Be it teenage tropes or socio-political metaphors, the dystopia genre has been interpreted in various ways for new-age shows on streaming platforms like Hulu. It's perhaps the concerningly realistic possibility of a dystopian future that makes such shows all the more interesting.

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Hulu's collection includes modern favorites like The Handmaid's Tale and Fear the Walking Dead along with underrated gems like Future Man and Jeremiah. While most of these titles can be labeled as sci-fi, tropes from related genres like horror, drama, and even comedy are also included.

The Purge (2018-2019): 6.5

The Purge Season 2 poster featuring a person holding a mask

Rather than any viral outbreak or extraterrestrial event, the dystopia in The Purge is brought about by the breakdown of human society as a whole. In the case of America, the country unleashes its savage brutality in an annual event known as "the purge." On this day, civilians are granted all legal permissions to engage in any crime as they please.

Playing around the same concepts as the titular film franchise, The Purge is a hyperviolent and satirical take on the breakdown of political institutions and the ensuing chaos that follows.

Fear The Walking Dead (2015-): 6.9

Fear the Walking Dead Zombie Submarine Dead in the Water

Set before and during the events of The Walking Dead, the spin-off series Fear the Walking Dead is a highly engaging ride of survival thrills and gruesome zombie violence. With six seasons so far, Fear The Walking Dead has managed to come out of the shadow of its parent production and find its own footing.

Apart from the grand scale of it all, the series also boasts of a talented ensemble including the likes of Colman Domingo, Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, among many others.

Jeremiah (2003-2004): 7

Luke Perry looking at Malcolm-Jamal Warner in Jeremiah.

Even though it was discontinued quite abruptly, Jeremiah is an interesting watch for those who are interested in the subgenre of plague-related dystopia. After a deadly virus leads to the demise of all adults, Jeremiah survives and seeks out a safe haven that can ensure survival for all.

But in this journey, he also comes in contact with a clan that plans on rebuilding society according to the "old ways." This raises the moral question of whether a return to development would change the world or just ruin it further like the last time.

The Last Man On Earth (2015-2018): 7.3

Will Forte sitting down and looking at something The Last Man On Earth.

In what seems like twisted irony, The Last Man On Earth touches upon a deadly virus that reshapes the world - just like what occurred in 2020. However, this virus ends up being much deadlier to the point that it leads humanity to total extinction.

Will Forte plays the titular character, a man who feels he's the lone survivor until he encounters a woman, played by Kristen Schaal, who's hellbent on repopulating the world with him. Heartwarming comedy set against a bleak dystopia makes The Last Man On Earth a worthy addition to Forte's filmography, who also serves as the showrunner.

The Strain (2014-2017): 7.3

A vampire crouching on a road in The Strain

Created by horror maestro Guillermo del Toro and novelist Chuck Hogan, The Strain combines old-school horror with dystopian sci-fi. The titular strain refers to a virus that not only causes an outbreak but also traces its origin to vampirism. The result is an all-out war against humans-turned-vampires.

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Stylish execution blends with retro B-movie thrills to create a perfect pick for dedicated genre fans. However, as is the case with del Toro's other works, The Strain also has philosophical musings on the nature of humans as well as beasts.

The Last Ship (2014-2018): 7.5

Eric Dane in The Last Ship

After 80% of the global population has been wiped out by a plague, it's up to the survivors of a US Navy ship to find the cure and survive against all odds. This is the basic gist of The Last Ship, a drama that relies on formulaic elements but features atmospheric tension to still make for a cinematic watch.

For newer audiences, viewing the show in a post-pandemic world would be even more amusing. This is perhaps because of how The Last Ship's claustrophobic approach towards "quarantining" against the virus feels highly believable now.

12 Monkeys (2015-2018): 7.7

12 monkeys tv show poster

Loosely based on Terry Gilliam's film 12 Monkeys, this Syfy original focuses on a wide variety of themes against the backdrop of a plague. These themes include anarchy, biological warfare, human morality, and most importantly, time travel. Such a multi-layered narrative is bound to impress fans of time travel-influenced dystopian fiction.

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The central plot deals with a "scavenger" from the future who travels back in time to stop the destructive plans of The Army of 12 Monkeys, an organization committed to reshaping the world through a deadly contagion.

Future Man (2017-2020): 7.7

Josh Hutcherson holding a gun in Future Man on Hulu

One of Josh Hutcherson's underrated screen credits, Future Man is a Hulu original that features the star as Josh Futturman, a beatdown janitor who plays video games in his spare time. When he ends up finishing an unbeatable video game, the planet is subjected to extraterrestrial forces with Futturman being Earth's only hope.

The series plays out as a satire of past sci-fi media while dissecting its unlikely hero. So, if audiences are looking for a light-headed recommendation within the genre, Future Man can be a great option.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009): 7.7

Screenshot Terminator The Sarah Connor Chronicles Lena Heady

After James Cameron's first two Terminator films, none of the sequels could match their legacy. In the midst of such critically-panned sequels, The Sarah Connor Chronicles triumphs better with its action-filled take on the duo of Sarah Connor (this time played by Lena Headey) and her son John (played by Thomas Dekker).

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Given how the series disregards the events of the third film and directly takes place after Judgment Day, a newer timeline is explored. Both Heady and Dekker shine in their performances while the show delivers some impressive action sequences, setting itself apart from the recent films in the franchise.

The Handmaid's Tale (2016-): 8.4

Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaid's Tale

Inspired by Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, The Handmaid's Tale is set in an authoritarian America where infertility looms large among the elites. This prompts the fascist regime to exploit the remaining child-bearing women and raise them as "handmaids."

Such a storyline definitely leads to a hauntingly bleak dystopia while centering upon one such handmaid's struggle for survival. After a universally-acclaimed first season, the show has had a mixed track record with reviews but Elisabeth Moss's lead performance as Offred has constantly been a high point.

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