Tales from the Crypt, sometimes titled HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is an American horror anthology television series created by William Gaines and Steven Dodd that ran for seven seasons on the premium cable channel HBO, from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996, with a total of 93 episodes. The show's title is based on the 1950s EC Comics series of the same name, published by William Gaines and edited by Al Feldstein. Despite the show's title, episodes were not only adapted from stories from Tales from the Crypt, but also other EC Comic series including The Haunt of Fear, The Vault of Horror, Crime SuspenStories, Shock SuspenStories, and Two-Fisted Tales.

The series is hosted by the Cryptkeeper, a wisecracking corpse performed by several puppeteers and voiced by John Kassir. Filmmakers Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, and Robert Zemeckis formed the show's team of executive producers.

Because it was aired on HBO, a premium cable television channel, Tales from the Crypt did not have to be censored by the standards and practices of most networks. As a result, HBO allowed the series to include content that had not appeared in most television series up to that time, such as graphic violence, strong language and explicit sex/nudity. Reruns of the series were edited for basic cable, broadcast syndication, and when the broadcast networks Fox and CBS re-aired episodes in the late 1990s. While the series began production in the United States, the final season was primarily filmed in the United Kingdom, resulting in episodes revolving around British characters.

Format

Each episode begins with a tracking shot leading across the grounds of a decrepit mansion during a thunderstorm at night. Once inside the front entrance, the camera pans across the foyer and main stairway before moving into an adjoining room, where a secret door opens in a wall. The camera descends a winding flight of stairs and advances through another door into the artifact-filled basement, stopping on a coffin from which the Cryptkeeper, the show's host, emerges with a wild cackle. Green slime pours down over the screen as the main title appears. The Cryptkeeper is depicted as an animated corpse, rather than a living human as in the comics.

The wisecracking Cryptkeeper, performed by a team of puppeteers such as Van Snowden, Mike Elizalde, Frank Charles Lutkus, Patty Maloney, David Arthur Nelson, Anton Rupprecht, Shaun Smith, David Stinnent, Mike Trcic, and Brock Winkless, and voiced by John Kassir, then introduced the episode with intentionally stereotyped jokes and mostly puns, e.g., his frequent greeting to viewers: "Hello, Boils and Ghouls" or "Hello, Kiddies". Each episode was self-contained, and was bookended by an outro sequence, again involving the Cryptkeeper. Comic book cover art was created by Mike Vosburg and Shawn McManus.

Spin-offs The success of the series led Universal Pictures to make a three picture deal with the Crypt Partners to produce three Crypt-branded feature films.

Films The first Crypt-branded feature was Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (1995). Directed by Ernest Dickerson from a screenplay by Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Vorhis, and Mark Bishop, it became a commercial success. Three weeks before starting prep on an intended Demon Knight follow-up—a psychological thriller called Dead Easy—Universal changed its mind, canceled Dead Easy and had the creative team make Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood instead.

The film Ritual (2002) was not produced as a Tales from the Crypt film, but is considered to be a third entry in the Tales series.

Tales from the Cryptkeeper

In 1993, a Saturday morning cartoon called Tales from the Cryptkeeper was spun off from the HBO series. Produced by the Canada-based Nelvana for ABC in the United States and YTV in Canada, the violence of the prime-time series was substantially toned down and the gore was omitted. Nelvana employed a child psychologist to review the scripts to ensure the episodes would be suitable for young viewers. The Cryptkeeper puppet was considered as the host for the series, but it was ultimately decided that it might frighten youngsters, so instead an animated version was created. John Kassir reprised his role.

Kassir later stated "Nelvana created a kinder, gentler personality for the children's Cryptkeeper, and it feels a little uncharacteristic at times". In addition to the Cryptkeeper, EC Comics' mascots The Vaultkeeper and The Old Witch made frequent appearances, often fighting with the Cryptkeeper for control of the show's hosting duties. The series lasted three seasons on ABC with 39 episodes. The third season was on CBS in 1999, with 13 episodes, under the title New Tales from the Cryptkeeper.

Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House

A kids' game show called Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House was featured on CBS from 1996 to 1997. The Cryptkeeper, again voiced by John Kassir, was the announcer of the show. He would often break into the action with wisecracks, and contestants competed in physical challenges on a variety of elaborate haunted house sets at Universal Studios Florida. In addition to The Cryptkeeper, the series showed off an original character named Digger the Skeleton, voiced by Danny Mann.

Radio series

In 2000, several Tales from the Crypt "radio shows" were recorded for Seeing Ear Theatre, an online subsidiary of The Sci-Fi Channel, and were offered free as streaming RealAudio files on their website, as well as for sale on Audible.com. Although 13 episodes were planned, with forthcoming episodes listed as "TBA", only eight stories were recorded. Seven of the eight shows were released on CD in 2002 by Highbridge Audio. "This Trick'll Kill You" was omitted from the CD set.

Two-Fisted Tales In 1991, the Fox television network aired a pilot for Two-Fisted Tales, a spin-off based on the 1950s EC action comics. When Fox passed on the pilot, Cryptkeeper segments were put down onto the three stories, "Yellow", "Showdown", and "King of the Road", and HBO ran them as Tales from the Crypt episodes.

Perversions of Science

After the original series ended, a spin-off called Perversions of Science premiered in June 1997 on HBO, this time being based more on sci-fi instead of horror. The series was unsuccessful and lasted for a short run, ending only a month after it had begun airing. This iteration of the franchise featured a stylized female robot host in place of The Cryptkeeper.

2026 AMC FearFest To celebrate the 30th anniversary of AMC's annual "FearFest" horror programming event in 2026, the network is bringing back the Crypt Keeper to serve as the official host for the event. The puppet was freshly redesigned for modern audiences by special makeup effects creator Greg Nicotero; original voice actor John Kassir will return to provide the Crypt Keeper's voice.

Notable guest stars A variety of notable guests have starred in episodes of Tales from the Crypt. These include Academy Awards-winning actors, A-list celebrities and highly recognizable character actors.

Some of the most famous people to have starred in episodes are listed below:

Albums Soundtrack In 1991, Big Screen Records released a soundtrack album featuring assorted music from the series. The album includes the theme music, suites from 11 episodes and an original song titled "Crypt Jam" performed by The Cryptkeeper, John Kassir. A music video for "Crypt Jam" was filmed and is available as an extra on the Region 1 Season 3 DVD.

Track Title Composer Length01Tales from the Crypt (Main Title)Danny Elfman2:2702Three's a CrowdJan Hammer3:5003Cutting CardsJames Horner3:4504Loved to DeathJimmy Webb3:1905Dead WaitDavid Mansfield4:0406Undertaking PalorNicholas Pike3:1007Carrion DeathBruce Broughton3:3208Ventriloquist's DummyMiles Goodman3:3209The Thing from the GraveDavid Newman2:5310The Man Who Was DeathRy Cooder4:2211Reluctant VampireCliff Eidelman3:5012DeadlineSteve Bartek3:3213The Crypt JamChuckii Booker4:30

Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas In 1994, a Christmas album, Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas, was released by The Right Stuff, a subsidiary of Capitol Records. Most of the songs are spoofs of holiday standards performed by The Cryptkeeper, such as "Juggle Bills" (Jingle Bells), "We Wish You'd Bury the Missus" (We Wish You a Merry Christmas) and "Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie" (Deck the Halls), with narration and a few original songs mixed in. The CD booklet includes a black and white reprint of the comic "And All Through the House".

Track Title Length01Intro to Album0:5102Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie1:5503Juggle Bills3:1704We Wish You'd Bury the Missus2:2005Moe Teitlebaum2:3206A Christmas Card for the Cryptkeeper0:5107Christmas Rap3:2208Intro to Cryptkeeper's Family Christmas0:3209Cryptkeeper's Family Christmas2:0310'Twas the Fright Before Christmas3:5511Twelve Days of Cryptmas3:4212Intro to Revenge of the Cryptkeeper0:2413Revenge of the Cryptkeeper2:1814Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas2:2115Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot3:38

Monsters of Metal In 2000, Capitol Records released another album titled Tales from the Crypt: Monsters of Metal. This album is a compilation of horror-themed songs from popular heavy metal bands with wraparound narration by the Cryptkeeper (John Kassir).

Track Title Artist Length01The Cryptkeeper Intro #1John Kassir0:3002Heaven and HellBlack Sabbath6:5403Creepy FeelingsArmored Saint5:2104Five MagicsMegadeth5:4105The Cryptkeeper Intro #2John Kassir0:1406Cemetery Gates (Demon Knight)Pantera5:4707Eyes of a StrangerQueensrÿche4:4008HallucinatingApartment 263:4009The Cryptkeeper Intro #3John Kassir0:3510Dead InsideArch Enemy4:1111Beyond the Realms of DeathJudas Priest6:5312Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your NeckProng4:1213The Cryptkeeper Intro #4John Kassir0:1614Don't Talk to StrangersDio4:5215Bordello of BloodAnthrax4:1216The Bell WitchMercyful Fate4:3417The Cryptkeeper Intro #5John Kassir0:2118Wolverine BluesEntombed2:1019Hollow GroundThe Haunted4:1020Beyond the BlackMetal Church6:2221The Cryptkeeper EndingJohn Kassir0:46

Home media Warner Home Video has released all seven seasons on DVD Region 1. The DVDs for the first three seasons feature all-new Cryptkeeper introductions and segments. No new segments were filmed for seasons 4–7. In June 2017, all seven seasons were reissued in a box set entitled Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Series. A Region 2 version of the whole series was released by '84 Entertainment in June 2010.

Until mid-2020, the series was available through the streaming platform Vudu. Season Episodes Discs Release date Extras 1 6 2 July 12, 2005 All New Introduction by the Cryptkeeper Tales from the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television Cryptkeeper's History of Season One 2 18 3 October 25, 2005 Behind-the-Screams Shockumentary Feature Fright and Sound: Bringing the Crypt Experience to Radio 3 14 3 March 21, 2006 A Tall Tales Panel A Tales from the Crypt Reunion: A Panel Discussion Crypt Jam Music Video 4 14 3 July 25, 2006 Commentary on 'What's Cookin Stars of Season 4 Montage Hosted by the Cryptkeeper 5 13 3 October 31, 2006 Death of Some Salesmen: Virtual Comic Book 6 15 3 July 24, 2007 Whirlpool: Virtual Comic Book 7 13 3 October 23, 2007 Fatal Caper: Virtual Comic BookComplete series box set 93 20 June 6, 2017

Reruns Reruns aired on Fox from 1994 to 1995 under the name Primetime Tales from the Crypt; episodes also aired in 1994 in a late-night time slot. It aired late night on CBS in 1997–1998. It also aired on other channels, such as Syfy, Chiller, and Fearnet.

In the United Kingdom, the series aired Fridays on ITV. Sky1 Satellite and cable channel Horror Channel, then Zone Horror, aired the series in both late night and daytime slots. The daytime versions were billed as "cut". However, they remained uncut.