While the streaming giant is known for offering TV series across a wide range of genres, the best sci-fi shows on Netflix stand out as one of the key reasons many subscribers stick with the platform. The wide range of sci-fi shows available on Netflix is a vast collection consisting of both classic shows and more modern takes on the genre. From foundational sci-fi like the old Star Trek series The Next Generation and DS9, to contemporary Twilight Zone-inspired shows like Black Mirror and Love, Death, & Robots, there's no shortage of sci-fi series on Netflix to satisfy even the most die-hard genre fan.
Many of these shows are high quality Netflix originals, such as Stranger Things, Sense8, Dark, The Umbrella Academy, and other series that have become definitive of the streamer's identity and branding. Meanwhile, series adopted from other networks such as Sisyphus and the classic Star Trek shows expand Netflix's sci-fi roster for its growing list of subscribers. There are literally dozens of sci-fi shows on Netflix covering almost every conceivable subgenre. However, the best of the best stand out for both their high quality and — in many cases — how they helped Netflix capture the cultural zeitgeist when they released. Here are 25 of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix.
25 Black Mirror (2011-Present, 5 Seasons)
After originally airing on Channel 4 in the UK, the sci-fi anthology series Black Mirror quickly became popular worldwide. Written by Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror is one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix for viewers looking for the darkest and most compelling versions of the near future. Throughout Black Mirror's 22 loosely-connected episodes, killer robots get fresh new twists, humanity's relationship with new technologies is examined deeply, and the dystopian premises and outcomes feel extremely close to home. Like its predecessors Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, all of Black Mirror 5 seasons are not for the faint of heart. Black Mirror season 6 is likely to follow the same dark path.
24 Lost In Space (2018-2021, 3 Seasons)
Lost in Space is a modern reboot of the 1965 series of the same name. The show is centered around the Robinson family, human colonists who survived the attack on their mothership, the Resolute. On their way to colonizing the Alpha Centauri system, the Robinsons and other survivors are steered off course, explore and surivive in strange planets, and meet extraordinary creatures. Lost in Space is one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix for audiences in search of a series with lots of heart. Lost in Space was concluded after 3 seasons and 28 episodes, but still has its own dedicated following.
23 Living With Yourself (2019, 1 Season)
Living With Yourself is a sci-fi comedic drama that deals with the implications of perfecting cloning technology. What makes Living With Yourself one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix is that it not only stars Paul Rudd, the actor plays both the depressed copywriter Miles Elliot as well as his optimistic clone. Living With Yourself lasted for just 1 season and 8 episodes, and Rudd was nominated by the Golden Globes for Best Actor for his performance.
22 Stranger Things (2016-Present, 4 Seasons)
Half fantasy, half sci-fi, the kids from Hawkins have been at the very forefront of helping Netflix gain more subscribers. It's fair to say that this is one of the brand's series because of its sheer popularity. Stranger Things is one of the best shows on Netflix for its clever use of '80s tropes and nostalgic elements to deliver perhaps the most important coming-of-age stories of the last decade. After 4 seasons and 34 episodes, Stranger Things season 5 is set to close out the series, and so long as it doesn't end on a sour note will always be regarded as one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix.
21 The Umbrella Academy (2019-Present, 3 Seasons)
It was a brave decision for Netflix to adapt something that isn't necessarily well known to the public, even though the comic book it's based on was written by Chemical Romance vocalist Gerard Way. The Umbrella Academy centers around a group of super-powered orphans who were adopted by an eccentric billionaire — and how these orphans have fared in the series' strange world as adults. After 3 seasons and 30 episodes, The Umbrella Academy remains one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix, with Umbrella Academy season 4 on the way. As well as being one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix, The Umbrella Academy stands out for its twist on the superhero genre, and the many ways it tackles themes of diversity and representation within it.
20 Sense8 (2015-2016, 2 Seasons)
Sense8 didn't last too long with Netflix, concluding after 2 seasons and 24 episodes, but it built up a cult following in the short time it streamed. The plot is about eight strangers who suddenly find themselves to be mentally and emotionally linked after the death of a woman named Angela. Able to share their emotions, knowledge, skills, and abilities, the eight strangers soon unravel more about being the new cluster of "sensates." Sense8 was excellent at bringing forward underrepresented individuals and included a number of science fiction elements that made it extremely compelling and is still largely regarded as one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix.
19 The 100 (2014-2020, 7 Seasons)
The 100, the popular CW series which found a second home on Netflix in the US, looks at humans who have returned to Earth after a nuclear disaster. The post apocalyptic show looks like it should have a high budget, but has managed to set itself apart compared to other shows of a similar genre. With 100 episodes spread across 7 seasons, The 100 is one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix for those looking for something to binge-watch. Many fans were disappointed that The 100 ended on season 7 (despite this always being the plan), but the fact that it's a complete story means that the 7 volumes as a complete watch-through are an essential viewing experience for all Netflix subscribers who enjoy sci-fi.
18 The OA (2016-2019, 2 Seasons)
The OA follows a young woman who resurfaces after disappearing seven years ago. She has scars on her back, and is now able to see despite being blind before her disappearance. The unraveling of this mystery is what makes The OA one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix. Unfortunately, this is another show that has been subjected to the cull by the streaming network. While the writers of the series had hoped they'd have 5 seasons to really work through the story, they were instead limited to only 2 seasons, being canceled without any warning after just 16 episodes.
17 Altered Carbon (2018-2020, 2 Seasons)
A love letter to Blade Runner, Altered Carbon imagines a world where the rich are able to live forever by continuously transferring their conscious minds into fresh new bodies. The well crafted mystery at the center of Altered Carbon is what makes it one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix. It may have lasted for just 2 seasons and 18 episodes, but the futuristic noir story of Takeshi Kovacs remains a cornerstone for contemporary transhumanist science fiction.
16 Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994, 7 Seasons)
Apart from being unquestionably one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix, Star Trek: The Next Generation - the second live-action series in the franchise - is still considered by many to be the quintessential Star Trek show. These were the first voyages of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and set a century after the events of the original Star Trek series. In the late '80s and early '90s, this was the show that set high standards for all contemporary sci-fi stories on TV, fueled by its ambitious overarching themes and ruminations on human society. All 7 seasons and 178 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation are streaming on Netflix.
