Netflix is the top dog in streaming. You know it; I know it. It set the standard for what audiences expect in terms of content quality. With that said, sci-fi fans should come here first for must-watch genre TV shows. The writing, world-building, talent and envelope-pushing narratives are all here. And I'm not just talking about Stranger Things and Black Mirror.
It goes without saying that science fiction isn't a monolith. The genre comes in many shapes, styles and forms. Whether you're in the mood for something dystopian like 3 Body Problem or want a superhero adventure series like The Umbrella Academy, Netflix has you covered. Oh, and if you want some unique, off-kilter shows that defy categorization, there's also The OA and Maniac.
I can go on and on about every title in the streamer's lineup that you should add to your watch list, but that would just mean you'd be spending more time reading my words and less time watching something cool. So, enough small talk. Let's get to the action. Here are the best Netflix sci-fi TV shows you should be watching. Check back regularly, as I'll be updating this list monthly.
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Read more: Apple TV: 15 of the Absolute Best Sci-Fi Shows Your Should Stream Now
Netflix I Am Not Okay With This It's one thing to be a teenager and navigate the awkward elements that high school life has to throw at you. But add some newfound superpowers into the mix, and the challenges become even more complicated. This is basically what I Am Not Okay With This is about. The series is based on Charles Forsman's graphic novel and there is only one season. After being renewed, the show was ultimately canceled due to COVID restrictions and budgetary issues.
Eriek N Juragan/Netflix Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams It's sort of expected when a new genre anthology series premieres that someone will eventually compare it to The Twilight Zone. Well, that's exactly what I'm going to do with Joko Anwar's Nightmares and Daydreams. The new seven-episode anthology series leans heavily into horror territory and does so through an Indonesian lens.
Netflix Devil May Cry The popular video game series gets the anime treatment in Netflix's Devil May Cry. The gist in a nutshell: Dante, a charismatic demon hunter, has to, well, hunt demons to save humanity. Power Rangers alum Johnny Yong Bosch supplies the voice for Dante in the action-packed series co-created by Castlevania and Dredd producer Adi Shankar.
Netflix Stranger Things Stranger Things caught on like wildfire when the genre series quietly premiered its first season on Netflix in 2016. What began as an homage to '80s cinema, with callouts to E.T., Dungeons & Dragons, Goonies and the works of Stephen King, has blossomed into a layered and sweeping sci-fi adventure. The program follows a group of kids in Hawkins, Indiana, who, after meeting a mysterious girl they name Eleven, discover a sinister dimension hiding right under their feet. Government cover-ups, demonic hell-beasts and a cast full of beloved misfit characters make up this tour-de-force genre series. To wit, a long-awaited fifth and final season of Stranger Things will premiere in three volumes: three episodes drop tonight, Wednesday, Nov. 26; four episodes premiere on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25; and the series finale drops on New Year's Eve, Wednesday, Dec. 31. The new episodes will premiere at unusual times, compared to the previous seasons' rollouts. Vol. 1, Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 will all premiere at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Mariano Landet/Netflix Eternaut Netflix's beautifully shot, post-apocalyptic series is the long-awaited adaptation of the beloved Argentine graphic novel, El Eternauta, which was first published in 1957. The story follows Juan Salvo and a group of survivors who make it through a lethal snowstorm (the snowflakes literally kill) only to discover the real threat against humanity isn't a weather anomaly but an alien invasion.
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