Rotten Tomatoes provides a strong list of the best science fiction TV shows that are currently available to stream. From atomic-age fears spawning classic films like The Day The Earth Stood Still to modern technology-derived worries reflected in Black Mirror, sci-fi has long been a staple of media on screens both large and small. Whereas many classic sci-fi shows had to make the most out of limited budgets, today, science fiction TV takes advantage of technology and is just as likely to be lavish action spectaculars.
With the proliferation of titles in the streaming era, sci-fi fans are spoiled for choice on streaming services like Netflix and Disney Plus. New sci-fi TV shows conceived in recent years have taken the world by storm, and there are some that fans of the genre may have missed due to the focus on established heavyweights like Stranger Things or The Umbrella Academy. For anyone looking for a collection of TV shows with imaginative takes on the future, here are some that are sure to make genre fans dizzy while their brains work overtime.
30 See (2019 - 2022) 63%
- Stream On Apple TV Plus
See was one of the first Apple TV originals available for viewers to enjoy, depicting a post-apocalyptic world in which humanity has altogether lost its sense of sight and the havoc that ensues when a pair of twins are born with this lost sense. Starring Fast X star Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard, the series recently came to an end with its third season.
This dystopian drama may not be the most critically acclaimed science-fiction series in recent years, but it certainly wins points with many viewers for its engaging premise and compelling lead actors. With only 24 episodes in its entire run, See is also an easy binge-watch for viewers looking to get through a show quickly.
29 Halo (2022 - ) 70%
- Stream On Paramount Plus
Halo, one of the newest sci-fi offerings on Paramount Plus, is an epic space-faring story based on the video game franchise of the same name. The series immediately earned attention from audiences for its epic, action-heavy plot, which managed to expand on the video game's story in a meaningful way.
While many fans of the original games took issue with several canonical discrepancies in Halo season 1, the series was popular enough among fans and critics to warrant a second season, indicating that this multimedia franchise is far from its final days.
28 The X-Files (1993 - 2018) 74%
- Stream On Hulu
One of the all-time best sci-fi shows, The X-Files follows a pair of FBI agents who specialize in investigating cases linked to supernatural events and paranormal activity. Iconic for its disconcerting theme music and creepy subject matter, the series is one of the longest-running science fiction dramas of all time, with 11 seasons and over 200 episodes spanning over two decades.
The X-Files follows in the footsteps of many famous police procedurals, featuring a mixture of stand-alone episodes and chapters in a larger conspiracy saga. With hundreds of stories full of gripping mystery and intrigue, there is something for everyone in this long-running classic series.
27 Snowpiercer (2020 - ) 75%
- Stream On TNT
Bong Joon-ho's best post-apocalyptic movies ever made. Fans of the director will be pleased to know that there is also a TV series based on the movie and its graphic novel source material. Snowpiercer is a literal wild ride, taking place on a train that just keeps circling the world after it turned into a frozen wasteland.
It takes a different route to the movie, adopting a completely different story. However, class warfare still takes center stage, with the train being a metaphor for modern society. With Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly in the lead roles, it's still unclear whether the series will be able to finish its story with a fourth season.
26 Altered Carbon (2018 - 2020) 75%
- Stream On Netflix
Cyberpunk gets some–but not much–opportunity to shine in Altered Carbon are rare and should be cherished. It might have had some clunky parts and odd exposition choices, but it makes good use of its cyberpunk setting.
The series takes place in a world where mortality doesn't mean much anymore since anyone's brain can easily be transferred to a new body. Of course, this means that it's usually the rich who tend to abuse this sort of power. In the middle of it all is Takeshi Kovacs, who keeps coming back from the dead to complete some mysterious unfinished business. The series was canceled after two seasons, although Netflix did also produce an animated film in the same setting, called Altered Carbon: Resleeved.
25 The Peripheral (2022 - ) 77%
- Stream On Prime Video
One of the best sci-fi series from the ongoing streaming wars is Prime Video's The Peripheral, starring Chloe Grace Moretz. Based on William Gibson's 2014 book, the series bends the timeline, introducing a new take on the classic time travel trope.
With its first season having now fully aired, The Peripheral certainly appears to be promising a new take on the genre for longtime sci-fi fans. Amazon Prime Video recently confirmed The Peripheral season 2 is on the way, making this a series that viewers will want to start watching right away.
24 The Orville (2017 - ) 77%
- Stream On Hulu & Disney Plus
The comedy of The Orville season 4, but the three completed seasons are available on multiple platforms.
A live-action comedy series meant to parody Star Trek - among many other popular sci-fi properties - The Orville explores the many misadventures of the titular ship's crew in the distant future. Poking fun at many genre tropes while offering up some surprisingly gripping storylines, The Orville is a celebration of all things sci-fi, and its excellent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes proves that it deserves the hype.
23 Devs (2020) 82%
- Stream On Hulu
For those who are fans of shows about conspiracies and technology, new era of cyberpunk that comments on modern tech culture.
The audience experiences this strange story through the eyes of a young computer engineer working for the company, Amaya, as she begins asking the company questions when her boyfriend suddenly disappears while also working for the same company. Devs is full of secrets and secret divisions that can only be unlocked through the prying minds of the show's paranoid computer geniuses, and as an eight-episode miniseries makes for a relatively quick watch.
22 Black Mirror (2011 - ) 84%
- Stream On Netflix
One of Netflix's best sci-fi series, Black Mirror is a horror anthology series that explores themes that question the place of advanced technology in human civilization. Known for its star-studded rotating cast, the series has seen major actors and actresses the series for one fright-fueled episode apiece.
The series consists of five seasons so far, as well as several special episodes in between that bridge the gap between each concurrent season. During its long run, Black Mirror has been praised for bringing up genuinely intriguing questions amidst its horrific premise, prompting viewers to think about the future of their own world and the technology therein.
21 Love, Death + Robots (2019 - ) - 85%
- Stream On Netflix
Love Death + Robots is an anthology series that includes several different short sci-fi stories, each with its own contained narrative, animation style, and world-building idea. The series is an animated Netflix original that proved to be a surprise hit upon its initial release.
The best Love, Death + Robots stories contain a mix of humor, horror, action, and drama. Regardless of which one might become a fan's favorite, once they've watched them all, all are sure to spark a newfound sense of wonder and intrigue in the viewer for the world of science fiction. Each episode is raw, uncensored, and worthy of its own full-length production.