20 Best Sci-Fi Shows To Watch On Netflix
Maniac
Two strangers, Annie and Owen, connect during a mysterious and mind-bending pharmaceutical trial set in a retro-future New York City. As they undergo treatment to "fix" their psychological traumas, they find their consciousnesses merging across various hallucinatory dream worlds created by a depressed supercomputer. It is a surreal, visually inventive miniseries that explores the complexity of mental health and the fundamental human need for connection and shared reality.
Stranger Things
Set in the 1980s in Hawkins, Indiana, this series begins with the mysterious disappearance of a young boy and the appearance of a psychokinetic girl named Eleven. As her friends search for him, they uncover government conspiracies and a terrifying alternate dimension known as the "Upside Down." Blending supernatural horror with nostalgic adventure, it has become one of Netflix's most iconic and beloved flagship series.
Black Mirror
This anthology series explores the "dark side" of modern technology, examining how our most advanced innovations could lead to unforeseen and often devastating social consequences. Each standalone episode offers a unique, often cynical look at near-future scenarios involving social media, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence. It serves as a modern-day Twilight Zone, forcing viewers to question their own relationship with the digital world.
3 Body Problem
Adapted from Liu Cixin’s acclaimed novel series, this ambitious show spans from 1960s China to present-day London. When a group of scientists encounters an advanced extraterrestrial civilization, humanity faces an existential threat that challenges the very laws of physics. It is a high-concept "first contact" story that prioritizes intellectual puzzles and grand scientific theories, asking how the world would truly react to an impending alien invasion.
Dark
Set in a small German town, Dark begins with the disappearance of two children, which unspools a sprawling mystery involving four interconnected families. The show is a masterpiece of complex storytelling, focusing on a time-travel conspiracy that spans several generations. It explores themes of determinism and causality, asking if we are truly in control of our own destinies or merely pawns in an endless, pre-written loop.
Arcane
Set in the universe of League of Legends, Arcane tells the origin story of two sisters, Vi and Jinx, who find themselves on opposite sides of a brewing war. The conflict pits the wealthy, utopian city of Piltover against the oppressed, chemical-soaked underbelly of Zaun. With breathtaking animation and deep character work, it explores the intersection of magic and technology (Hextech) and the devastating personal cost of revolution.
Lost in Space
A modern reimagining of the 1960s classic, this series follows the Robinson family after their colonist ship is attacked and they crash-land on a dangerous, alien planet. Forced to survive in a hostile environment, they must work together while dealing with internal tensions and a mysterious, sentient alien robot. It is a family-oriented adventure that balances high-stakes survival with stunning visual effects and a focus on human ingenuity and resilience.
Love, Death + Robots
This adult animation anthology features a collection of short films ranging from satirical comedies to hyper-violent military sci-fi. Each episode is produced by a different animation studio, resulting in a wide variety of visual styles and storytelling techniques. Whether it’s sentient yogurt taking over the world or mechs defending a farm from alien bugs, the series is a creative celebration of sci-fi concepts and experimental animation.
Bodies
When the same dead body appears on the same street in London's Whitechapel across four different years—1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053—four detectives must solve the mystery. As their investigations overlap, they uncover a conspiracy that spans over 150 years and threatens the future of Britain. It is a high-concept procedural that expertly weaves together historical drama, modern thriller, and futuristic sci-fi into a single, mind-bending narrative.
Altered Carbon
In a future where human consciousness can be digitized and downloaded into new bodies called "sleeves," death has become a mere inconvenience for the wealthy. The series follows Takeshi Kovacs, a former elite soldier who is "resleeved" centuries after his death to solve a high-stakes murder mystery. It is a gritty, neon-soaked neo-noir that explores the philosophical implications of immortality and the vast divide between the rich and the poor.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Based on the video game Cyberpunk 2077, this vibrant anime follows David Martinez, a talented street kid who becomes an "edgerunner"—a high-tech mercenary—to survive in the corrupt metropolis of Night City. The show is a visceral exploration of "cyberpsychosis" and the dehumanizing nature of extreme body modification. It’s a fast-paced, tragic, and visually stunning prequel that perfectly captures the "high tech, low life" aesthetic of the cyberpunk genre.
The Umbrella Academy
After 43 women around the world simultaneously give birth despite not being pregnant, seven of the children are adopted by a billionaire to form a superhero team. Years later, the estranged, dysfunctional siblings reunite for their father's funeral only to discover a global apocalypse is imminent. Blending dry humor with time-traveling chaos, the show focuses on the trauma of childhood stardom and the absurdity of saving the world.
Sense8
In a near-future where Earth suffers from a catastrophic water shortage, a team of elite personnel is sent to an abandoned lunar research base to retrieve a mysterious sample. Upon arrival, they discover that the "samples" are far more dangerous and inexplicable than they were told. Blending sci-fi with psychological thriller elements, this South Korean series explores the lengths humanity will go to in order to survive an environmental collapse.
Sweet Tooth
Ten years after a viral pandemic known as "The Great Crumble" wiped out most of humanity, hybrid babies born with animal characteristics began to appear. The story follows Gus, a naive deer-hybrid boy, as he leaves his secluded home to find his mother with the help of a gruff traveler. It is a "post-apocalyptic fairy tale" that offers a hopeful, whimsical contrast to the typical grimness of the genre.
Supacell
Set in modern-day South London, this British series follows five ordinary Black people who unexpectedly develop superpowers. They soon realize they are linked by a family history of sickle cell disease, which has mutated into a "supacell." Hunted by a shadowy organization, they must master their abilities while navigating their daily lives. It is a fresh, grounded take on the superhero genre that uses sci-fi to explore real-world social issues.
The Silent Sea
In a near-future where Earth suffers from a catastrophic water shortage, a team of elite personnel is sent to an abandoned lunar research base to retrieve a mysterious sample. Upon arrival, they discover that the "samples" are far more dangerous and inexplicable than they were told. Blending sci-fi with psychological thriller elements, this South Korean series explores the lengths humanity will go to in order to survive an environmental collapse.
The OA
Prairie Johnson, a young woman who went missing seven years ago while blind, suddenly reappears with her sight restored and strange scars on her back. Calling herself "The OA," she recruits five outcasts to hear her story of captivity and near-death experiences. It is a deeply polarizing and highly original series that explores the afterlife, interdimensional travel, and the power of storytelling to transcend physical and spiritual boundaries.
Better Than Us
Set in 2029, this Russian series depicts a world where advanced androids serve humans in almost every capacity. Arisa, an "empathetic" prototype capable of killing to protect her family, accidentally bonds with a young girl and becomes her guardian. The show explores the ethical dilemmas of AI and the "Liquidators" movement—humans who fear being replaced by machines—delivering a sophisticated look at the future of human-robot domestic relationships.
Oats Studios
Created by Neill Blomkamp (District 9), this is a collection of experimental short films that serve as "proof of concepts" for larger sci-fi ideas. From reptilian aliens enslaving humanity in Rakka to a reality-warping entity in Firebase, these shorts are gritty, visceral, and push the boundaries of CGI. It is a must-watch for fans of hardcore sci-fi who enjoy seeing raw, uncompromising visions of dystopian futures and horrific alien encounters.
Tribes of Europa
In 2074, decades after a global technological collapse, Europe has fractured into warring tribal microstates. Three siblings from the peaceful "Origines" tribe are thrust into the center of a continental conflict when they discover a mysterious cube from a technologically advanced pilot. It is a gritty, post-apocalyptic saga that blends political intrigue with "lost technology" tropes, as different tribes fight for control over the future of a broken continent.
