CBS's 156-Episode Sci-Fi Masterpiece Is Officially Free To Stream & It's A Must-Watch

Published Sep 26, 2026, 9:45 AM EDT

Ben is a Senior Writer on the New TV team at Screen Rant. He graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class B.A. Degree in English Literature and History.

Born and raised in Ireland, Ben has always had a love for storytelling in all forms of media and operates multiple projects under the name Benjamin Blogs. Ben is a comic book writer and podcast host, in addition to his work as an entertainment journalist. He has worked as both a writer and editor for Screen Rant, Collider, and other media outlets across various departments, including features, news, reviews, and interviews.

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In the age of streaming, sometimes it can be challenging to find your next watch, but fans of sci-fi are in for a treat with one of the best shows of the genre now streaming for free. CBS has an eclectic range of captivating shows, including major crime dramas like NCIS and Criminal Minds, long-running reality shows like Survivor, and of course, iconic sitcoms like I Love Lucy and The Big Bang Theory.

However, one of their early massive hits came in the form of an anthology sci-fi series dreamed up by Rod Serling, which ran from 1959 to 1964 during its initial run. Of course, the show in question is The Twilight Zone. And while the show's earliest run spanned 5 years, the show has been revived three times since then, with the latest revival running from 2019 to 2020.

The show that started it all was a spectacular 156-episode run, and now, audiences can enjoy every second of that era completely free on Tubi. For sci-fi fans specifically, this is an enormous moment, because of the enormous influence The Twilight Zone has had on the genre through the decades.

The Twilight Zone Changed Sci-Fi Forever

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Not only is The Twilight Zone a breakthrough series that shattered expectations before sci-fi became a mainstream staple of entertainment, but the show's anthology format led to enormous creativity in each episode and a wealth of ideas that went on to inspire future creatives in numerous ways.

Not only did The Twilight Zone serve as a precursor to modern marvels like Black Mirror and Love, Death + Robots, which both play on anthology narratives and clearly draw inspiration from the storytelling found in The Twilight Zone, but individual episodes and themes found throughout the series inspired a great deal of speculative sci-fi.

In an age when streaming is dominating the landscape of TV, The Twilight Zone may not be as familiar to modern audiences, but the show's influence has no doubt impacted an impossible number of releases in the decades since this series appeared on TV.

From the many shows that draw inspiration to the imaginations ignited while watching this profound and captivating series, The Twilight Zone stands out as a catalyst for original storytelling. And yet, when the show has been revisited in various iterations and evolutions, it seems to hit a wall that betrays just how pivotal the original show was.

Nothing Quite Matches The Vibe Of The Original Twilight Zone

There have been many imitations of The Twilight Zone, and while some spectacular shows have been born through inspirations gleaned from this series, there is nothing in the world that compares to Rod Serling's original show. Revivals have brought in new hosts and creative narratives that are worth watching, but the original has a magic spark that has proven impossible to replicate.

From the lilt and tone of Serling's voice, the matter-of-fact delivery of each summation, and the bizarre and provocative narratives that filled up the runtime, 1959's The Twilight Zone is an entirely unique experience that must be watched to be understood. And even then, sometimes the feelings the show inspires last far longer than the content.

With all of that in mind, now is the time to enter The Twilight Zone and experience the series in all its glory. While some elements might appear dated, and there is certainly a lack of contemporary references for overtly obvious reasons, this show is a piece of history, and one that continues to define creative storytelling, both in the sci-fi space and more broadly as a part of the cultural makeup of TV and creativity at large.