystery Box TV Shows Ranked: From Lost to Westworld

Though the long-term legacy and lasting influence of Yellowjackets hasn’t been determined yet, as the series is still airing, the show has been enormously popular since its premiere in 2021. Instantly drawing comparisons to projects like Lost, Yellowjackets follows a group of teen girls stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash, bouncing between this timeline and their lives as adults.

Though Yellowjackets could’ve easily crumbled after season 1, as its premise is difficult to maintain for additional seasons, the dual timelines and stellar performances take things to the next level. Additionally, Yellowjackets has managed to keep the mystery of the series’ supernatural elements alive while digging into the emotional journeys of its characters, as the effects of surviving the wild have lasting consequences.

Fringe (2008–2013)

One of the best supernatural crime TV shows of all time, Fringe begins as a mysterious procedural, leaning into its episodic plotlines, but it quickly sheds this formula in favor of something even more interesting. Relying on the chemistry of the central cast, Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, John Noble, and Lance Reddick, Fringe had strong characters to anchor its otherworldly elements.

As the series progressed, Fringe revealed that it had an overarching plan and strong lore to fall back on, introducing parallel universes, emotional twists, and even taking a big swing with a time jump in the later seasons. While a lesser series would’ve struggled to carry the weight of all these elements, they seamlessly fit into the fabric of Fringe, making it hold up well today.

From (2022–Present)

Led by Harold Perrineau as Boyd Stevens, the man charged with keeping the peace in a town that no one can leave, From immediately gets under the audience’s skin with its questions and mysteries. Though every episode of From deepens the confusion and intrigue at the heart of the story, it’s paced perfectly, never overwhelming the audience with too much information.

It’s impossible to say where From will go next, as the series will be releasing its fourth season sometime in 2026 (via Forbes). Like any good mystery box TV show, From knows that just one angle of the mystery isn’t enough, and that how the characters react to their circumstances is just as compelling as whatever’s lurking in the dark.

The OA (2016–2019)

Co-created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, The OA season 1 was compelling enough to garner praise from audiences and critics alike, but it was in season 2 that the series found its footing, cementing itself as an iconic addition to the genre. It’s clear from the second installment that The OA had a clear plan for where the series was going and how Prairie’s destiny would unfold onscreen.

The OA deserves to return after Netflix canceled the sci-fi series, as few shows have so effectively balanced their meta elements with the accessible character-driven stories. Though some of the big narrative turns in The OA season 2 are surprising, the show makes it easy to suspend your disbelief, as few of the characters understand what’s going on better than the audience does.

Severance (2022–Present)

Apple TV+ has been making a name for itself within the sci-fi genre thanks to iconic works like Severance, Foundation, and Silo, but Severance might be the project with the most mass appeal. A high-concept series that instantly sparks the imagination of the viewer, Severance leans into the surrealist elements of its premise to great effect.

Starring Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, and Tramell Tillman, to name just a few of the many familiar and talented faces in Severance, the series is brilliantly acted. Waiting for Severance season 2 was agony, but the show didn’t disappoint, raising the stakes and somehow surprising the viewer even more than in season 1.

Dark (2017–2020)

The German thriller series Dark told a multi-generational and unforgettable story in just three seasons, and is still an underrated TV show that audiences can watch on Netflix. As dedicated to crafting a gorgeous and terrifying look and atmosphere as it was to writing a story that had to be seen to be believed, Dark had a vivid sense of self and identity from the beginning.

It’s a slower-paced, more deliberate story that audiences have to stick with for the payoff to be satisfying. However, once you’re immersed in the world of Dark, it isn’t difficult to see why so many people have sung the series’ praises. Grappling with generational trauma and the secrets that plague the small town where Dark is set, the show isn’t afraid to live up to its name.

Twin Peaks (1990–1991)

In many ways, David Lynch and Mark Frost’s seminal mystery box TV show, Twin Peaks, reinvented the genre and ushered in a new age of television. If this sounds like high praise, it’s because the series deserves it. Twin Peaks is a better thriller than most movies, and even its troubled second season can’t lessen the overall impact of the show, which has inspired countless projects in the years that followed.

Kyle MacLachlan leads the cast as FBI Agent Dale Cooper, who arrives in the seemingly idyllic town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of Laura Palmer, which has unearthed the dark side of the community. Like most of Lynch’s projects, Twin Peaks is interested in the inherent dichotomy of light and darkness in life, and this comes through in the surreal and mysterious story of the show.

The Leftovers (2014–2017)

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Though The Leftovers is often compared to Lost, HBO’s original mystery box TV show is even more interrogative about the nature of humanity and our struggles with faith. Beginning with the disappearance of two percent of the population, The Leftovers never prioritizes explaining how and why this happened, as it’s more important to focus on how the characters piece themselves back together in the aftermath.

Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon anchor the cast, giving some of the best performances seen on TV as Kevin and Nora. Just three seasons long, The Leftovers didn’t need additional installments to communicate the timeless messages and themes of the never-ending search for meaning in the face of the unknown, and the grief that accompanies this.

Lost (2004–2010)

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Lost still holds up as the best mystery box TV show of all time. Blending elements of sci-fi and fantasy into the fabric of the story, Lost made a name for itself by writing plot twists that no one could see coming. Learning about the characters’ pasts while trying to piece together the present was a puzzle everyone wanted to solve.

Lost‘s perfect pilot episode and brilliantly crafted first season set the tone for the remainder of the series, propelling it even as Lost delved into more fantastical territory in the later years. It was a breathtakingly ambitious show that likely wouldn’t have been made today, making it a piece of television history that will always stand the test of time.