Sci-fi is an endless playground for the imagination in which spaceships and time loops, and alternate dimensions converge. But for each Star Wars or Stranger Things, dozens more like them never saw the light of day. These diamonds in the rough challenge conventions, pose great questions, and remind us why science fiction is the greatest storytelling sandbox. So, if you’re ready to go beyond the usual blockbusters, here’s a countdown of ten underrated sci-fi films and TV shows that deserve your attention and maybe even a spot on your all-time favorites list.
10. Sphere (1998)
Let’s start with a deep dive, literally. Sphere, starring Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, and Samuel L. Jackson, plunges a group of scientists into the sea to explore a strange spacecraft and a glowing orb that plays havoc with their minds. The film was unfairly dismissed on its release, but beneath its patchy pacing is a gripping psychological thriller about fear, ego, and man’s vulnerability. It’s haunting, thought-provoking, and one of the most ambitious underwater sci-fi movies ever attempted.
9. See (2019–2022)
Jason Momoa gives one of his finest performances in See, a daring post-apocalyptic series that posits a world where humanity is blind. Civilizations have developed without eyesight until the arrival of two children born with sight challenges everything. With lush world-building, savage action, and unexpectedly poignant storytelling, See presents something both primal and elegant. It’s a crazy, underrated ride that should have a lot more love than it received.
8. Tales from the Loop (2020)
Melancholy and mystery, having a child would bear a resemblance to Tales from the Loop. Based on Simon Stålenhag’s haunting paintings, the series is set in a small community where an uncanny facility gives birth to reality-warping events. Every episode presents a subtle, introspective tale of human connection in a science-formed world. With breathtaking imagery, a chilling Philip Glass and Paul Leonard-Morgan score, and guest directors such as Jodie Foster, it’s an artistic masterpiece worth savoring and contemplation.
7. The 4400 (2004–2007)
Long before Heroes or The X-Files hooked us on bizarre activity, The 4400 posed a different question: what if thousands of missing persons suddenly reappeared, altered? The show mixes government conspiracy with personal character drama, examining how the world responds to the unexplainable. Despite being canceled prematurely, it is a cult hit due to its combination of sci-fi intrigue and emotional depth.
6. Dark Star (1974)
Well before Alien, John Carpenter and Dan O’Bannon collaborated on this offbeat space comedy about a crew of planets being sent to blow up unstable ones. Shot on a minuscule budget, Dark Star is a lo-fi, absurdist cult classic packed with existential humor and offbeat satire. Its low-budget appeal and irreverent style make it a compelling forerunner to both Alien and Red Dwarf. It’s strange, it’s funny, and a wonderful reminder that sci-fi need not be taken so seriously.
5. Warehouse 13 (2009–2014)
Equal parts enigma, humor, and comfort television, Warehouse 13 is one of Syfy’s most charming programs. It details a group of agents who go around collecting perilous, otherworldly objects, imagine Indiana Jones crossed with The X-Files with a wink. The characters are likable, the scenarios creative, and the mood welcoming to a certain extent. It’s the sort of series you can return to at any time and still discover something new to adore.
4. Counterpart (2017–2019)
J.K. Simmons gives a performance for the ages in Counterpart, starring as two variations of the same man, timid, hardened after stumbling upon a gateway to a parallel Earth. The series combines espionage with multiverse intrigue, creating a narrative that’s part spy thriller and part existential mystery. Intelligent, urbane, and superbly performed, it’s a slow-burning masterpiece that flew under too many radar screens.
3. Solaris (1972)
Andrei Tarkovsky’s Solaris is not about extraterrestrials; it’s about the alien quality of the human heart. When a psychologist visits a space station orbiting an otherworldly planet, he’s met with corporeal embodiments of his own recollections and guilt. The film takes its time, but it pays off with philosophical complexity and stunning visuals. It’s contemplative, eerie, and one of the most profound explorations of consciousness in cinema.
2. Fringe (2008–2013)
A spiritual aunt to The X-Files, Fringe tracks an FBI team as they investigate strange scientific phenomena that walk the fine line between brilliance and insanity. With J.J. Abrams and Alex Kurtzman at the helm, the show brings everything from body horror to time travel to parallel universes, all grounded by a surprisingly emotional center. Its later seasons are ambitious (and occasionally crazy), but its combination of heart and high-concept notions makes it a must-watch.
1. THX 1138 (1971)
Before Star Wars, George Lucas made this dark, entrancing vision of a world where emotion is prohibited and individuality suppressed. THX 1138 traces the lives of two individuals who resist a dull, drug-tolerant society and discover love in an environment where it is illegal. First a box office failure, it eventually developed cult status as one of the most powerful dystopian films ever created. Dark, haunting, and visually breathtaking, it’s evidence that Lucas was toying with rebellion well before the Rebels.
The sci-fi genre relies on discovery, and these underappreciated titles show that there’s still much more to discover. Whether they test your brain, tug at your heartstrings, or just blow your mind, each one has something unique to give. So load them up, turn out the lights, and get ready to venture into strange new worlds that too many fans have forgotten.