The Absolute Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on Netflix (2023)

Netflixis sitting on a wide range of sci-fi series, fromStranger ThingstoBlack MirrortoThe OA. It's also tapped excellent international content, includingGerman sci-fi Dark-- one of the best series on Netflix full stop -- as well as hidden gems, such as Canadian sci-fi Travelers.

Scroll down to hopefully find the best Netflix sci-fi for you, plus excellent international offerings.`

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The Absolute Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on Netflix (1)

Netflix

Dark (2017-2020)

Germany's answer to Stranger Things deliberately takes its time before stepping into completely compelling and original places. A sci-fi noir, Dark folds time travel, conspiracies and estranged families into a generation-spanning story kicked off by a child's disappearance. If those kinds of meticulously crafted layers are what you're after in your storytelling, settle in. All three seasons of Dark's meditative look at time travel and its effect on human nature are waiting to hit you at full force.

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Netflix

Away (2020)

Hilary Swank is the big star at the heart of Away's space drama. She plays Emma Green, a NASA astronaut and commander of an expedition to Mars. Things get off to a rocky start, and Emma's international crew fill her with doubt over her ability to command. With time split between Earthbound drama and reliable entertainment above the stratosphere, Away is mostly successful in landing an all-rounded journey.

The Absolute Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on Netflix (3)

Laurie Sparham/Netflix

Black Mirror (2011—)

While Charlie Brooker's bleak tech anthology series can be hit and miss, at its best, Black Mirror packs its mini-movies with an exploration of futuristic technological ideas through painfully human stories. One of those is San Junipero, following two women in the '80s (cue banging soundtrack) as they fall for each other in ways they couldn't do in their "real" lives outside the beach city. The tech aspect is revealed with genius timing and, in general, the show explores the consequences of our plugged-in lives in disturbing and occasionally uplifting ways.

(Video) The Absolute Best Sci-Fi TV Shows on Netflix According to IMDB #besttvseries #scifi #netflix

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Netflix

Stranger Things (2016—)

It wouldn't be a best list without Stranger Things. If somehow you've missed the Duffer Brothers' ode to '80s horror and Steven Spielberg, things are about to get tubular. We follow El, a near-mute girl who was the subject of scientific experiments. She develops telekinetic powers, which she uses to fend off monsters who invade from a frightening alternative dimension. The world of Indiana, Hawkins, is lovingly detailed for anyone in need of an '80s nostalgia hit and the misfit characters, played by a stellar young cast, are part of everything that makes this show a tour de force.

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JoJo Whilden/Netflix

The OA (2016-2019)

Netflix cancellations don't get more criminal than the axing of The OA. This wildly unique story follows Prairie Johnson, a young blind woman who returns after being missing for years, now with the ability to see. She claims to be the "original angel" and convinces a small group of locals to listen to her impossible story, involving abductions and great escapes. The OA is the kind of grounded sci-fi that catches you and its heroes completely off guard when it introduces its fantastic concepts. Watch the first two impeccable seasons on Netflix and cross your fingers the third is picked up elsewhere.

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Netflix

Into the Night (2020—)

This apocalyptic sci-fi from Belgium will probably turn you off from flying any time soon. Set on a plane, Into the Night sees a red-eye hijacked by a soldier who, along with the rest of the passengers, ends up surviving a deadly global event down on the ground. Can they keep the plane going long enough to take them to safety? That premise alone should be enough to entice you to catch this excellent,tense thriller.

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Netflix

(Video) Top 10 Best SCI FI Series On Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple tv+ | Best Sci Fi Series To Watch In 2023

Travelers (2016-2018)

Full disclosure: Netflix sadly canceled Travelers after its third season, but this tightly plotted sci-fi out of Canada does manage to end with an ambitious bang. We start with Marcy, a disabled woman who's beaten up after helping a friend escape thugs. She dies -- then comes back to life. This strong character-driven sci-fi reveals its secrets in clever ways, following operatives from the future tasked with preventing the collapse of society but also navigating the tricky territory of living a double life.

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Murray Close/Netflix

Sense8 (2015-2018)

From the creators of The Matrix comes another story that plays with reality. Sense8 follows eight strangers from across the world who discover they're mentally and emotionally linked. Not only do these windows into vastly different lives teach tolerance, but the "sensates" can also tap each other's skills when facing a sinister organization hunting them down. If you jibe with Sense8's diverse characters, you'll fall head over heels for this earnest and sensualsci-fi drama.

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Netflix

Altered Carbon (2018-2020)

Altered Carbon is set in a cyberpunk world where human consciousnesses can be transferred into different bodies. This sees investigator and ex-soldier Takeshi Kovacs transported into the body of Joel Kinnaman in season 1 and Anthony Mackie in season 2. Initially, Kovacs' story involves solving a murder, before he goes on a quest to unravel what happened to his own lost love. Altered Carbon can be clunky at times, but its visual candy and entertainment value hoist you through the exposition and heavy-handed social commentary.

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Netflix

Lost in Space (2018-2021)

The reboot of the 1965 series of the same name propels us forward to 2046, two years after humanity finds itself on the brink of extinction. The talented Robinson family head out with a crew to colonize a new planet. Aside from inescapable family drama, they face strange new environments and an odd alien robot that befriends young Will. Mystery, heart and a memorable villain in Parker Posey's Dr. Smith give Lost in Space plenty of fuel to lift off (seasons 2 and 3 are markedly improved over season 1).

(Video) Top 13 Best Netflix Sci-Fi Series to Binge | Netflix Originals Sci-fi Web Series to Watch

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Netflix

The Silent Sea (2021—)

Yeah, Gong Yoo from Squid Game's in this. What else do you need to know? This South Korean sci-fi mystery follows a crew of astronauts on a mission to an abandoned research facility on the moon. Their target: a sample of an unknown substance for unclear purposes. Betrayal, government lies and personal secrets send this addictive space journey into a tailspin.

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Netflix

Archive 81 (2022)

Unfortunately this sci-fi series isn't seeing a second season -- another Netflix casualty that was killed off far too soon. Two timelines, cults and a mystery are wrapped into Archive 81's tantalizing package. The multiple genre-straddling show stars Mamoudou Athie as Dan Turner, an archivist who takes a gig restoring a collection of damaged videotapes from the '90s. He gets far more than he bargained for, drawn into an investigation of a mysterious cult and a young woman who may or may not be dead. A supernatural thriller with horror, noir and sci-fi seeped into its creepy atmosphere, Archive 81 has it all.

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Warner Bros./YouTube/CNET Screenshot

The 100 (2014-2020)

If The 100 looks like your standard teen drama, prepare to have your expectations exceeded. There's a reason this post-apocalyptic series scored seven seasons: The 100 brings rich world-building and moral dilemmas that push the stereotypical characters into unique, compelling places. The 100 in question are a generation of juvenile detainees sent to Earth to determine whether it's habitable post-apocalypse. 100 percent give this one a go.

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(Video) Top 10 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows [YOU MUST WATCH]

Love, Death + Robots (2019—)

This adult animated anthology series spans a range of genres, with plenty of episodes hitting the Black Mirror comparison button. Robots in a post-apocalyptic city, farmers piloting mech suits and a space mission gone wrong all pop up in the first season. While the episodes can be hit and miss (some have been criticized for their treatment of women), you'll find plenty of thought-provoking and impressive animation.

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Netflix

The One (2021)

A DNA researcher claims that it's possible to match people based on genetics, and founds a matchmaking service. A murder investigation takes things for a turn. The One is based on a book of the same name by John Marrs, published in 2016.

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FAQs

Is there any good sci-fi series on Netflix? ›

From classics like Star Trek to modern hits such as Stranger Things, to underrated series like Dark and Travelers, there's plenty of quality TV to watch for the first time or revisit for a second or third viewing.

What is the #1 Netflix series of all time? ›

Netflix's most watched TV shows, ranked
  • Squid Game (season 1), a Korean survival thriller -- 1.65 billion hours.
  • Stranger Things (season 4), a retro sci-fi series -- 1.35 billion hours.
  • Wednesday, a coming-of-age supernatural dark comedy -- 1.24 billion hours.
Feb 14, 2023

What is the most talked about Netflix series? ›

The Top 10 Most Popular TV Shows on Netflix Right Now
  • Outer Banks.
  • Ginny & Georgia.
  • The Law According to Lidia Poët.
  • Physical: 100.
  • Red Rose.
  • The Upshaws.
  • New Amsterdam.
  • Perfect Match.
Feb 20, 2023

What is the highest rated sci-fi? ›

Best Science Fiction Movies of 2021, Ranked by Tomatometer
  • #8. Black Widow (2021) 79% ...
  • #7. Free Guy (2021) 80% ...
  • #6. Oxygen (2021) 88% ...
  • #5. Little Fish (2020) 91% ...
  • #4. The Suicide Squad (2021) 90% ...
  • #3. A Quiet Place Part II (2021) 91% ...
  • #2. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) ...
  • #1. EVANGELION:3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time (2021) 100% #1.

What are the 5 most watched Netflix shows? ›

The 10 most popular TV shows on Netflix right now
  • New Amsterdam season 1 (2018) ...
  • Love Is Blind season 3 (2020) ...
  • My Lover My Killer season 2 (2021) ...
  • New Amsterdam season 4 (2018) 63 % ...
  • Physical: 100 season 1 (2023) 7.7/10. ...
  • Full Swing season 1 (2023) 8.4/10. ...
  • Perfect Match season 1 (2023) 82 % ...
  • You season 4 part 1 (2018) 72 %
6 days ago

What is the most viewed show ever? ›

The Super Bowl has frequently been the most watched American television broadcast of the year. The Apollo 11 Moon Landing was the most watched U.S. television event in history drawing nearly 150 million viewers.

What is the most watched series on Netflix in 2022? ›

The Upside Down took the No. 1 position on Nielsen's 2022 streaming chart: Netflix's blockbuster “Stranger Things,” led by the release of the fourth season, was the most-streamed TV show — and overall program — in the U.S. last year.

What is the best crime thriller on Netflix? ›

Critically Acclaimed FilmsExplore more
  • The Platform.
  • 1922.
  • Oxygen.
  • Gerald's Game.
  • The Gift.
  • Taxi Driver.
  • Coming Home in the Dark.
  • Always Shine.

Which Netflix series has the best ratings? ›

The most popular shows ranking on our guide to the best-reviewed on Netflix include Stranger Things (which aired its fourth season in 2022), phenom Squid Game (which will air its second season in 2023 or 2024), video game curse-breaking adaptations (Arcane: League of Legends, The Witcher, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners), crime ...

What is the best mystery on Netflix right now? ›

Crime MoviesExplore more
  • Spenser Confidential.
  • Lost Girls.
  • The Woman in the Window.
  • Shutter Island.
  • Twin Murders: the Silence of the White City.
  • The Chalk Line.
  • Disappearance at Clifton Hill.
  • Brazen.

What sci-fi should I watch now? ›

'Riddick,' 'Black Panther 2,' 'Elysium' & more: 21 of the best sci-fi movies you can stream right now
  • Pitch Black / The Chronicles of Riddick / Riddick. Universal Pictures. ...
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. ...
  • Elysium. ...
  • Jurassic World. ...
  • Teen Wolf: The Movie. ...
  • A.I. Artificial Intelligence. ...
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. ...
  • Dune.
Feb 14, 2023

Who is the king of sci-fi? ›

Arthur C Clarke at 100: still the king of science fiction.

What is the most controversial sci-fi show on Netflix? ›

1. “Demons” and “Terra Prime” (Season 4, Episodes 20 and 21)

What is the #1 most watched film in Netflix history? ›

Red Notice

What is the number 1 most watched show in the world? ›

One Piece is the most-watched show in the world (according to TV Time) As for One Piece, the pirate-themed anime adventure is one of the biggest anime series in history, adapted from one of the biggest manga series in history.

What's the number 1 show in America? ›

NFL Sunday Night Football

What is the most watched series in 2022? ›

Stranger Things became the most watched TV series in 2022 in the US.

What is hot on Netflix right now? ›

Popular on Netflix
  • BAKI.
  • The Walking Dead.
  • Dynasty.
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.
  • The Sandman.
  • Good Girls.
  • The Last Dance.
  • Attack on Titan.

What is the most exciting crime series? ›

The Best Crime TV of 2022
  • The White Lotus, Season 2 (HBO Max)
  • Slow Horses, Season 1 (Apple TV+)
  • The Dropout, Limited Series (Hulu)
  • Reacher, Season 1 (Amazon Prime Video)
  • Bad Sisters, Limited Series (Apple TV +)
  • The Old Man, Limited Series (FX)
  • Andor, Season 1 (Disney +)
  • Severance, Season 1 (Apple TV+)
Dec 23, 2022

Which is the No 1 suspense thriller movies? ›

All Time Worldwide Box Office for Thriller/Suspense Movies
RankReleasedMovie
12019Joker
22006The Da Vinci Code
32014The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
42010Inception
67 more rows

What is the secret show on Netflix? ›

The crime series is based on the real-life double murder of Lesley Howell and Trevor Buchanan that took place in Castlerock, Londonderry in Northern Ireland back in 1991, and takes inspiration from Let This Be Our Secret, journalist Deric Henderson's account of the crime.

What should I watch on Netflix fantasy sci-fi? ›

TV Sci-Fi & Fantasy
  • Wednesday.
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender.
  • Stranger Things.
  • Lucifer.
  • The 100.
  • The Flash.
  • Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous.
  • Supernatural.

What's the best sci-fi streaming right now? ›

'Riddick,' 'Black Panther 2,' 'Elysium' & more: 21 of the best sci-fi movies you can stream right now
  • Pitch Black / The Chronicles of Riddick / Riddick. Universal Pictures. ...
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Marvel Entertainment. ...
  • Elysium. ...
  • Jurassic World. ...
  • Teen Wolf: The Movie. ...
  • A.I. ...
  • Upgrade. ...
  • Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Feb 14, 2023

What do you watch with Netflix and chill? ›

Popular on NetflixExplore more
  1. Minions: The Rise of Gru.
  2. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.
  3. Trolls.
  4. The Sea Beast.
  5. Hotel Transylvania 2.
  6. Your Place or Mine.
  7. Kung Fu Panda 3.
  8. Daddy Day Care.

What is the most controversial sci fi show on Netflix? ›

1. “Demons” and “Terra Prime” (Season 4, Episodes 20 and 21)

What sci fi show did Netflix cancel? ›

Netflix has canceled the audacious, multilingual sci-fi show 1899 after a scant six weeks of being available to stream. To be clear, this is not the show that stars Faith Hill (that's 1883) or Harrison Ford (that's 1923).

Who is the king of sci fi? ›

Arthur C Clarke at 100: still the king of science fiction.

What sci fi show has the most seasons? ›

Doctor Who is the sci-fi TV show that keeps on giving. Hailing from the U.K., Doctor Who is the longest running sci-fi series in TV history, with 26 seasons and 869 episodes and counting (there was a rather large hiatus between 1989 and 2005 though).

What new series should I stream? ›

Netflix
  • Formula 1: Drive to Survive (2019) new. 8.7/10. ...
  • You (2018) tv-ma 4 Seasons. ...
  • Lockwood & Co. ( 2023) ...
  • Bel-Air (2022) new. tv-ma 2 Seasons. ...
  • Poker Face (2023) new. tv-ma 1 Season. ...
  • Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin (2022) tv-ma 1 Season. ...
  • The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (2023) new. tv-pg 1 Season. ...
  • Hello Tomorrow! (
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