While some classic sci-fi tropes are popular for a reason, the genre has gotten an overhaul over the past two decades, with newer shows becoming much more creative. Many of the best sci-fi shows of all time do not involve popular staples like aliens and space travel, but have branched out into disturbingly familiar dystopian concepts or self-aware comedy.
Still, no matter how good a series is, it is never guaranteed that it will run for years to come. Netflix often cancels shows way too soon, and TV shows in the sci-fi genre do not always get the chance to become sleeper hits. Sci-fi shows can be very short-lived, but Netflix is currently streaming some of the best in the genre.
10
Alice In Borderland
The Japanese Sci-Fi Thriller Was An Instant Hit
Alice in Borderland is often compared to Squid Game, as the two shows have similar subject matter, with both being about desperate people being forced to play sadistic games. However, Squid Game is more grounded, while Alice in Borderland leans into the sci-fi potential of the idea. Non-English-language series are not always great performers on Netflix, but Alice in Borderland has become a hit.
Alice in Borderland centers on a group of young adults who are transported to a parallel and dystopian Tokyo known as Borderland, where they must compete in deadly games to survive. The show is not just sci-fi and leans into multiple genres, including fantasy, giving viewers a constant stream of twists and turns. This looks set to continue in its upcoming third season.
9
Sense8
The Show Came From The Creators Of The Matrix
Sense8 is a hidden gem on Netflix, created, written, and directed by the Wachowski sisters, who also created The Matrix. The show does not share the same distinctive cinematography as The Matrix, but it has similar themes. Sense8 explores what it is to be human, and how we bond as a community. The show follows eight people who discover they share a unique mental connection.
Sense8 is a celebration of diverse life experiences, and the scenes in which the characters bond have come to define the show. That said, it leans into psychological horror and mystery at times, as the “sensates” flee a mysterious government organization. The show is one of the most creative and life-affirming sci-fi shows of all time, not just on Netflix.
8
Black Mirror
The Dystopian Series Is One Of the Darkest Of All Time
The British sci-fi TV show Black Mirror takes existing concepts like AI and social media and pushes them further, creating a terrifying glimpse into different possible futures. For this reason, it is one of the most realistic sci-fi shows on this list, and also the darkest. The episodes of Black Mirror can vary in quality, but each season has at least two standouts.
While the show is known for being extremely disturbing, one of the best episodes of Black Mirror is “San Junipero,” during which characters can upload their consciousness to a holiday world. It is one of the rare Black Mirror episodes with a happy ending, while others will stay in your mind for a long time after shutting Netflix down.
7
Love. Death, & Robots
A Cyberpunk Anthology You Can Binge In A Day
Most episodes of Love, Death, & Robots are under 15 minutes long, making the series an excellent sci-fi series that you can binge in a day. It is one of the most exciting sci-fi shows on Netflix, but it’s also one of the more polarizing, as different episodes will appeal to different viewers. Each episode showcases a unique animation technique and story.
Love, Death, & Robots drastically changes its tone from episode to episode, with some embracing space horror, like the notoriously disturbing “Spider Rose.” Others are hilarious, like “Night of the Mini Dead,” which shows a sped-up zombie apocalypse. The cyberpunk anthology has something for everyone, no matter what kind of sci-fi you like, which makes it one of the most innovative Netflix sci-fi shows.
6
Orphan Black
Tatiana Maslany Plays 17 Characters In This Sci-Fi Thriller
Tatiana Maslany is an underrated sci-fi icon for her roles in the series Orphan Black. The show is about a troubled woman who sees someone who looks identical to her walk in front of a train and decides to steal her identity. Orphan Black is about a secret government cloning experiment, with Maslany playing 17 different characters throughout the series.
Each of Orphan Black‘s clones is from a different background, and the show grows even more complex when several pretend to be each other, creating an incredible acting challenge for Maslany. The show lasts for five seasons and, unlike many of Netflix’s series which end too early, Orphan Black is a sci-fi masterpiece with a real ending.
5
Resident Alien
Alan Tudyk Shines In The Offbeat Comedy
Resident Alien is a sci-fi comedy series starring Alan Tudyk as Harry Vanderspeigle, an alien who assumes the identity of a small town’s doctor and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. The show stars several sci-fi icons, including The Terminator‘s Linda Hamilton, Tudyk’s Firefly co-star Nathan Fillion, and an instantly recognizable voice cameo from Star Trek‘s George Takei.
Despite excellent reviews from audiences and 98% positive critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, Resident Alien has now been canceled, with season 4 on its way. While Netflix regularly cancels sci-fi shows after one or two seasons, it appears that Resident Alien may have been allowed to wrap up with a proper ending after filming ended in April 2025.
4
Altered Carbon
A Cyberpunk Story About Revenge And Privilege
Altered Carbon is one of the most mind-bending sci-fi TV shows out there, as characters have the ability to change form. The story takes place in a dystopian cyberpunk future in which people have a chip implanted that contains their consciousness. This means that many people can treat their physical form like an outfit so long as the chip is intact.
The richest people in Altered Carbon are practically immortal, and the story follows Takeshi Kovacs, who is brought out of imprisonment by a rich patron (James Purefoy) to solve his own murder. The series has some incredibly disturbing moments, but it is a fantastic story about revenge in which most of the bad characters are destroyed, while the wronged characters find their own justice.
3
Stranger Things
A Homage To 80s Culture And Stephen King’s Horror
Stranger Things is arguably one of the most successful Netflix shows of all time, and a great sci-fi show for teens. The 1980s setting is a perfect way to avoid issues that plague many sci-fi shows with a modern backdrop, like cell phones and the internet. Stranger Things has a lot in common with Stephen King’s horror stories, including its main group of children uniting against monsters.
It is not just the nostalgia and genuinely terrifying monsters that make Stranger Things one of the best sci-fi shows on Netflix. The heart of Stranger Things is the evolving relationships between the main characters. Each season is darker than the last, and the show deals with subjects like grief and trauma, which are worse than any of the monsters.
2
The OA
One Of The Most Mind-Bending Sci-Fi Shows Out There
Of all Netflix’s abrupt and frustrating cancellations, The OA is almost certainly the one that is mourned most by its viewers and cast. The OA stars Brit Marling as Prairie, a blind woman who disappears, then returns with her sight and a new name: The OA, which appears to stand for “original angel.” The show lasted for two seasons but ended on a meta cliffhanger.
The OA ended its second season in the same world as the audience, with the actors using their real names. This was one of the most mind-blowing cliffhangers in TV history, and the cast of The OA are still committed to finishing the show. The OA brought some unique ideas to the sci-fi genre, and it is a must-watch despite the unresolved ending.
1
Arcane
An Animated Sci-Fi Based On League Of Legends
The League of Legends-inspired TV show Arcane has been described as one of “Netflix’s best shows of the decade.” With just two seasons and 18 episodes, it can be binged quickly. Arcane takes the characters from the video game League of Legends and explores their backstories, but it is possible to watch and enjoy Arcane without being familiar with the game.
Arcane stands out in a sea of live-action remakes by being an animated show that is beautiful to look at while also maintaining its emotional depth. The show has been praised by audiences of all kinds, including The Witcher‘s Henry Cavill. While few sci-fi shows get full marks on Rotten Tomatoes, critics gave Arcane a 100% positive score.
