SummaryBased on the legendary and gruesome 1950's EC Comics from publisher, William M. Gaines, this horror anthology featured stories of murder, greed, lust, gore and the supernatural, with touches of humor sprinkled throughout, usually with a twist ending of sorts. Some of Hollywood's biggest names including Demi Moore, Tom Hanks, Arnold Schwarzenegger... Read More
Tales from the Crypt
7 Seasons
Season 1 Premiere:
Jun 10, 1989
Metascore
Mixed or Average
56
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
My Score
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
56
33% Positive
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
56% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
11% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Jun 9, 2015
90
Tales From the Crypt scared the living bejesus out of me...We are talking major league fright time here, folks. [9 June 1989, p.5]
Jun 25, 2013
83
It's the gleeful goriness that sets the series apart. This is a show with plenty of guts.
Jun 9, 2015
50
Are they scary? Not generally. The stories exist only to make bad things happen to bad people. You can see the "twist" endings coming a mile away, but the fun is in the ghoulish glee taken in the telling. [9 June 1989, p.3D]
Jun 9, 2015
50
Certainly, these pioneering jaunts have a stylishness and sophistication lacking in most mainstream televison shows. But at this point, for all their nifty good looks, they just aren't special or scary enough. [9 June 1989, p.C-1]
Jun 9, 2015
50
Much as horror fans might revere HBO for spending good dough and hiring top-rank directors and crew members for the series, the initial results are mixed.
Jun 9, 2015
40
The first Tales from the Crypt is a good idea gone - well, not bad, really, but a bit bland, dull. For all the "horror," there's not a lot of real tension. The rules of the genre are clear and the characters are pretty much cardboard cutouts. Granted, that's the comics' traditional material - but the real comics also had more of an edge, more maniacal glee. [10 June 1989, p.15]
Jun 9, 2015
30
There is no specific credit for "bad taste," but there's plenty for everyone to share -- just as Donner, Hill, Zemeckis and others listed as executive producers will eventually share in the profits...Blood money, if you ask me. [10 June 1989, p.C1]
User score
Generally Favorable
8.0
84% Positive
32 Ratings
32 Ratings
16% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Jun 21, 2025
10
They just don’t make shows like this anymore. TFTC wasn’t afraid to go there. Great actors in every episode. Always a twist at the end. Just the right amount of horror. Always exciting. I’ve seen very few episodes I didn’t love. To name a few favorite episodes I recommend:
Dead Right. Split personality. Lover come back to me. And all through the house.
Production Company:
- Home Box Office (HBO)
- Tales From The Crypt Holdings
Initial Release Date:Jun 10, 1989
Number of seasons:7 Seasons
Rating:TV-MA
Awards
CableACE Awards
• 7 Wins & 33 Nominations
Motion Picture Sound Editors, USA
• 6 Wins & 7 Nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 7 Nominations
