Netflixhas been growing steadily ever since its inception back in 1997. Although the company started out as a DVD-rental service (a fact that some younger viewers might not be aware of), it’s since grown into one of the most widely-known and beloved streaming services on the Internet. With millions of dollars of revenue each year, and a slew of original programs popping up,Netflixis showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
This is great news for fans, especially those that enjoy sci-fi series. Netflix is home to a lot of genres and science-fiction sees just as much love as the rest. Viewers that are looking for something to binge should definitely consider some of the following shows, as they’re some of thebest science-fiction series on Netflix.
Number of Episodes
16
Based on Haro Aso’s manga,Alice in Borderlandfalls within the ever-so-rare “play or die” subgenre. Various characters are stuck in a desolate Tokyo, where they are forced to compete in games to win cards with numbers on them. As those numbers designate their owner’s remaining days alive, everyone is trying to get their hands on as many cards as possible.
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Alice in Borderlandframes its episodes around different games, and the show continuously shakes things up to ensure a situation rarely overstays its welcome. This lends the series an episodic quality that makes it easy to get invested in the minute-to-minute action; at the same time, the overarching story is always cooking in the background as well.Alice in Borderlandis also not afraid to throw out the occasional gut punch, creating the feeling that no character is truly safe.
28
Sci-fi fanatics are likely familiar with the nameLost in Space, considering it’s one of the most influential and important shows in the history of the genre. The original series ran from 1965 to 1968, but it has recently been rebooted as of 2018. The reboot follows a similar premise to the original release, with incredibly updated visuals and a much darker look overall.Lost in Spacefollows the Robinson family as they end up crash-landing on an alien planet.
Viewers will get three seasons of sci-fi goodness out of this release, as they watch the group try to survive (and escape) the strange landscape.
8
Easily one of the strangest shows on this list,Sweet Toothfollows the journey of a young half-human/half-deer hybrid as he tries to survive a post-apocalyptic world. Based on the DC Comic series,Sweet Toothcan be best described as a child’s fairytale for grown-ups. With mature themes of loss, greed, and hatred, this sci-fi fantasy perfectly blends edge-of-the-seat excitement with whimsical drama.
The end result is truly a trip, with a great cast of characters that make the journey even better. There’s currently only one season but (as of writing) season 2 has been in production since January 2022.
Shadow and Bone
Viewers craving something that fits the sci-fi bill but features heavy Fantasy-influences should check outShadow and Bone. This surreal series feels like something out of theWarhammeruniverse, blending old and new worlds to create a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing world that perfectly mixes old and new technologies. Time feels irrelevant in this adventure, which exists in its own mysterious world, filled with monsters, mayhem, and a bleak overarching storyline.
With only one season currently, fans can easily catch up on this series, which takes the traditional hero’s journey and adds some amazing sci-fi fantasy elements.
100
The first binge-worthy series to hit this list is a lengthy post-apocalyptic science-fiction adventure that originally aired on the CW and lasted seven seasons. Cleverly ending on the one-hundredth episode, The 100 follows a dark future in which the Earth has become uninhabitable following a world-ending nuclear event. The series opens with the introduction of The Ark, a space station situated in orbit that houses some of the last remaining survivors and the families they’ve been raising.
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After ninety-seven years, unfortunate events on the Ark have forced a group of detainees to return to Earth to see if it’s habitable. The end result is a thrilling sci-fi ride through a post-apocalyptic world and the struggles humanity faces when trying to re-inhabit a world they lost.
9
Once upon a time, movies or shows based on video games were destined to disappoint or infuriate; however, things have somewhat changed in recent years. While Hollywood continues to churn out merely passable blockbusters based on sure-fire franchises likeUncharted, Netflix has built up a respectable catalog of series adaptations of games.Castlevaniastarted this trend, but an argument could be made thatArcaneperfected it.
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Based on Riot Games’League of Legends, Netflix’sArcanecan be appreciated even if someone is not familiar with the source material. The show does a brilliant job of establishing its world and characters, creating a fascinating universe that aches to be explored. Boasting gorgeous animation that surpasses nearly anything else on Netflix and most other streaming services,Arcaneis a masterclass of presentation and storytelling. Even though only one season is currently available, these nine episodes are fantastic enough to cementArcaneas one of thebest sci-fi series on Netflix.
110
Arrowverse fans are well served by Netflix, with the streaming service containingArrow,The Flash,Supergirl,Black Lightning, andDC’sLegends of Tomorrow. Combined, Netflix has 33 seasons worth of superhero-themed content, which should keep someone busy for quite a while. Technically all these shows incorporate science-fiction elements, but the majority lean heavily into fantasy or crime territory.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrowis the Arrowverse’s most unabashedly sci-fi property, taking inspiration from the genre’s b-movie offerings. Bringing together a host of heroes along with villains who have turned new leaves, this series revolves predominantly around time travel. Recruited by a Time Master, the Legends travel through history to guarantee that everything happens as it should. With a rotating roster of characters and a lighthearted tone,Legends of Tomorrowis a consistently fun ride that rarely takes itself too seriously.
22
The Twilight Zonestands as one of the most interesting and engaging sci-fi horror series to ever hit television. The Rod Sterling-hosted franchise lasted for five years in its black-and-white form but has been revived a couple of times over the last handful of decades. There have also been some spin-offs and unique original shows that have attempted to nail the formula made popular by the original release.
One such show isBlack Mirror, aTwilight Zone-like series with a much heavier focus on science-fiction themes. The series presents episodic one-off stories that showcase amuch darker side to future technologyand scientific discoveries.
From the mind behindAdventure Time, Pendleton Ward, and Duncan Trussell comesThe Midnight Gospel, a psychedelic trip fueled by conversations the latter had on his podcast. The animated series uses those real-life discussions to craft fantastical stories that deal with themes of self-help and meditation. Unsurprisingly, the show does not concern itself too much with logic or consistency, opting instead to let the mind wander wherever it may want to go.
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In terms of a framework,The Midnight Gospelfollows Clancy, a spacecaster who travels to different dimensions in search of fascinating conversations for his platform. Each episode features a different guest talker, along with worlds that complement their stories. An argument could be made thatThe Midnight Gospelis just plain old fantasy, but the show has enough sci-fi touches to warrant a recommendation.
18
Those looking for a smaller, shortersci-fi seriesmight want to check outAltered Carbon. Although the show has somewhat of a cult following, it only managed to stick around on Netflix for two seasons before being abruptly canceled. Unfortunately, it didn’t maintain the necessary viewership to keep churning forward but that has no bearing on the show itself in terms of its quality and storytelling.
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Altered Carbonfollows Takeshi Kovacs as they navigate a complicated Cyberpunk-inspired world to gain their freedom from a prison sentence. Viewers will watch Takeshi attempt to solve a murder in the advanced world while he tries to keep himself safe from the technological dangers that lurk in the distant future.
