Netflix has a stacked content library that features every type of show and movie you can imagine. And when it comes to epic sci-fi TV shows, this is where it’s at. Considering the fact that you landed on this article, you probably already know this. More importantly, you’re here because you’re on the hunt for the best sci-fi programming to watch on Netflix. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
The Netflix conversation usually includes top-tier titles like Stranger Things and Black Mirror; they are the cream of the genre crop. But I’d be selling the streamer short if I stopped there. Netflix has way more science fiction entries to dig into beyond these hits. Keep reading, and you’ll see what I mean.
Sci-fi can be broken down into a wide swath of narratives and styles so no matter your interests, I guarantee you’ll find something to dig into here. Are you in the mood for a unique alien invasion thriller? 3 Body Problem is the perfect show for you. Looking for an offbeat comic book superhero series? Check out The Umbrella Academy. And if you’re eager to dive into something with an avant-garde flair, there’s this hard-to-describe mystery series, The OA, I’d like to introduce you to.
The handful of titles mentioned above only scratch the surface — there are so many binge-worthy adventures that await you. Grab your favorite snack, pour yourself a refreshing beverage and get ready because these are the best Netflix sci-fi TV shows you should watch right now.
Read more: The Best Sci-Fi TV Shows to Watch on Prime Video Right Now
Paul Rudd stars opposite himself in this overlooked science fiction comedy. He plays Miles, a man who wants to better himself. So he undergoes an experimental procedure to clone himself. He doesn’t foresee how much happier his clone is than he is. Conflicts arise, forcing Miles to confront his own internal demons. The series is a different sort of project for Rudd and only lasted one season but it’s definitely worth a watch.
Stranger Things
3 Body Problem was created by Game of Thrones alums David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with The Terror showrunner Alexander Woo, and is based on the Hugo Award-winning novel by Liu Cixin. The high-concept sci-fi series connects a watershed moment in 1960s China to the present day, where a group of scientists must face an emerging global threat unlike anything humanity has ever seen.
Archive 81
Raising Dion is a superhero series centered around a special boy named Dion, who happens to have superpowers. Unlike other shows that tackle similar storylines — think The Boys and Invincible — this program highlights Dion’s differences in an empowering light. Of course, there are supervillains and a sinister government agency to deal with, which keeps things interesting. But what keeps this show unique is its focus on family and finding your place in the world. Also, Jason Ritter is in the cast. And he’s wonderful.
The Umbrella Academy
Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror set the standard for what a modern-day genre anthology series can do. Each story featured throughout the series, which currently has six seasons and an interactive standalone movie worth visiting, takes place in a near future world where technology has impacted humanity in wonderful, strange and terrifying ways. Uplifting to horrific, Black Mirror is a brain bug of a television show that’ll keep you thinking long after the credits roll.
They broke the mold when they made The OA. The two-season series created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij follows the story of Prairie Johnson (Marling), a young blind woman who, after being missing for seven years, returns to her family with her sight restored. Where was she all these years? How can she see? Parallel existence across multiple dimensions, that’s how. Okay, that answer barely scratches the surface of this extremely unique and layered program. Come for the Quantum Physics, stay for the interpretive dance routines.
Like Stranger Things, Dark kicks off with the inexplicable disappearance of a child. Instead of another version of the Upside Down plaguing the town, the German series dabbles with time travel to explore how a family and community can be impacted by the event of a kid going missing. A noir slow burn that leans heavily on the horrors of generational trauma, Dark lasted three seasons on Netflix. It will definitely get under your skin.
1899 was created by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar — the same duo who brought Dark to Netflix — and follows a group of passengers on a ship heading to New York during the turn of the century. This is more than a run-of-the-mill period piece. As soon as things kick off, the show throws time travel, multiple dimensions, reality simulations and other bits of sci-fi craziness at the screen. It may not have gotten a season 2 but there’s still a lot of genre goodness to mull over here.
Parasyte: The Grey
Based on the book by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon exists in a future world where consciousness can be moved from one body to the other. Joel Kinnaman starred in the first season as ex-soldier Takeshi Kovacs. His mission to solve a murder evolves into a journey of self-discovery as he works to track down his lost love and answers regarding his previous life. Season 2 finds Anthony Mackie stepping into the role to further the cyberpunk noir tale.
Love, Death + Robots
Using the 1965 series as inspiration, Lost in Space follows the Robinson family on a space mission to colonize a planet as humanity teeters on the brink of collapse. The show is heavy on family drama, which can be off-putting at times. Thanks to the sociopolitical conflict, a cool alien robot friend and Parker Posey’s deliciously villainous Dr. Smith, the show holds up.
For its first three seasons, Manifest was an NBC original. After it was canceled by the network, Netflix swooped in to revive the series. The story follows the passengers of Flight 828, who arrive at their destination five years after originally taking off. The survivors begin having premonitions and visions that help them save others from disasters that have yet to happen. It’s sorta like Lost and Final Destination had a baby, kinda.
Alice in Borderland
