Some sci-fi shows have left such a big mark on pop culture that everyone should watch them at least once. The best science-fiction explores society and humanity through the lens of the distant future or an alien planet, offering insight and social commentary without feeling overly preachy.
Whether you’re already a fan of sci-fi or not, you’ll appreciate some television shows that transcend their genre. These deliver compelling drama that should appeal to anyone who loves a good story. Many of these shows influenced the stories that followed them, firmly cementing themselves as some of the best sci-fi television series of all time.
10
Severance (2022 – Present)
2 Seasons (& Counting) Currently Streaming On Apple TV+
8/10
Release Date
February 18, 2022
Showrunner
Dan Erickson, Mark Friedman
Severance may be a new to the sci-fi television scene, but it will likely go down as one of the most socially relevant shows of its time. The show follows Mark S. (Adam Scott) and other employees at Lumon Industries, all of whom have undergone a severing process to separate their work selves and home selves into two separate people.
Severance has already been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards and currently has a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Severance moves slowly through its sometimes disorienting world, unveiling its mysteries one piece at a time, capturing audiences’ attention in a way few shows have since Lost. With brilliant performances from its cast members, Severance remains a must-watch for anyone living and working in 2025.
9
Doctor Who (1963 – Present)
13 Seasons Currently Streaming On HBO Max, Further Seasons Streaming On Disney+
Release Date
2005 – 2022-00-00
Jodie Whittaker
The Doctor
Doctor Who has been airing on and off since 1963 and is widely regarded as a science-fiction staple for a reason. Following a mysterious traveler known only as the Doctor, Doctor Who delivers fun sci-fi adventures that incorporate everything from romance to horror.
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With its lengthy history, Doctor Who can be intimidating for new viewers, but the series has several jumping-in points. Fans looking to dive into the show for the first time might want to consider starting with the 2005 revival starring Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor.
8
Firefly (2002 – 2003)
1 Season Currently Streaming On Hulu
8/10
Release Date
2002 – 2003-00-00
Network
FOX
Dwier Brown
Durran Haymer
Created by writer and director Joss Whedon, Firefly is a sci-fi Western that follows the crew of the Serenity as they explore a star system known as The Verse. Captain Mal Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his renegade crew all make for interesting characters, as they eke out a living on the fringes of their solar system.
Despite being canceled after only one season, Firefly developed a cult following, leading to a feature film continuation in 2005’s Serenity.
Despite being canceled after only one season, Firefly developed a cult following, leading to a feature film continuation in 2005’s Serenity. With clever dialogue, captivating characters, and an interesting setting, Firefly was ahead of its time in many ways — and its short length makes it perfect for binge-watching over a long weekend.
7
Farscape (1999 – 2003)
4 Seasons Currently Streaming On Peacock
Release Date
1999 – 2003-00-00
Writers
Rockne S. O’Bannon, David Kemper, Justin Monjo, Richard Manning
Co-produced by The Jim Henson Company, Farscape offers a delightfully weird sci-fi story centered on astronaut John Crichton (Ben Browder) and his journey to return to Earth. Along the way, he encounters numerous friends and enemies, including his eventual love interest, a Peacekeeper named Aeryn Sun (Claudia Black).
Although originally planned for five seasons, Farscape was abruptly canceled after season 4. Thankfully, the story was later wrapped up in a three-hour miniseries called Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.
With a fascinating cast of alien characters (some of which are Jim Henson puppets) and a living ship called Moya, Farscape is a unique sci-fi show that develops a complex mythology. While it may be harder to get into than some of the entries on this list, Farscape remains a cult classic that’s well worth watching.
6
Stargate SG-1 (1997 – 2007)
10 Seasons Currently Streaming On MGM+
The Stargate franchise never achieved quite the same level of fame as Star Wars and Star Trek, but it nevertheless delivered some great sci-fi television. The first television entry in the franchise, Stargate SG-1, follows a military team led by Colonel Jack O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) as they travel to various alien worlds through a wormhole known as a Stargate.
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Stargate SG-1 combines fascinating sci-fi concepts with various ancient Earth mythologies to create a show that feels cozy but still tackles tough topics. With an incredibly compelling cast of characters, SG-1 has something for everyone. So does its equally great spinoff series, Stargate Atlantis.
5
Babylon 5 (1993 – 1998)
5 Seasons Currently Streaming Free With Ads On The Roku Channel
Release Date
1993 – 1998-00-00
Showrunner
J. Michael Straczynski
Set on a space station called Babylon 5, this far-future series depicts the complicated relationships between the Earth Alliance and various other alien species, including the Centauri, the Narn, and the Vorlons. Unlike many television shows of its time, Babylon 5 tells a heavily serialized story.
Not only did Babylon 5 receive numerous awards while it was airing, but it also served as a major influence for science fiction television moving forward. With its complex political storylines and apt social commentary, Babylon 5 was truly ahead of its time, as it tackled everything from war to religion to addiction.
4
Battlestar Galactica (2004 – 2009)
4 Seasons Available To Rent Or Purchase On Apple TV Or Amazon Video
9/10
Release Date
2004 – 2009-00-00
Edward James Olmos
William Adama
Mary McDonnell
Laura Roslin
Developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 television series, 2004’s Battlestar Galactica tells the story of the remnants of humanity as they search for a new home. After an advanced alien race known as the Cylons wiped out most of humanity, the survivors flee in a fleet of ships led by the Battlestar Galactica.
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The 50,000 survivors encounter numerous hardships along their journey, as their leaders, Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos) and President Roslin (Mary McDonnell), face impossible moral decisions. With Battlestar Galactica’s devastating twists and turns, the show is not for the faint of heart, but it’s widely regarded as one of the best television shows of all time.
3
The Expanse (2015 – 2022)
6 Seasons Currently Streaming On Amazon Prime Video
Based on the bestselling book series by James S.A. Corey (writer duo Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), The Expanse takes place in a far future in which humanity has colonized the solar system. The show begins as a sci-fi noir murder mystery, but it soon becomes a sprawling space opera with numerous factions vying for control of the system.
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As James Holden (Steven Strait) and his crew aboard the Rocinante get pulled into intergalactic politics, The Expanse delivers some of the best political sci-fi and space battles on television. With stunning visuals and captivating characters, The Expanse should have been far more popular than it was.
2
The Twilight Zone (1959 – 1964)
5 Seasons Currently Streaming On Paramount+ & Amazon Prime Video
Created and hosted by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone achieved the perfect blend of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, and it remains one of the most influential shows of all time. Each standalone, thirty-minute episode packs a punch, delivering often frightening stories with a moral message.
A few episodes we recommend: “Will The Real Martian Please Stand Up?,” “It’s a Good Life,” “Eye of the Beholder,” “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” and “To Serve Man.”
Many episodes of The Twilight Zone left their mark on popular culture, but if you’ve managed to avoid spoilers regarding the shocking twist endings of The Twilight Zone’s most iconic stories, you’re truly in for a treat. With its nature as an anthology series, new viewers can pick and choose which Twilight Zone episodes to watch, making it easy to dive into.
1
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987 – 1994)
7 Seasons Currently Streaming On Paramount+
Like Doctor Who, Star Trek has a long history that began in 1966 with the premiere of Star Trek: The Original Series. While that show is absolutely worth a watch for sci-fi fans, Star Trek: The Next Generation is, in many ways, a better representation of the franchise as a whole.
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Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his USS Enterprise-D, TNG delivers classic sci-fi stories with wide appeal and a cast of incredibly likable characters. TNG may have gotten off to a rough start, but from its second season on, the show delivered some of the best sci-fi television of all time.