Horror Series Fight for Emmy Recognition in 2026

Variety’s latest feature urges Emmy voters to examine four horror programs that have received limited awards attention: Katie Dippold’s comedy-horror “Widows Bay,” John Griffin’s MGM+ drama “From,” the Shudder anthology “Creep Tapes,” and the series “It.” The article frames these series as deserving of greater Emmy attention. The piece argues that expanding Emmy recognition to these horror series could address the genre’s historical marginalization and signal a broader acceptance of genre storytelling within the awards landscape. The article positions the four series as exemplars of the genre’s creative potential.

Variety Magazine

Horror has sporadically earned Emmy nominations, with recent successes such as “The Last of Us,” “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” and “American Horror Story.” Nonetheless, medical dramas, comedies, and other mainstream formats frequently dominate nomination lists, limiting genre representation.

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• Widows Bay – Created by Katie Dippold; blends supernatural elements with comedy. Leads include Matthew Rhys and breakout performer Kate O’Flynn.

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• From – Developed by John Griffin for MGM+; follows a New England town trapped in a mysterious reality. Harold Perrineau appears as Boyd Stevens throughout its four-season run.

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• Creep Tapes – Co-created and directed by Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice; expands the “Creep” film franchise on Shudder. Duplass stars as the titular serial killer; supporting roles feature David Dastmalchian, Robert Longstreet, and Taylor Garron.

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• It – Starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise; set in 1962 and noted for period-accurate production design, makeup, and sound.

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• “From” – four seasons on MGM+.

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• “Creep Tapes” – second season, continuation of the original “Creep” films.

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• “It” – single-season series.

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• “Widows Bay” – newly launched comedy-horror hybrid.

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The article contends that greater Emmy visibility for horror could shift the awards’ perception of the genre, moving it from a peripheral category toward mainstream prestige.

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Industry commentary notes that medical dramas, humanist comedies, and other “populist” formats regularly outpace horror in nomination counts, creating a persistent bias that hinders broader genre inclusion.

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• “From a blockbuster prequel to a buzzy comedy mashup to two deeper cuts that could use more of an audience, here are four horror shows Emmy voters should screen this season.” — Variety article, Variety

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• “The series’ look is stylish, thanks to a roster of inventive directors who know both surrealism and horror, including ‘Atlanta’ alum Hiro Murai, Tim Robinson collaborator Andrew DeYoung and ‘Pearl’ helmer Ti West.” — Variety article, Variety

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• “Bill Skarsgård is doing some career-best work as this monster shaking things up in the town of Derry.” — Variety article, Variety

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• “Although much of ‘It’ is fantastical, it’s a world that feels warm, nostalgic and lived-in beneath the terror, making it more than worthy of industry kudos.” — Variety article, Variety

Variety Magazine