Prime Video is where it's at for sci-fi shows. The Amazon-owned streaming platform has a lot to offer, and the genre titles it carries are next-level. I've written about sci-fi TV shows on streamers like Netflix and Apple TV, and I'm confident in saying the science fiction featured on Prime Video hits different.
Perhaps it's the indie-film vibe that permeates many of these titles. It may be the fearlessness of the narratives therein. What I do know is that these shows push the envelope in one way or another, which makes every program I list below worth your time.
Whether you're looking for something bleak and dystopian or a lighter show with lesser stakes, you'll find something worth watching here. Below are the best sci-fi shows on Prime Video right now. Please check back each month, as I'll be updating this article regularly.
Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Read more: Prime Video: The 30 Absolute Best Shows to Watch
CBS The Twilight Zone I really don't know what new can be said about The Twilight Zone that hasn't already been said. This is the granddaddy of all anthology series and remains a genre benchmark after all these years. Rod Serling created the sci-fi classic in 1959, and it lasted just five seasons. But that was enough to leave its cultural impact. Some standout episodes to explore include Time Enough at Last, Eye of the Beholder, To Serve Man, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet and Living Doll.
Syfy/NBC Universal 12 Monkeys 12 Monkeys is inspired by the Terry Gilliam classic, which posits the notion that a criminal from the future must travel back in time to stop a plague from destroying the human race. The series uses the same theme as a jumping-off point, but it expands the story universe and takes things in new and exciting directions. Its four-season run remains one of the best, underrated sci-fi shows of the past decade.
CBS Person of Interest Person of Interest follows an ex-CIA agent and a billionaire shut-in who fight crime that hasn't happened yet, thanks to an AI program that predicts the future. Sure, that sounds like Minority Report. I assure you, it's not. Beneath the network procedural veneer lives a surprising amount of depth in this show. That shouldn't come as a surprise, considering that it features J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk -- yes, the same Bad Robot duo behind Lost -- as executive producers.
Starz American Gods Bryan Fuller's American Gods feels like a dream in that it was here and then gone in a flash. Over its three seasons, the program delved into the ethereal universe created by Neil Gaiman in his iconic novel. The story follows an ex-convict named Shadow Moon who begins working with a man named Mr. Nobody, only to discover a world where the old gods (I'm talking characters like Odin, Anansi and Jesus) and new gods (Media, Technical Boy and Mr. World, among others) are on the brink of war. You can watch the entire first season on Prime Video.
Amazon MGM Studios Gen V As powerful, violent and bewildering as its parent series The Boys, Gen V shines a light on the next generation of genetically altered superheroes. The usual social and political tropes are on display here. Additionally, Gen V digs into topics like the influence of social media, body image, classism and race in the realm of higher education.
... continue reading