Sci-fi TV is the place where the creativity of the writers really comes to the fore. It is not every day that we get to witness a show which, in addition to amazing tech, aliens, or distant futures, forces us to ponder over what makes us human, morality, and the vast unknown cosmos. Whether you are an extreme addicted fan or just mildly curious about the subject matter, here is a ranking of the 10 best science fiction shows of all time. Get ready for a ride as these titles take you from bleak futures to other stars.
10. Murderbot
Despite being a little late to the party, Apple TV+’s Murderbot has made its impact and is already loved by the public as well as the critics. Adapted from Martha Wells’ bestselling novella series, it follows the story of a security robot going rogue who would much rather be watching Futurama than getting mixed up in human problems. The leading actor, Alexander Skarsgård, does it with sarcasm and grace and unexpectedly combines dark humor with the character’s existential crisis in a way that is as new as it is laugh-out-loud funny. With slick stunts and acerbic social critique, it is not surprising that the audience is calling it both the cleverest and funniest new sci-fi series of 2025.
9. Fringe
At first, it could be described as a very modern version of X-Files, but the story of Fringe went very deep and very complicated with time. Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson, and John Noble (who will always be the first choice for the role of Walter Bishop) were the main cast of this production that no one could escape from, hopping into parallel universes, conducting bizarre research, and dealing with family drama. Narrative risk-taking was one of the factors that made the show unpredictable, and they were already using multiverse story arcs before it became popular. Watching the entire series, you will understand why it is still one of the most daring genre programs of all time.
8. Firefly
Despite having only 14 episodes, Joss Whedon’s Firefly is a legend when it comes to cult TV series. Mixing space travel with the traditional Western tropes, the series gave us Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his crazy crew aboard the Serenity. The smart talk was streaming, the planets came to life, and the characters were intriguing enough to hold on to the viewers’ minds even after the show was cancelled. Its fanatical following is a reminder that sometimes the shortest-lived shows win the most.
7. Futurama
One of the few TV shows that could manage to be both ridiculous and tender at the same time is Futurama. Created by Matt Groening, this cartoon is set in the year 3000 but often feels like a satire of our present times. It’s loaded with bizarre characters, scathing satire, and more sci-fi references than you could count, and is very funny from start to finish. However, it also allows for very touching moments, e.g., Fry’s storytelling, which made me feel worse than I expected. The thing that makes it ridiculous yet still very touching is that we end up as very human characters.
6. The Expanse
If you are someone who likes your sci-fi grounded in reality, then The Expanse is a great example of that. The TV series, inspired by James S. A. Corey’s novels, paints a picture of the near future where Earth, Mars, and the Belt are embroiled in a political crisis. However, the show doesn’t shy away from hard science and maintains a strong focus on its characters. Dirty, cerebral, and political, it’s the kind of show that makes you feel like you are living right next to its crew.
5. Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a time-travel thought experiment that has continually reinvented itself through the regeneration of its main character, the Doctor, and that has been running for about six decades. The show has it all, from combating the Daleks to changing history, plus it’s at times hilariously campy, sharp, and insightful. Also, if you are a fan of the classic episodes or the modern reboot, Doctor Who still holds the title of being one of the most important sci-fi television shows and continues to inspire people of all ages to look at the universe with intrigue and faith.
4. Lost
In the beginning, Lost was a survival drama about a group of people who were stranded on a mysterious island. Later, the makers started weaving the story with different details like throwbacks, characters’ pasts, and ethical dilemmas. The many characters and the tension-filled storyline made the show a phenomenon of pop culture, which led to a large number of fan theories and discussions. No matter what you think about the finale, it is beyond dispute that Lost was a pioneer in audience participation with serialized TV shows.
3. Black Mirror
The Black Mirror by Charlie Brooker isn’t set in space or a faraway future, but its dark themes of technology gone awry have made it a necessary addition to the sci-fi canon. The series is an anthology, and every episode pokes and prods some aspect of contemporary relationships with technology, media, and power, most times with a sinister twist. From “San Junipero” and “USS Callister,” the show never clearly makes you a pessimist or optimist, always leaving you feeling disturbed and thoughtful at the same time. No sci-fi show is so accurate in capturing the digital era fear as this one.
2. Battlestar Galactica (2004)
The 2004 version of Battlestar Galactica is a radically different show from the 1970s series. The story of survivors of humanity who have been chased by their own machines and therefore, flee through the galaxy and fight for survival, leadership, and identity issues. With morally complex characters and cynical political allegories, it became one of the most popular series in its era. It maintains the same, gritty, intense, philosophical discourse of modern sci-, fi and hence it is one of the most critically praised series.
1. Star Trek (franchise)
No TV sci-fi series is similar to Star Trek in a way that it doesn’t exist. Even though it started with the original series, a rather idealistic show, and ended with Deep Space Nine, a complex one, and The Next Generation, the sense of adventure, the franchise wasn’t just about TV shows or one genre of TV, but it has been influential not only in TV but in the whole sci-fi genre as well. The crews of different races and nationals, the moral dilemmas, and the optimistic vision for the future, still, the decade-old reach out and continue to affect the present. Star Trek still goes on, boldly still finding new horizons not only in outer space but also within ourselves, and shows the audience that discovery never loses fascination.
From too-soon-cancelled cult favorites to epic franchises that reach across generations, these shows show that TV sci-fi is more than escapism—it’s an expression of who we are and who we could be. No matter whether you want to laugh, shiver, or ponder great existential questions, there’s a sci-fi TV show here worth a place on your watchlist.