TV-Shows.TVThe best shows for me! The best sci-fi TV shows 2026 – ranked by the community. Science fiction series ask one central question: what if? What if AI develops consciousness, time travel has real consequences or humanity inhabits other planets? The highest-rated series in this ranking use those premises as a lens for social and ethical questions – not just as a backdrop for special effects.
How are the series charts created?
Rankings are based on real user ratings. The more votes a show receives, the more stable its chart position. When you rate shows yourself, your personal recommendations improve too.
(7/10 stars)Max is a genetically-enhanced human prototype hunted by her former military handlers through the edgy, underground street life of 21st Century America. Max is aided in her quest - both to avoid capture and reunite with her "siblings" scattered in the aftermath of their escape - by Logan Cale, an ide... more about Dark Angel
(7/10 stars)As Superman’s cousin, Kara Danvers, also known as Supergirl, balances her work as a reporter for CatCo Worldwide Media with her work for the Department of Extra-Normal Operations, a super-secret government organization whose mission is to keep National City – and the Earth – safe from sinister threa... more about Supergirl
(7/10 stars)When the Cardassian occupation of Bajor ended in 2369, the mining space-station Terok Nor was left abandoned, its systems ripped out. By invitation of the provisional Bajoran government, Starfleet stepped in to oversee the rebuilding and day-to-day operations of the newly christened Deep Space Nine.... more about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
(6/10 stars)Superman's teen years as Clark Kent find him agonizing over his shy, uncertain persona while dealing with his evolving powers and an infatuation with classmate Lana Lang. more about Smallville
(7/10 stars)When heroes alone are not enough… the world needs legends. Having seen the future, one he will desperately try to prevent from happening, time-traveling rogue Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a disparate group of both heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat—one in which not only is... more about DCs Legends of Tomorrow
(9/10 stars)Many years have passed since Goku first searched for the Dragon Balls. He is a grown man, with a wife and son. He and his friends have settled into their own lives and, for the most part, things are rather peaceful. Then one day, Goku learns he is really a Saiyan and comes from another planet. Now b... more about Dragon Ball Z
(7/10 stars)Evolved humans with amazing abilities (Teleportation, Telekinesis, Telepathy) are being hunted down by agents of Ultra. more about The Tomorrow People
(7/10 stars)Taking place during the mid-22nd century, the crew of the first warp five starship (the Enterprise NX-01) begin to explore the galaxy under the command of Captain Jonathan Archer. As their mission progresses, the crew encounter familiar races like the Klingons and Andorians as well as some new ones. more about Star Trek: Enterprise (2001)
(8/10 stars)Detective Catherine Chandler is a smart, no-nonsense homicide detective. When she was a teenager, she witnessed the murder of her mother at the hands of two gunmen and herself was saved by someone – or something. Years have passed and while investigating a murder, Catherine discovers a clue that lea... more about Beauty and the Beast
(7/10 stars)The previously unknown purpose of the ninth chevron is revealed and takes a group of refugees on a one-way trip to a millions of years old Ancient-built ship. Led by Dr. Nicolas Rush and Colonel Everett Young, the refugees are trapped on the ship, unable to change its programmed mission. more about Stargate Universe
(8/10 stars)Two hundred years in the future, in a fully colonized solar system, police detective Josephus Miller is given the assignment to find a missing young woman, Julie Mao. Joining his task is James Holden, former first officer of an ice freighter who is involved in an incident caused by the tense relatio... more about The Expanse
(8/10 stars)Long ago in the mountains, a fighting master known as Gohan discovered a strange boy whom he named Goku. Gohan raised him and trained Goku in martial arts until he died. The young and very strong boy was on his own, but easily managed. Then one day, Goku met a teenage girl named Bulma, whose search ... more about Dragon Ball
(8/10 stars)The diclonius, otherwise known as a two-horned human, are mutants of the human species, and may well be the next step in human evolution. The diclonius have horns and strong telekinetic powers represented by "vectors". However with this great power, they can easily destroy the human race. Fearful of... more about Elfen Lied
(8/10 stars)After a sabotaged experiment leaves him with super strength and unbreakable skin, Luke Cage became a fugitive trying to rebuild his life in modern day Harlem, New York City. But he is soon pulled out of the shadows and must fight a battle for the heart of his city – forcing him to confront a past he... more about Marvels Luke Cage
(9/10 stars)After being given a mysterious power to control others, an outcast prince becomes the masked leader of the rebellion against an all powerful empire more about Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
(6/10 stars)Z Nation is a dynamic ensemble drama that will plunge viewers into a fully-imagined, post-zombie America and take them on adventures with a diverse group of richly-drawn characters. Getting to know the reluctant heroes, their flaws, idiosyncrasies, and moral dilemmas will ultimately become the heart... more about Z Nation
(8/10 stars)Zoo is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans sweeping the planet. James Wolk will play Jackson Oz, a young, renegade American zoologist who spends his days running safaris in the wilds of Africa when he begins noticing the strange behavior of the animals. As the ass... more about Zoo
(8/10 stars)In the year 2071 humanity has colonized the entire Solar System through the use of "Phase Difference Space Gates". A catastrophic accident occurred during the development of the Gates, damaging both the Earth and the Moon, heavily irradiating the surface, and forcing most of mankind to evacuate to o... more about Cowboy Bebop (1998)
(9/10 stars)With Majin Boo defeated half-a-year prior, peace returns to Earth, where Son Goku (now a radish farmer) and his friends now live peaceful lives. However, a new threat appears in the form of Beerus, the God of Destruction. Considered the most terrifying being in the entire universe, Beerus is eager t... more about Dragon Ball Super
(7/10 stars)A mysterious event causes nearly everyone on the planet to simultaneously lose consciousness for 137 seconds, during which people see what appear to be visions of their lives approximately six months in the future - a global "flashforward." A team of Los Angeles FBI agents, led by Stanford Wedeckand... more about FlashForward
Sci-Fi TV shows are the genre most driven by a single core question: what if? What if AI becomes conscious? What if we colonise other planets? What if time travel is possible but comes with unexpected costs? The best science fiction uses these premises not as an end in themselves, but as a lens through which current social, ethical or technological questions can be examined differently.
This ranking covers sci-fi series across a broad spectrum: hard science fiction with high technical ambition, space opera with epic interstellar scenarios, dystopian series, time travel stories and near-future concepts that are only a small step removed from the present. Series that deliver on both dimensions – compelling story and substantive ideas – consistently rank at the top of the community charts. Use the streaming filter to see immediately where each series is currently available.
If sci-fi TV shows are your thing, you might also enjoy fantasy or thriller series for similarly imaginative or tense storytelling.
The top Sci-Fi TV Shows are ranked by real community votes. The more ratings a show has, the more stable its position.
Use the streaming filter to see which Sci-Fi TV Shows are available on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max and more.
Rankings are based on real user ratings. The more votes a series receives, the more stable its chart position.
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