“Tales from the Crypt,” occasionally referred to as “HBO’s Tales from the Crypt,” is an American horror anthology TV series that aired from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996, on HBO, a premium cable network. Spanning seven seasons and comprising 93 episodes, the series draws its name and much of its content from the 1950s EC Comics series and four other EC Comics from that era. Produced by HBO, with uncredited contributions from The Geffen Film Company and Warner Bros. Television, the show should not be mistaken for the 1972 film of the same name or “Tales from the Darkside,” another horror anthology series with a similar theme.

Due to its broadcast on HBO, a premium cable channel, the series enjoyed a rare level of creative freedom, free from the usual network censorship. This allowed it to feature graphic violence and other elements uncommon in television at the time, such as strong language, gore, nudity, and sexual content, which would likely earn it a TV-MA rating by today’s standards. When aired in syndication or on basic cable, the series is edited to remove such content. Although initially produced in the United States, the final season was filmed in Britain, leading to episodes centered around British characters.