Summary

• Unique parallel universe exploration in Dark Matter provides a captivating journey into different realities.
• Apple TV+ continues to impress with adaptations, showcasing the depth of the sci-fi genre.
• From Wizard of Oz to Sliders to Spider-Verse, the concept of multiverses has long fascinated audiences.

Apple TV+'s Dark Matter is one of the most unique TV shows of the year, telling the story of physicist Jason (Joel Edgerton) as he is kidnapped and transported into an alternate version of his life and fights to get back to his core universe. It's an entertaining journey that explores the idea of parallel universes, a concept that has been used in many movies and TV shows before.

While the idea of parallel universes has become more popular in the last few years with the releases of Spider-Man: Into the SpiderVerse, Everything Everywhere All at Once, and the introduction of the Multiverse in the MCU, the idea has been used in Hollywood in movies and TV shows since the 1930s. Dark Matter is just the latest in a line of fantastic movies and TV shows that enter multiple different universes. While the wait for season 2 of Dark Matter begins, there are plenty of movies and TV shows that offer different looks at their respective multiverses.

15 Sliders (1995-2000)

Imaginative And Groundbreaking

Sliders is often revered as the quintessential TV show about alternate realities, centering around Quinn Mallory (Jerry O'Connell) and his companions. Quinn accidentally opens an interdimensional portal which sends the group on a cosmic adventure around parallel Earths, a method of transportation they call "sliding". Across its five seasons, Sliders offers viewers something new every time, from a world where the US lost the Revolutionary War, to one where men were treated as the "weaker sex", making it a refreshing take on the sci-fi genre.

14 Community (2009-2015)

A Unique Take On The Concept

The "darkest timeline" continues to pop up throughout the show, making Community one of the more unique uses of the parallel universe concept.

Community may appear to be just a regular sitcom, but its exploration of parallel universes is one of the most prominent storylines throughout the show. The introduction of parallel universes in the iconic episode "Remedial Chaos Theory" is one of the cleverest pieces of TV in the sitcom, not only providing expert comedic material but also delving into the relationships and dynamics between the characters in different ways. The "darkest timeline" continues to pop up throughout the show, making Community one of the more unique uses of the parallel universe concept.

13 The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

There's No Place Like Home

The iconic Wizard of Oz is probably the most famous, yet unknown, use of a parallel universe in movie history. Oz is quite literally depicted as being a different reality to Kansas, with this being highlighted particularly by the stark difference between the dull sepia of Dorothy's home and the Technicolor fantasy of the magical world. A timeless, heartwarming tale about courage, home, and the meaning of friendship, The Wizard of Oz is an iconic movie, and perhaps one of the earliest explorations of a parallel universe in movie history.

12 Barbie (2023)

Barbie World vs The Real World

Playful and poignant, Barbie uses the concept of a parallel universe to highlight the difference between the "perfect" Barbie World and the messy reality of the human world. By juxtaposing Barbie World with the real world like this, the movie takes both Barbie (Margot Robbie) and the audience on a journey, exploring what it truly means to be human. Barbie is a coming-of-age movie like no other, and its use of a parallel universe as a metaphor for embracing the imperfections of humanity is fantastic.

11 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

A Culmination Of Two Decades Of Live-Action Spider-Men

A fan-favorite, Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third installment in Tom Holland's trilogy, and introduces the initial consequences of the multiverse on the MCU. As Peter Parker grapples with his identity being revealed, he then takes it upon himself to "save" a host of villains from previous Spider-Man franchises by sending them back to their own universes. Spider-Man: No Way Home's convergence of parallel universes managed to blend heart-pumping action with some truly emotional scenes about doing what's right, while remaining a nostalgic and endearing story.

10 Rick and Morty (2013-)

A Constant Parallel Universe Innovator

Rick and Morty is an outrageously funny and uniquely clever animated TV show that tells the story of alcoholic scientist Rick Sanchez, and his impressionable grandson, Morty. Using Rick's portal gun, the titular characters travel through innumerable different worlds and universes in the show, embarking on a series of creative and exciting adventures as they do so. Rick and Morty consistently pushes the boundaries of the parallel universe concept, while frequently diving into the existential questions of infinite realities through a vessel of dark humor and absurdism.

9 Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness (2022)

It Really Is Madness

Fun, utterly chaotic, and full of heart, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a solid addition to the parallel universe genre.

The second installment in the Doctor Strange series sees Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) embarking on a mission to protect America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) from the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen). Chavez's superpower allows her to travel through the multiverse, with Multiverse of Madness exploring a host of different parallel universes, including one where the Illuminati (led by Professor Charles Xavier) is the dominant superhero group on Earth. Fun, utterly chaotic, and full of heart, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a solid addition to the parallel universe genre.

8 Stranger Things (2016-Present)

The Duality Of The Upside Down And Hawkins

Stranger Things is a cultural phenomenon, taking the world by storm ever since it premiered on Netflix in 2016. It tells the story of a group of townspeople and kids from Hawkins, Indiana, as they seek to uncover the mysteries of why odd phenomena keep happening in their town, including the disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp). It is eventually revealed that Hawkins is linked to a parallel universe known as the Upside Down, where a host of evil entities, including a demagorgon, originate and wreak havoc on the town. As original as it is iconic, Stranger Things is a fantastic exploration of the concept of a parallel universe to ours, particularly one that is "evil".

7 Deadpool and Wolverine (2024)

A Comedy Like No Other

Utterly hilarious and ridiculous, Deadpool and Wolverine is a refreshing and fun take on the parallel universe genre, continuing to explore the multiverse of the MCU. Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) team up to try and save his universe in this R-Rated superhero comedy. The multiverse is used here as a metaphor for Deadpool himself not feeling like he truly belongs anywhere, and his team-up with fellow lost soul Wolverine allows the two of them to challenge and change each other for the better, all while exchanging a wide array of expletive insults.

6 Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

The Parallel Universe Pushes The Story Forward

One of the most acclaimed animated TV shows of recent years, Gravity Falls tells the story of twins Dipper (Jason Ritter) and Mabel (Kristen Schaal) as they spend their summer in the titular town, where a variety of mysterious things occur. Gravity Falls eventually introduces the twins and the audience to a portal between dimensions, with this particular parallel universe setting the foundation for the show's climax in its three-part finale, "Weirdmaggedon". A timeless tale of siblinghood, coming-of-age, and adventure, Gravity Falls is a more than worthy addition to the parallel universe genre.