The Twilight Zone is a science fiction series that began in 1969.
The Twilight Zone . The episodes are in various genres , including psychological horror , fantasy , science fiction , suspense , and psychological thriller ; and often conclude with a macabre or unexpected twist , and usually with a moral . The original series , shot entirely in black and white , ran for five seasons from 1959 to 1964 . The Twilight Zone followed in the tradition of earlier television shows such as Tales of Tomorrow ( 1951 -- 53 , which also dramatized the short story `` What You Need '' ) and Science Fiction Theatre ( 1955 -- 57 ) ; radio programs such as The Weird Circle , Dimension X , and X Minus One ; and the radio work of one of Serling 's inspirations , Norman Corwin .