The best sci-fi shows are able to capture the imagination of audiences with the perfect amount of realism, while also dissociating from reality enough to entertain and thrill. There are plenty of sci-fi movies on Netflix that are well worth checking out, but if you’re in the mood for something that will take a little bit longer to consume, you may be looking for a series. To find the best show for you, we’ve done the hard work of looking through all of Netflix’s many options to find the best options. Below are the best sci-fi shows on Netflix. Once you’re done watching any of these shows, you may want to check out the best sci-fi movies of all time.
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Dark (2017)
3 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery, Crime
Cast
Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn
Created by
Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese
When a young boy in a small German town goes missing, his family and the people of the town start to notice some strange coincidences and patterns in the town’s history. Dark is not for the feint of heart, but it’s undeniably a deeply compelling watch if you’re willing to pay close attention. The show is originally in German, and while that may seem like a barrier to entry, it only enhances the eerie qualities that make this show so powerfully evocative.
Oats Studios (2017)
1 Season
Created by
Neill Blomkamp
It’s not often you can find something experimental and different on Netflix, so you have to take advantage when you do. Look no further than Oats Studios, a set of shorts directed by Niell Blomkamp. These films imagine a desolate future from several different perspectives, and with big names like Sigourney Weaver in the fold, any sci-fi fan should be interested in checking it out.
Sweet Tooth (2021)
2 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar
Created by
Jim Mickle
Sweet Tooth is set in a world that has been ravaged by an apocalyptic pandemic, one where some children are born as hybrids, existing somewhere between human and animal. A little boy known as Sweet Tooth/Gus (Christian Convery) is the focus of the show, which details the discrimination and evil of humankind against the backdrop of an astonishing turn for the human race. The performances and pace make this show a great watch, as does the natural landscape surrounding it.
Sense8 (2015)
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast
Miguel Ángel Silvestre, Max Riemelt, Jamie Clayton
Created by
Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski
From the creators of The Matrix comes Sense8, a thrilling, action-packed sci-fi series on Netflix with a fascinatingly original premise. When eight strangers from around the world discover they have an unavoidable connection, they must learn how to work together while a secret organization hunts them. Like most Wachowski projects, Sense8 is about the ties that bind us, and how those ties cannot be broken even by space or time.
Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
1 Season
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Cast
Josh Duhamel, Ben Daniels, Leslie Bibb
Created by
Steven S. DeKnight
Based on the DC comic of the same, Jupiter’s Legacy follows a family that is bestowed with superpowers that make them live longer than usual as well as a variety of other more conventional powers. Almost 100 years later, their children are burdened with carrying on that legacy. This sci-fi/fantasy drama is creative and original, combining well-known themes from superhero stories with a cast that includes a combination of fresh talent and familiar faces.
Love, Death & Robots (2019)
3 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Created by
Tim Miller
In this sci-fi series that utilizes a short story format, you never know what you’re going to get. Every episode ranges from six to 18 minutes, and each story is totally contained. Each episode is created by a completely different team, spanning a number of countries around the world. What unites those teams, though, is using three words of inspiration to create something that feels vibrant and original: Love, Death & Robots.
Read more: Netflix Animated Series to Stream
Sword Art Online (2012)
4 Seasons
Genre
Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Cast
Ai Kayano, Rina Hidaka, Hiroaki Hirata
Taking place in the year 2022 (which is strangely now the past), Sword Art Online follows thousands of gamers who find themselves trapped in a new and fully immersive virtual MMORPG. The series centers on Kirito as he becomes one of the strongest players in the game in an attempt to escape. If you’ve ever enjoyed an online RPG game before, this anime series is definitely worth a watch. Looking for more kick-ass anime shows? Check out our list of binge-watch-worthy anime on Netflix.
Altered Carbon (2018)
2 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Cast
Anthony Mackie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Chris Conner
Created by
Laeta Kalogridis
If you’re a fan of sci-fi movies and find yourself in need of a fresh story, Altered Carbon is here to deliver. Set in the far future, this Netflix show offers a look into a world where consciousness can be digitized and stored. This allows humans to survive beyond the death of their physical bodies, and creates something close to mortality. Altered Carbon was flawed, to be sure, but it took big swings and was often stunning to look at, and that makes both of its seasons well worth watching.
Black Mirror (2011)
5 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Mystery
Created by
Charlie Brooker
Black Mirror will thrill, entice, and possibly scare you. Each episode is entirely different, meaning you can watch them completely out of order and still enjoy a gripping short film with a unique lineup of stars and a new eerie concept. Black Mirror has been around for a while now, but the show still challenges your comfort level by focusing on the potentially ugliness behind many of the technologies that we often celebrate.
The 100 (2014)
7 Seasons
Genre
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama, Action & Adventure
Cast
Eliza Taylor, Tasya Teles, Marie Avgeropoulos
Created by
Jason Rothenberg
The 100 is set almost a century after Earth was devastated by nuclear war in a world where humanity remains alive and well in an orbiting space station. When the space station begins to fail, 100 teen residents are sent to the planet to determine whether it’s habitable. What follows is a little bit Lord of the Flies meets teen drama, but its unique backdrop and excellent performances make it worth a watch.
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
4 Seasons
Genre
Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Drama
Cast
Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, Emmy Raver-Lampman
Created by
Steve Blackman
If you’re looking for an original Netflix sci-fi series with a bit of superhero panache, Umbrella Academy is a good place to start. The story follows a family of former child heroes who have grown apart and are now in their 30s. When their adoptive father Sir Reginald Hargreeves dies, they realize they must reunite to save the world. Stylish, moody, and filled with colorful characters, The Umbrella Academy is just edgy enough to keep things interesting.
Stranger Things (2016)
4 Seasons
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery
Cast
Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown
Created by
Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Set in the 1980s, this acclaimed sci-fi series takes place in a small town in the middle of nowhere where mysterious things start to happen. After a young boy goes missing, the town’s secrets begin to reveal themselves, and a seemingly mute girl appears in town. She is sheltered and hidden by a group of young and nerdy boys who soon find that she has special powers, and they must team up with a few key adults to fight off a dark force lingering in their town.
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