“This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone.” Not many TV shows have an opening narration that has become part of pop culture, but then anything can happen in the middle ground between light and shadow. The first incarnation of the anthology show may have aired on CBS between 1959 and 1964, but The Twilight Zone went on to become an influential multimedia phenomenon.
That zone has grown to include several television revivals, theme park rides, a movie adaptation, and an impressive amount of merch ready to find its way into fans’ stockings this year.
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The Twilight Zone wasn’t the first television anthology show, but it’s become the format's catchword. Created and narrated by Rod Serling, its mind-expanding blend of genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and thriller, introduced viewers to unforgettable short stories packed with unexpected twists and chilling morals.
Serling’s show introduced audiences to many ideas that television and movies now take for granted. Without its success, there might not be any Black Mirror, Love, Death, and Robots, or even the anthology resets in shows like American Horror Story. Naturally, a show this influential has inspired a diverse set of collectibles, balancing that fine between science and superstition.
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The Twilight Zone Opening Narration Quote Tee
Rod Serling’s narration may be the most famous part of the show. This tee isn't as vast as space and as timeless as infinity, but it is available in men's and women’s cuts, multiple sizes, and five colors. It is the perfect way for fans to show their love of the influential show.
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The Twilight Zone Mystic Seer Replica Prop
An incredible gift, limited to 300 pieces, each signed by William Shatner, who starred in two early-1960s episodes of the anthology show before he stepped aboard the Starship Enterprise. It’s a life-size prop of the Mystic Seer, recognizable from the 1960 episode Nick of Time, with a working coin mechanism and dispenser for printed fortune cards. The nearly 12-inch Seer comes with a Busy Bee Cafe menu cover and glow-in-the-dark pins. Perfect for fans confident enough to have their fortunes told on the outskirts of the Twilight Zone.
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The Twilight Zone Nightmare at 20,000 Feet Gremlin with Diorama
If you rule out William Shatner’s frantic glances from an airplane window, this must be the most memorable image from the classic episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet. This 3 ¾ inch articulated model of the gremlin Shatner sees attached to the wing of his plane comes with a diorama and enamel eyeball pin. A surefire way to head straight to the “darkest corner of the Twilight Zone."
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Everything I Need to Know I Learned in the Twilight Zone: A Fifth-Dimension Guide to Life
$15 $18 Save $3Fans may be surprised how much The Twilight Zone has taught them. This book is a tribute and light-hearted look at the show, drawing out the famous morality tales from the anthology series through entertaining essays that show what Rod Serling’s invention has done for us. The latest edition has been expanded to include the 2019 Jordan Peele-narrated update.
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The Twilight Zone The Masks Graphic Tee
This is a wearable celebration of the dark 145th episode of the original series, The Masks. The printed tee will take fans straight back to a Mardi Gras night in New Orleans, where Jason Foster uses masks to reveal the true personalities of his family on his final day on Earth. Comfortable for whoever’s wearing it, but not so much for anyone who sees it — perfect!
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The Twilight Zone: Classic Christmas Episodes DVD
$8 $10 Save $2Even if a fan owns every episode of the classic series (and reboots), this collection of The Twilight Zone’s festive episodes is the perfect seasonal companion. Putting a typical Twilight spin on Christmas, fans can enjoy the tale of a department Santa who learns more than he expected about gifting and the surreal story Five Characters in Search of an Exit. Discover the secret behind that mysterious ringing bell with this fantastic festive viewing.
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The Twilight Zone Companion - Second Edition
What fan wouldn’t like 466 pages of the Fifth Dimension? Author Marc Scott Zicree researched the show for half a decade to craft his definitive dive into The Twilight Zone. The result includes exhaustive episode guides, cast and crew interviews, and, in this 1989 expanded edition, extra features on the first television revival and feature film.
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The Twilight Zone Classic Soft Fleece Throw Blanket
$25 $27 Save $2This retro black and white design that makes the most of the unmistakable icons from The Twilight Zone’s classic titles is sure to conjure up the opening narration of Rod Serling in any fan’s mind. This fleece can cover and warm any furniture, pet, or person in the super cuddly plush feel of the fifth dimension.
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Rod Serling: His Life, Work, and Imagination
$24 $28 Save $4Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling is famous for his cool opening narration, but there was more to the playwright, producer, and host, including 250 scripts and six Emmy Awards won for four shows. This book draws on his work, correspondence, and unproduced scripts to give fans an incredible insight into the man behind the definitive anthology show.
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Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)
The Twilight Zone hit the big screen in 1983, thanks to some of the biggest names in Hollywood. The movie followed the anthology format with four stories directed by Steven Spielberg, John Landis, Joe Dante, and George Miller. Three tales are remakes of classic stories from the original show, and all four feature incredible ensemble casts. The Twilight Zone in HD may be the ultimate gift for the show’s fans.
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The Twilight Zone Invader from The Invaders with Diorama
It didn’t take long for The Twilight Zone to flip the idea of an alien invasion on its head — just at the tail-end of B-movie popularity. This 3 ¾ inch metallic model captures the tiny aliens from the almost entirely dialogue-free second season episode The Invaders. It has two light sticks, a saucer-shaped enamel pin, and a fold-out diorama. This adorable and distinctive convention exclusive is limited to 1000 pieces.
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Stories from the Twilight Zone Paperback
Fans will know that Rod Serling wrote a phenomenal 92 episodes of The Twilight Zone’s 156 original episodes. He also novelized 19 of them in the early 1960s. This first of three volumes offers fans a new way to experience tales from the fifth dimension.
A Wondrous Land Whose Boundaries Are That Of Imagination!
Today, The Twilight Zone is a multimedia franchise, but its roots remain in television. Anyone looking for a gift that will help fans rise above their fears and reach the summit of their knowledge will find great inspiration in the books that dive into the life and work of creator Rod Serling. The volumes of original scripts adapted by Serling are a treasure trove of his early 1960s work. Still, if books don’t add the right dimension, no one can resist a t-shirt covered in one of television's most famous opening monologues.
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Shoppers can make sure their purchases don’t fall into their own Twilight Zone with a free 30-day trial of Prime that opens up the best price and delivery options for any merchandise they pick up from Amazon. They can also get an automatic 10% off and free domestic shipping over $79 on any in-stock merchandise from the items above at Entertainment Earth.
FAQs
How many series of The Twilight Zone are there?
There have been four series of The Twilight Zone on television and streaming so far. The original series was released on CBS between 1959 and 1964. The network ran a second series between 1985 and 1989, while UPN picked up the concept for a short-lived third series for the 2002/2003 season. Jordan Peele masterminded the fourth series for CBS All Access between 2019 and 2020. In addition, a radio series featuring multiple stars was produced for BBC Radio between 2002 and 2012.
Why is The Twilight Zone still popular?
There are many reasons for The Twilight Zone's lasting appeal, most of it linking back to the original series in the 1950s and 1960s. The quality of writing, acting, and production was high, ensuring classic episodes have endured. Most important was creator Rod Serling's singular vision. The Twilight Zone could have been one of many anthology series in the 1950s, but for all its twists, surprises, and endearing weirdness, it always kept a focus on humanity. That emphasis has remained throughout its incarnations in multimedia, and while the original series' morals may seem like a bit of a joke 60 years on, they still leave an impression.