When it comes to must-see shows, Apple TV shouldn’t be slept on. That especially goes for sci-fi. The Apple-owned streamer may be known for genre standouts like Severance, but beyond that title, there’s a solid roster of science fiction TV shows you should absolutely add to your watchlist.
When Apple TV dropped the “Plus” from its name, the rebrand created naming confusion between its platform and its hardware. Apple’s marketing strategy adds another hurdle to finding quality content. Titles on the streaming platform mostly rely on organic discovery and word of mouth, which makes it harder to know which shows to watch and which to pass on.
Navigating the platform on your own can be fun, but it’s also helpful to have a curated guide, like the one I’ve put together below, to nudge you in the right direction.
You’re here for shows that feature epic world-building, engaging performances and envelope-pushing narratives. The genre TV shows in Apple TV’s content library accomplish all of that. Shows like Pluribus, For All Mankind, Murderbot and Dark Matter immediately come to mind. Heck, you can always give Severance a rewatch while you’re at it.
Below, you’ll find CNET’s guide to the best sci-fi shows to watch on Apple TV right now. This list will be updated regularly, so be sure to bookmark it and visit often.
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Hello Tomorrow!
Hello Tomorrow! takes place in a retro-future where door-to-door salesmen sell real estate on the moon. The world-building is one of the biggest draws of the series, which unfortunately didn’t get a season 2 renewal. Billy Crudup, Allison Pill, Dawshane Williams, Hank Azaria and Susan Heyward make up the show’s strong cast.
Dark Matter
What if we did things differently? We’ve all asked ourselves that question at least once throughout our lives. That question comes to life in Dark Matter, a high-concept twisted series based on Blake Crouch’s book. The series stars Joel Edgerton as Jason, a college professor who suffers a strange assault that alters his life and reality. Jennifer Connelly, Jimmi Simpson and Alice Braga co-star alongside him in a show that’ll keep you guessing until the season’s finale.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Samuel L. Jackson pivots away from the superhero genre to bring topics of age and dementia to the forefront. Here, he plays Ptolemy Grey, an aging man with Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to the support of an orphaned teen and the progressive research of an extraordinary doctor, Ptolemy can regain his wits to get closure in his own life while also looking for answers to his nephew’s sudden death.
Using Hugh Howey’s book trilogy as inspiration, Silo explores a dystopian future world where humanity’s survivors live in an underground structure. Varied classist drama permeates the underground city. Population control, a murder mystery and the potentially lethal world outside keep the show humming. Rebecca Ferguson, Common and Tim Robbins lead the ensemble cast.
