The Twilight Zone backdrop
Sci-Fi & Fantasy•Mystery•Drama

The Worst Episodes of The Twilight Zone

Every episode of The Twilight Zone ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Twilight Zone!

Binge this in 3d 3h•Peaking at 9.1/10

An anthology series containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.

Airs on
CBS
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons5

All12345

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    The Twilight Zone Season 4 Episode 18 - The Bard
    5.6/10(1938 votes)

    S4:E18

    An untalented would-be writer's career takes off when the ghost of William Shakespeare writes his script.

    Director:David Butler
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 27 - Sounds and Silences
    5.6/10(1988 votes)

    S5:E27

    A man's wish to listen to loud noise backfires.

    Director:Richard Donner
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 36 - Cavender is Coming
    5.9/10(2628 votes)

    S3:E36

    Cavender, an angel trying to win his wings, tries to help down-on-her-luck Agnes, who has just been fired.

    Director:Christian Nyby
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. The Twilight Zone Season 1 Episode 35 - The Mighty Casey
    6.1/10(3639 votes)

    S1:E35

    A baseball manager takes his team to the championships thanks to a robot pitcher.

    Directors:Robert Parrish, Alvin Ganzer
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. The Twilight Zone Season 4 Episode 15 - The Incredible World of Horace Ford
    6.1/10(1985 votes)

    S4:E15

    Toy designer Horace Ford spends most of his time reminiscing about his idyllic childhood. But when he gets a chance to go back to those years he gets a bitter taste of reality.

    Director:Abner Biberman
    Writer:Reginald Rose

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 20 - Showdown with Rance McGrew
    6.2/10(2628 votes)

    S3:E20

    The star of a Western TV series suddenly finds himself transported back in time to the real Wild West, and face-to-face with the real Jesse James.

    Director:Christian Nyby
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of The Twilight Zone

    READ
  7. The Twilight Zone Season 4 Episode 12 - I Dream of Genie
    6.2/10(1936 votes)

    S4:E12

    A man considers several possibilities when offered one wish by a genie.

    Director:Robert Gist
    Writers:John Furia, Jr.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 34 - Come Wander with Me
    6.2/10(2178 votes)

    S5:E34

    A singer searches for an authentic folk song.

    Director:Richard Donner
    Writer:Anthony Wilson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 5 - The Last Night of a Jockey
    6.3/10(2221 votes)

    S5:E5

    Barred from the track for life, crooked jockey Grady boozily expresses the wish to escape his sordid surroundings and become a truly "big man." His wish is granted by his lookalike alter ego, but there's a heavy price to be paid at fadeout time.

    Director:Joseph M. Newman
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 20 - From Agnes – With Love
    6.3/10(2202 votes)

    S5:E20

    A computer technician must deal with the queen of all femme fatales: a computer named Agnes who wreaks havoc on his love life.

    Director:Richard Donner
    Writer:Bernard C. Schoenfeld

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. The Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 4 - A Thing About Machines
    6.4/10(3372 votes)

    S2:E4

    A writer feels that the machines in his house are conspiring against him.

    Director:David Orrick McDearmon
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. The Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 14 - The Whole Truth
    6.4/10(3078 votes)

    S2:E14

    A peculiar Model A automobile compels a used car dealer to tell only the truth.

    Director:James Sheldon
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. The Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 27 - The Mind and the Matter
    6.4/10(2839 votes)

    S2:E27

    A book on the power of thought enables an irritable worker to re-create the world exactly as he wants it. But what he wants and what he gets are two different things!

    Director:Buzz Kulik
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 29 - Four O'Clock
    6.4/10(2597 votes)

    S3:E29

    Oliver Crangle is a bitter, prejudiced man. Through unknown means he intends to shrink every evil person in the world at four o'clock.

    Director:Lamont Johnson
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 34 - Young Man's Fancy
    6.4/10(2371 votes)

    S3:E34

    When a newlywed couple briefly return to the groom's childhood home, the ties of the past prove too strong to resist.

    Director:John Brahm
    Writer:Richard Matheson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 18 - Black Leather Jackets
    6.4/10(2351 votes)

    S5:E18

    Three tough-looking men on motorcycles disrupt a peaceful suburb when they move in. Yet the neighbors could never imagine just how dangerous these men really are.

    Director:Joseph M. Newman
    Writers:Earl Hamner, Jr.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. The Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 1 - King Nine Will Not Return
    6.5/10(3612 votes)

    S2:E1

    A WWII captain finds himself in the desert, next to his crashed plane, and desperately tries to find out what happened to the rest of his crew.

    Director:Buzz Kulik
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. The Twilight Zone Season 2 Episode 19 - Mr. Dingle, the Strong
    6.5/10(3226 votes)

    S2:E19

    Martians give Luther Dingle the strength of 300 men.

    Director:John Brahm
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 6 - The Mirror
    6.5/10(2946 votes)

    S3:E6

    After a poor but ambitious Central American farm worker overthrows his country's tyrannical leader, he believes he sees assassins everywhere. A look in the mirror reveals his most dangerous enemy.

    Director:Don Medford
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. The Twilight Zone Season 3 Episode 11 - Still Valley
    6.5/10(2645 votes)

    S3:E11

    Confederacy scout Sgt. Joseph Paradine finds a town full of Union soldiers, and an old man who claims he used witchcraft to paralyze them.

    Director:James Sheldon
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. The Twilight Zone Season 4 Episode 5 - Mute
    6.5/10(2123 votes)

    S4:E5

    A 12-year-old girl who lost her parents in a fire doesn't speak because she has grown up in a secret telepathic community. The couple who take her in, and her teacher, are determined to help her adapt to their society, no matter the cost.

    Director:Stuart Rosenberg
    Writer:Richard Matheson

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 28 - Caesar and Me
    6.5/10(2183 votes)

    S5:E28

    A ventriloquist's dummy goads him into committing burglaries.

    Director:Robert Butler
    Writer:Adele T. Strassfield

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. The Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 36 - The Bewitchin' Pool
    6.5/10(2735 votes)

    S5:E36

    Two unhappy children find a happy escape in a swimming pool.

    Director:Joseph M. Newman
    Writers:Earl Hamner, Jr.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. The Twilight Zone Season 1 Episode 17 - The Fever
    6.6/10(4639 votes)

    S1:E17

    Tight fisted Franklin Gibbs is not pleased when his wife wins a trip for two to Las Vegas. But things change when he falls under the spell of a slot machine that calls his name.

    Director:Robert Florey
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. The Twilight Zone Season 1 Episode 27 - The Big Tall Wish
    6.6/10(3946 votes)

    S1:E27

    Washed-up boxer Bolie Jackson, with the help of a special wish from his young friend Henry, miraculously switches places with his opponent during a comeback fight, turning the tide in his favor.

    Director:Ron Winston
    Writer:Rod Serling

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"The Bard" is the worst rated episode of "The Twilight Zone". It scored 5.6/10 based on 1938 votes. Directed by David Butler and written by Rod Serling, it aired on 5/23/1963. This episode scored 0.0 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Sounds and Silences".