The 15 Best Sci-Fi Shows of the 21st Century (So Far), Ranked
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Science fiction has been a popular genre for over 100 years now, ever since the great writers like Jules Verne and H. P. Lovecraft revolutionized the medium, bringing readers tales of alien species from other worlds and of adventures to impossible places. Naturally, the genre would eventually make its way to other forms of media as well, including television and film.
There have been an endless number of science-fiction shows in the decades that television has been around, to the point where it's probably impossible to count them all. However, with the introduction of the new millennium came a ton of new film techniques that have helped boost sci-fi television to new heights. These are the greatest sci-fi shows of the 21st century, which are destined to become a piece of history in the world of TV.
15 'Orphan Black' (2013–2017)
Not all of the 21st century's greatest science fiction shows have received nearly as much praise as they deserve. Case in point: the Canadian cult classic Orphan Black, a thriller about an orphan who steals the identity of a dead woman who looks just like her, only to discover that they're actually genetically identical clones.
Orphan Black is one of those sci-fi TV shows that are underrated masterpieces, anchored by Tatiana Maslany's star-making powerhouse performance (often performances, plural) and some of the best writing of any sci-fi series from the 2010s. Airtight in its plotting and intricate in its exploration of themes of identity and autonomy, it's a show that has only gotten better with age and is still a must-see. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
14 'Foundation' (2021–Present)
Isaac Asimov was one of the most influential and impactful science fiction writers of all time, and his Foundation series of books in particular is among the greatest in the history of speculative fiction literature. As such, expectations were sky-high when Apple TV announced a TV series adaptation. Thankfully, at least so far, Foundation has proven to be one of the best sci-fi shows currently on television.
Reading Asimov's Foundation books, no one would have blamed you for thinking they were unadaptable, which only makes the fact that this is one of those hard sci-fi shows with no bad seasons all the more admirable. Visually delightful, epic in scale and scope, and full of brilliant adaptation choices, it's both one of the smartest and most entertaining sci-fi shows the small screen has seen in years. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
13 'Silo' (2023–Present)
Silo occurs in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has resorted to living in an enormous underground shelter, believing that it is their only salvation from the hazardous wastelands above. However, an investigator reveals that the rules that are meant to protect them might just be a sham, and that something much more sinister is going on beneath the surface (both literally and figuratively).
Based on a novel series by Hugh Howey, Silo has already won quite an impressive number of awards for being so young, with many critics commending the performance of the show's protagonist, Rebecca Ferguson. The inherent mystery of the show is far-reaching and intricate, allowing viewers to play detective along with the characters as they try to work out what is really going on in this dystopian society.
12 'The Expanse' (2015–2022)
The Expanse is set in the distant future, where space travel has become commonplace. However, this only causes more problems than solutions, as alliances of various planets in the solar system have begun to grow distant from each other, leading to a period of huge economic and political tension that pretty much turns into a galactic Cold War. In the middle of it all is the principal cast, who get caught up in a huge conspiracy that threatens to set off the powder keg that comes dangerously close to erupting into full-on warfare.
Not only is The Expanse something of a space opera, but it also has elements of futuristic film noir, with many mysteries and high-stakes plots at its core, all while the worlds hang on a dangerous precipice of their own self-inflicted destruction. It's not a perfect show by any means, and does have its noticeable flaws, but for the most part, the show has been a success that lasted for six whole seasons, which is far more than many TV shows can hope to get.
11 'Firefly' (2002)
Firefly is a name synonymous with abrupt, casual TV cancelations that made no sense whatsoever. It was a hit show that got rave reviews and had fans hungry for more, yet it was inexplicably canceled after just one season, much to the disappointment of sci-fi fans everywhere. Set 500 years in the future, the show details the journey of a renegade space vessel that travels to many distant and strange worlds far beyond the reaches of our solar system.
Not only is this show a source of nostalgia, but its cancelation only made it more of a martyr, in a sense, and ended up attracting more attention than it initially got. There was serious potential there, but the show ultimately was never given the chance to take off as much as it could have. In any case, the fourteen episodes it received are extremely entertaining, cementing the show as one of the most essential pieces of sci-fi television ever created. It's not just one of the best sci-fi series of the 2000s, but of the 21st century, too.
10 'From' (2022–Present)
Part sci-fi, part horror, and fully brilliant From follows Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau), the sheriff of an isolated town in the US wilderness that becomes plagued by nightmarish beings of unknown nature. Worse still, the town has become impossible to leave, and its residents are left floundering for any way to escape the hellish conditions of their existence, which grow more and more impossible with time.
From has been praised for its dark and foreboding tone, as well as the consistent sense of mystery it provides as to why this is happening and what could possibly be behind it. But by far the best part (aside from the story itself) is the performances of its cast, with Perrineau being a shining example of the expertise behind the roles. From has been pretty consistent with its producing one season per year, so fans are anxiously awaiting to see what new horrors the town will bring to them next.
9 'Rick and Morty' (2013–Present)
Rick and Morty is a sci-fi animated sitcom, featuring the titular characters loosely based on the classic Doc (Christopher Lloyd) and Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) from the Back to the Future movies. Only, in this show, the scientist is less of an eccentric genius and more of a hedonistic jerk, despite his intelligence, who takes his grandson on a whole slew of adventures through time and to other dimensions with the machines he's created.
While Rick (Justin Roiland / Ian Cardoni) is unapologetically the worst and is extremely selfish and callous, the dynamic he has with Morty (Roiland / Harry Belden) makes them one of the most iconic animated comedic duos of all time, producing some genuinely hilarious moments. There's no doubt in anyone's mind why this show is still a hit well over ten years after it premiered, and why it continues to make audiences laugh just as much as it did a decade ago.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you'd actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you're honest about what you're actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don't trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn't just tactical — it's physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they're actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You'd Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You're a systems thinker who can't help but notice the seams in things.
- You're drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
- You'd find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines' worst nightmare.
- You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
- The Matrix built an airtight prison. You'd be the one probing the walls for the door.
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn't reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That's you.
- You don't need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
- You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you're good at all three.
- You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
- In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Blade Runner
You'd survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
- You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
- In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
- You're not a hero. But you're not lost, either.
- In Blade Runner's world, that distinction is everything.
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
- Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they're survival tools.
- You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
- Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You'd learn its logic and earn its respect.
- In time, you wouldn't just survive Arrakis — you'd begin to reshape it.
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn't have it any other way.
- You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
- You'd gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire's grip can be broken.
- You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn't something you're capable of.
- In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
8 'Fallout' (2024–Present)
Fallout is the new Amazon Prime series based on the hit video game series of the same name. The story occurs in a post-apocalyptic wasteland ravaged by a long-past nuclear war, with some humans emerging from underground shelters called "vaults" after centuries, only to find themselves in what is essentially the new Wild West, with a whole slew of new dangers and challenges that the survivors must face.
From robots to mutated creatures to dangerous outlaws, the world of Fallout may not be pretty to look at, but it has remarkable depth and an astounding amount of intricacies. Normally, video game adaptations don't go over well with fans, but consumers of the Fallout games were very satisfied with the TV show. It offered a new insight into the world that gamers fell in love with, contained faithful references, and remained true to the spirit of its source material.
7 'Severance' (2022–Present)
Severance has become one of the most successful original series on Apple TV, largely due to its weaving intrigue and unique premise. The show is set in the present day, in a world where employees at a top-secret biotechnology corporation are forced to undergo a procedure to maintain the company's secrecy. This procedure essentially splits one's memories into two groups: their work life and their home life, but only one can be active at any given time. This means that when they are at work, they will forget everything about their home lives, and vice versa.
The show has been pretty engrossing and thought-provoking, bringing forward many important questions pertaining to philosophy, ethics, existentialism, and corporate culture that continuously generate discussions amongst its viewers. With more to come, it's not looking like those discussions will be dying down in the near future, as its audience is desperate for answers. Yet, it's more than likely that any subsequent releases will only provide more questions, but that's what makes the show so consistently great.
6 'Andor' (2022–2025)
Who could have predicted that a spin-off prequel show of a spin-off prequel movie would end up being the greatest Star Wars TV show to date? Moreover, who could have possibly predicted that such a random concept would end up resulting in what's probably the greatest piece of canon Star Wars media since the original trilogy's conclusion in the '80s? Indeed, applying those superlatives to Andor should be entirely uncontroversial.
On the one hand, it's one of the most deliriously entertaining science fiction thrillers the small screen has ever seen. On the other, it's also a wonderfully layered and nuanced celebration of rebellion in the face of authoritarian oppression. All in all, it's one of those rare sci-fi shows without any flaws, a true masterpiece which every fan of the genre—regardless of how they usually feel about Star Wars—should watch at least once in their lives. —Diego Pineda Pacheco
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