The 21st century has been a strong one for the sci-fi genre, and not just on the big screen. Over the past 20-something years, sci-fi stories on TV have taken fans to the depths of outer space and presented gateways to other dimensions, but not every show gets the attention it deserves. Released in the wake of The X-Files’ success and airing during the pop culture phenomenon that was Lost, one mid-2000s sci-fi series has gone down as a hidden gem in the genre, and it’s now nearly impossible for fans to stream.
That show is The 4400, and long-time fans will be hard-pressed to find it online. The series, about a group of 4400 people who suddenly reappear without aging and with mysterious power decades after they first went missing, is a massively underrated sci-fi classic. Created and written by Scott Peters and René Echevarria, the show premiered on the USA Network in 2004 and ironically aired for 44 episodes before it was canceled in 2007 due to a mix of low ratings and budget issues, which were exacerbated by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike.
The 4400 Is a Sleeper Sci-Fi Classic
At one point, The 4400 was one of the more popular sci-fi shows, holding a solid place in pop culture discussions alongside other breakout hits of the time like Lost, which ultimately overshadowed it. Where The 4400 really stood out was in its character-driven nature. The series, rated fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with a 95% critic score and 86% audience rating, managed to blend the powerful hook of 4,400 missing people suddenly reappearing with special abilities with a deep exploration of the personal and societal impact of their return, creating a series that didn’t just instantly capture viewers’ imagination and attention but also successfully added a realistic layer to the superhero genre and marked a memorable and impactful entry into the sci-fi genre.
The 4400 was widely praised by critics and audiences for its intriguing and original premise and strong writing and is also remembered for its strong cast, who delivered compelling performances as characters attempting to find their place in a world that has moved on without them. In addition to appearances and secondary roles from sci-fi veterans, like Star Trek’s Jeffrey Combs, the show served as the breakout role for future Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, who starred as Richard Tyler.
How to Watch The 4400?
The series is one of the best sci-fi shows of the 2000s, and so it’s a shame that rewatching it is practically impossible. In fact, the series isn’t currently available on any major streaming platform, leaving fans of The 4400 almost entirely out of luck unless they shell out the money to rent or buy it on platforms like Amazon Video and Google Play. The complete absence of The 4400 on streaming really boils down to licensing and streaming rights, which change often and can be tricky to work out, oftentimes leaving some well-deserving titles without a streaming home.
The 4400 spawned a reboot in 2021 that ran for just a single season, but fans will be hard-pressed to find even that on streaming. Like the original, the reboot is only available to rent or buy.
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