8 shows to watch if you liked Hysteria!

Shows like Hysteria!
8 entertaining shows that will appeal to fans of Hysteria! (Image via Peacock/CBS/Apple TV+)

Released in October of last year, Hysteria! received plenty of praise for its thrilling narrative and witty dialogue. Containing eight episodes, the show stars Emjay Anthony, Kezii Curtis, Chiara Aurelia, Bruce Campbell and others. Set in 1989, it follows the lives of three young bandmates who use the town's sudden interest in the occult after the disappearance of a popular quarterback to promote their music.

Hysteria! offers a refreshing take on the very real Satanic panic that gripped the United States in the 1980s. The narrative has many elements that come together nicely as the story progresses with each episode. The well-developed characters act and feel believable which adds to the relatability of the horror-comedy.

Viewers who enjoyed the thrill of Hysteria! should add these equally engrossing titles that boast solid screenplays and compelling characters to their 2025 watchlist.

Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.


Shining Vale, Sweetpea and six other shows like Hysteria! boast plenty of thrills and chills

1) Crazyhead (2016)

This show, like Hysteria!, features young characters who feel relatable (Image via Netflix)
This show, like Hysteria!, features young characters who feel relatable (Image via Netflix)

Dylan, Jordy, and Spud are normal teenagers but their lives are anything but normal after they rebrand themselves as a Satanic metal band in Hysteria!. In Crazyhead, the young characters in the lead also find themselves in dangerous scenarios when they embrace their ability to see "demons" that others can't see.

Cara Theobold plays Amy, who works at a bowling alley. She doesn't like to admit it but she can spot demons hiding in plain sight. However, Amy starts to see herself in a new light after she teams up with the spirited seer and half-demon Raquel Francis, portrayed by Susan Wokoma, who is on a quest to rid the world of menacing demons.

Like Hysteria!, this eight-episode show can merge a terrifying premise with witty humor and satisfying visual effects to create a riveting cinematic experience that draws the viewer in.

Where to watch: Crazyhead can be streamed on Netflix.


2) Stan Against Evil (2016)

Like Happy Hollow in Hysteria!, the town in Stan Against Evil is also plagued with many dangerous threats (Image via IFC)
Like Happy Hollow in Hysteria!, the town in Stan Against Evil is also plagued with many dangerous threats (Image via IFC)

Bruce Campbell's Ben Dandridge in Hysteria! has the tough job of keeping everything under control when the panic starts to spread. Another character who will personally relate to his woes is John C. McGinley's Stanley Miller from Stan Against Evil.

In this comedy horror show containing three seasons and 24 episodes, Stanley is the former sheriff of a New Hampshire town. Since the town was built on top of a massive witch-burning site, it is constantly ravaged by all sorts of dangerous supernatural beings. Stanley has to work together with the new sheriff, Evie Barret, portrayed by Janet Varney, to keep evil from running amok.

Like Hysteria!, Stan Against Evil never gets boring because there is always some new crises that need to be addressed. The creators deserve credit for ensuring that the humor comes through in each episode without making it seem forced or out of place.

Where to watch: Stan Against Evil is available on Prime Video.


3) Ghosts (2021)

This show, like Hysteria!, combines horror with comedy (Image via CBS)
This show, like Hysteria!, combines horror with comedy (Image via CBS)

The residents of Happy Hollow, Michigan, in Hysteria! are forced to stay on alert when rumors of supernatural activity start to circulate. Unfortunately for the protagonists of Ghosts, their problems aren't limited to just rumors. Based on a British show, it stars Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar in the lead.

McIver and Ambudkar play Sam and Jay, a young married couple who inherit a beautiful country house. They plan to turn it into a quality hotel that will attract tourists. However, they are unaware that it is inhabited by the spirits of people from different eras who died on the property. At first, the young couple cannot see or hear the ghosts but Sam can see them after a near-death experience.

Containing four seasons and 59 episodes, Ghosts thrives on its long list of eccentric characters who the audience will endearing and relatable. Like Hysteria!, this show boasts cleverly written lines that leave a lasting impression.

Where to watch: Ghosts is available for streaming on Paramount+, Plex and Prime Video.


4) Shining Vale (2022)

Courteney Cox plays the lead in this dark thriller (Image via Warner Bros)
Courteney Cox plays the lead in this dark thriller (Image via Warner Bros)

The suspenseful narrative of Hysteria! keeps the audience guessing about the real reason behind the murders and kidnappings. Shining Vale, containing two seasons and 16 episodes, also holds the viewer's attention with its mystery-laced plotline.

Friends star Courteney Cox plays Patricia Phelps, also known as Pat. She became famous after writing bold, steamy novels. When her affair comes to light, her family moves to a small town to start anew. Strange things occur as Pat gets settled in the new house and she becomes convinced that she is either depressed or possessed.

Like Hysteria!, there is a lot happening in Shining Vale and sometimes the narrative does play with the believability aspect but it still showcases a clever plot that is complemented by well-written lines and riveting performances.

Where to watch: Episodes of Shining Vale are available on Prime Video.


5) Based on a True Story (2023)

This show captures America's obsession with true crime (Image via Peacock)
This show captures America's obsession with true crime (Image via Peacock)

The teenagers in Hysteria!, Dylan, Jordy, and Spud, aren't evil by nature but they are still motivated to exploit a tragedy for their personal gain. The same is the case for the protagonists of Based on a True Story containing two seasons and 16 episodes.

Kaley Cuoco, who became a household name after appearing in The Big Bang Theory, plays Ava Bartlett, a real estate agent who is pregnant. She is a true crime fan and when she comes across an opportunity to catch a killer, she and her husband, Nathan (Chris Messina) decide to monetize on it instead of telling the police.

Based on a True Story, like Hysteria!, is the perfect binge-watch for viewers who enjoy witty plotlines and entertaining twists. Viewers should particularly keep an eye out for the funny banter between Cuoco and Messina which is sure to make them laugh.

Where to watch: Based on a True Story can be streamed on Peacock and Prime Video.


6) Goosebumps (2023)

Bookworms shouldn't miss out on this engaging adaptation (Image via Disney+)
Bookworms shouldn't miss out on this engaging adaptation (Image via Disney+)

Dylan, Jordy, and Spud didn't think of the grave repercussions before projecting themselves as a Satanic metal band in Hysteria!. Similarly, the aftermath of the impulsive actions of five high school students in Goosebumps puts the people of their town in danger.

Containing two seasons and 18 episodes, the show stars Justin Long, Zack Morris, Isa Briones, Miles McKenna and others. When the young students set out to investigate the tragic passing of a teen named Harold Biddle, they unleash dangerous supernatural forces and learn about the secrets that their parents have been harboring.

Based on R. L. Stine's famous book series, the show's biggest strength is the way it took inspiration from the author's work but made the narrative refreshingly different so that viewers don't exactly know what to expect. Many viewers also praised Justin Long's compelling performance which helped elevate the storytelling.

Where to watch: Goosebumps is available on Disney+ and Plex.


7) Where's Wanda (2024)

Where's Wanda is interesting and humorous (Image via Apple TV+)
Where's Wanda is interesting and humorous (Image via Apple TV+)

Where's Wanda, like Hysteria!, captures the series of events that follow the disappearance of a teenager. This German-language show, containing eight episodes, focuses on Wanda Klatt, portrayed by Lea Drinda. Spirited and full of life, Wanda goes missing from the fictional town of Sundersheim on the day of the town's annual festival centered around a local monster.

Wanda's parents, Carlotta and Dedo, portrayed by Heike Makatsch and Axel Stein then start spying on the residents of the town to get to the bottom of the truth. They learn that the townspeople are hiding different secrets, many of which don't have anything to do with Wanda's disappearance.

The main highlight of the show has to be Carlotta and Dedo who are completely out of depth but still strive with determination to find their missing daughter. Funny and entertaining, Where's Wanda, is the kind of show that viewers can easily binge-watch, just like Hysteria!

Where to watch: Where's Wanda is available for streaming on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.


8) Sweetpea (2024)

This edgy thriller will keep viewers on the edge of their seats (Image via Sky Atlantic)
This edgy thriller will keep viewers on the edge of their seats (Image via Sky Atlantic)

It is easy to become immersed in Hysteria! because the narrative makes a habit of taking unprecedented deviations that stand out. The same is the case for Sweetpea containing six episodes.

Ella Purnell stars in the lead as Rhiannon Lewis, a soft-spoken administrative assistant who doesn't really speak out. Others often bully and exploit her. In fact, her boss calls her "Sweetpea". But when she is pushed to the brink, she starts to lose control and embraces a whole new side of herself.

Like Hysteria!, Sweetpea builds on an interesting premise that is quirky and memorable. Purnell really shines as Rhiannon. Even though she is clearly an antagonist, her vulnerabilities and convincing backstory endear her to the audience on some level, making her a compelling protagonist.

Where to watch: Sweetpea can be streamed on Prime Video.


These imaginative shows will appeal to fans of Hysteria! because they boast suspenseful plots elevated by a dash of witty humor.

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Edited by Meeta Borah
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