The 16 best sci-fi series on Hulu to watch now (original) (raw)
Science fiction is perhaps the broadest of all genre tags. It encompasses everything from futuristic stories of the fallout from our present choices to encounters with anything we might not know about in the endlessly dark of outer space. As such, any list of great sci-fi shows is going to swing wildly between extremes.
Whether you want a meditation on mortality, the afterlife with monsters, a paranoid rebuke of the American state (and monsters), or a loving satire of pop culture and general science more generally (and monsters), there’s a series to be found on Hulu that will fit the bill.
Ahead, here are the savviest, most innovative sci-fi series streaming on Hulu right now.
Cowboy Bebop (1998–1999)
Sunrise
Few TV shows can sell themselves solely on the strength of their opening sequence, but Cowboy Bebop sure did — and then some. Set in 2071, this Japanese sci-fi Western series follows a quartet of bounty hunters who run from their pasts and roam a human-colonized galaxy pursuing criminals, money, and food.
Across just 26 episodes, each standalone installment paints a portrait of lost souls searching for meaning in a world seemingly devoid of it. From the rich character development and its philosophical themes to Yoko Kanno and Seatbelts' jazzy score, there's a lot to love about this anime classic (though you're forgiven for skipping Netflix's poor attempt at a live-action series). —James Mercadante
Where to watch Cowboy Bebop: Hulu
Cast: Steve Blum, Beau Billingslea, Unshō Ishizuka, Kôichi Yamadera, Megumi Hayashibara
Related content: Cowboy Bebop co-creator on Netflix adaptation: 'It was clearly not Cowboy Bebop'
Devs (2020)
Miya Mizuno/FX
Alex Garland (director of Ex Machina and Annihilation) once again finds himself examining life’s greater questions in this eight-episode mystery miniseries about the murder of a first-day employee (Karl Glusman) at a Silicon Valley tech start-up.
With the help of a stellar cast including Nick Offerman — who stretches his legs from grouchy, Ron Swanson-type characters toward something a bit more menacing — and House of the Dragon_’s Sonoya Mizuno, Garland prods at the very building blocks of the universe and questions the concept of free will. As EW's critic writes, Devs tackles "wonky, philosophical sci-fi tropes in wonderfully unpredictable ways." —_Alex Galbraith
EW grade: A– (read the review)
Cast: Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Related content: Alex Garland talks quantum physics, mortality, and Devs
Extraordinary (2023–present)
Olly Courtney/Disney
This British comedy series takes us to a world where everyone unlocks superpowers at 18... unless you're Jen (Máiréad Tyers), a costume shop worker who's been stuck without one for seven years. While she has a loyal best friend and a shapeshifting cat in her corner, Jen is left to figure out how to embrace her ordinary self.
While there are countless superhero stories flooding the TV landscape, Emma Moran's Extraordinary soars with its down-to-earth, Boys-esque twist, where being a hero isn't all it's cracked up to be and unworldly abilities aren't just devices for destruction. With two seasons so far, this sci-fi show is a feel-good reminder that comparison is the thief of joy and self-acceptance is the real superpower. —J.M.
Where to watch Extraordinary: Hulu
Cast: Máiréad Tyers, Sofia Oxenham, Bilal Hasna, Luke Rollason
Related content: The best shows streaming on Hulu right now
Firefly (2002)
FOX
The series that launched 1,000 fan campaigns certainly lives up to the hype. The one-season wonder explores a future where things get faster and newer, but never really any better. We see the frontier of this deeply unequal space-faring setting through the eyes of a ragtag crew barely scraping by on the far-flung frontier.
Showrunner Joss Whedon expertly blends the old West with the outer limits in a story of making due under the boot of an empire. Expect Whedon’s quippy dialogue and incredible performances from Nathan Fillion and Gina Torres. Knowing that Firefly was canceled too soon from the beginning helps you enjoy what few adventures the show has. —A.G.
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Cast: Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite
Related content: Morena Baccarin has a theory about why Firefly is still so beloved
Futurama (1999–2003; 2008–2013; 2023–present)
Hulu/Disney/Everett
Matt Groening’s stop-start sci-fi sitcom doesn’t get the same respect afforded to, say, The Simpsons or King of the Hill. Chalk it up to the series cancellations and revivals if you’re being generous, some uneven later years if you aren’t. Either way, the outright oddest of all the adult animation heavy-hitters is deserving of your eyeballs and respect.
What could have been a tired fish-out-of-water story with easy jokes about the future and technology outruns clichés with whip-smart writing and truly heartfelt characters. There’s a reason phrases like “Shut up and take my money!” have wormed their way into the lexicon and episodes like “Jurassic Bark” are counted among the most emotionally affecting half-hours of TV ever made. —A.G.
EW grade: A (read the review)
Cast: Billy West, Katey Sagal, John DiMaggio, Tress MacNeille, Maurice LaMarche
Related content: Futurama star John DiMaggio on the revival and his personal fight for Bender
The Jetsons (1962–1963; 1985–1987)
Universal/Everett
If The Simpsons had any rivals for better predicting the future, it would be The Jetsons. William Hanna and Joseph Barbera's Space Age counterpart to The Flintstones envisions the year 2026, where wearable technology, robots, flying cars, video calls, and other fanciful innovations are everyday realities.
Spanning three seasons, the animated series centers on the titular nuclear family living in Orbit City, using cutting-edge gadgets to get through every adventure and mishap. As the first ABC show to broadcast in color, The Jetsons zoomed from a modestly rated blip to a cultural landmark that continues to set the bar when discussing what's to come. —J.M.
Where to watch The Jetsons: Hulu
Cast: George O'Hanlon, Penny Singleton, Janet Waldo, Daws Butler, Mel Blanc, Don Messick
Related content: Drawn together: The best animated romances on TV
Kyle XY (2006–2009)
Sergi Bachlakov/ABC Family/Everett
In the middle of a Seattle forest, a 16-year-old boy (Matt Dallas) wakes up naked with no memories, no human instincts, and — most importantly — no belly button. Taken in by the Trager family, this teen prodigy can use 97 percent of his mind but remains burdened by one question: Where did he come from?
Though canceled after just three seasons, Kyle XY became one of ABC Family's biggest hits at the time, with viewers eager to see its titular hero evolve from an empty shell into a fully realized person. As EW's writer notes, "What started out as a one-note trick evolved into a well-crafted amalgam of elaborate sci-fi mythology and genuine teen angst." —J.M.
Cast: Matt Dallas, Marguerite MacIntyre, Bruce Thomas, April Matson, Jean-Luc Bilodeau
Legion (2017–2019)
Michelle Faye/FX
Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, twentysomething David Haller (Dan Stevens) drifts through life in a psychiatric hospital, his days filled with monotonous routines and the endless ramblings of his friend, Lenny (Aubrey Plaza). Everything changes when he encounters a new patient, Syd (Rachel Keller), and discovers that his hallucinations are actually psychic abilities. Now, David must master these skills while staying one step ahead of government forces ready to exploit them.
Sitting at No. 2 in EW's ranking of best Marvel shows, EW's critic writes that FX's Legion is "an edgy expansion of the X-Men universe...that transcends the [superhero] genre to be a trippy, witty, scary entertainment — marked by audacious storytelling that potently expresses the overwhelming psychic riot of our uncanny, bewildering times." —J.M.
EW grade: A– (read the review)
Cast: Dan Stevens, Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Irwin, Jeremie Harris, Amber Midthunder
Related content: The 15 best Aubrey Plaza movie and TV roles, ranked
Lost (2004–2010)
Mario Perez/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
In a fitting twist for a show about a plane crash, Damon Lindelof gave the prestige TV era its first taste of what happens on the internet when showrunners absolutely biff the landing. But even a controversial closer couldn’t take away the six seasons of critical adulation and feverish speculation surrounding this metaphysical mystery.
After they were allowed to cool off, even the most negative fans found something to love in this tense, tropical science-fiction drama. The performances of Evangeline Lilly and Matthew Fox could withstand fandom fits of pique and the core questions of the series are still fun to ponder years after it wrapped. —A.G.
EW grade: N/A (read the review)
Cast: Matthew Fox, Jorge Garcia, Naveen Andrews, Emilie de Ravin, Josh Holloway, Evangeline Lilly
Related content: The ending of Lost explained: What really happened on the island?
Lost in Space (1965–1968)
20th Century Fox /TV Guide/Everett
Need a break from the endlessly plot-driven and increasingly prestigious sci-fi of the day? This campy and strange story about a family of would-be colonists trying to survive in the coldest reaches of space is just the thing.
The ultra-budget effects of this three-season '60s classic do their best to show us the then-far-off future of 1997. It’s worth a watch for the dead-serious delivery of Guy Williams; the scoring of a young John Williams; and the sudden understanding of countless parodies and references on later TV shows, including the Netflix reboot. —A.G.
Where to watch Lost in Space: Hulu
Cast: Guy Williams, June Lockhart, Mark Goddard, Marta Kristen, Bill Mumy, Angela Cartwright
Misfits (2009–2013)
Hulu
Leave that bit about “with great power comes great responsibility” to doe-eyed Americans and give this cynical and juvenile take on the suddenly superpowered trope a spin. Misfits follows the zany stories of a group of juvenile delinquents, who become enhanced after getting caught in a freak lightning storm while performing community service.
Premiering in 2009, the teen sci-fi comedy can definitely feel old in early seasons — particularly with its handling of sex — but it grew up a bit along with its protagonists and really shined by the time it wrapped. Come to see future stars like Iwan Rheon, Robert Sheehan, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, stay for the hijinks of superpowered South London degenerates. —A.G.
Cast: Iwan Rheon, Robert Sheehan, Lauren Socha, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Antonia Thomas
Related content: 9 British sci-fi shows to tide you over until Doctor Who returns
Rick and Morty (2013–present)
Adult Swim
Signed on to produce new TV shows until the heat death of Earth and several other universes, creators Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland have somehow managed to keep their Back to the Future-indebted, smart-aleck satire series fresh (even while lampooning the very grind that’s created later seasons).
Rick and Morty has always been lauded for its willingness to tear down the framework of science fiction and television. After some gross and ill-conceived stumbling around the concept of a spacefaring incest baby, the show has recaptured some of that magic in its sixth season and beyond. —A.G.
Where to watch Rick and Morty: Hulu
EW grade: A (read the review)
Cast: Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, Sarah Chalke, Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden
Related content: The 25 best Rick and Morty episodes
Roswell (1999–2002)
Everett Collection
Set in the titular New Mexico town (infamous for its 1947 crash that fueled UFO theories), Roswell introduces us to three human-alien hybrids on a mission to save their race from extinction. As these teens learn more about themselves and their extraterrestrial abilities, they encounter more aliens on Earth and develop some star-crossed relationships with their human peers.
Fusing My So-Called Life angst with threads of sci-fi storytelling, this moody series offers both escapist charm and a nuanced portrayal of adolescent life in the early-2000s (minus the aliens). It not only launched Shiri Appleby, Katherine Heigl, and Colin Hanks to stardom, but it also paved the way for the successful reboot, Roswell, New Mexico. —J.M.
EW grade: B (read the review)
Cast: Shiri Appleby, Jason Behr, Katherine Heigl, Majandra Delfino, Brendan Fehr, Colin Hanks
Related content: The 25 best TV shows to binge-watch
The X-Files (1993–2002; 2016–2018)
Everett Collection
Before the internet came along to knock the shine off the deep state and reveal that the U.S. government in all its forms was made up of an assortment of schlubs, The X-Files flourished as a masterpiece of small-town paranoia and cosmic conspiracy.
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson exuded a chemistry rarely seen on sci-fi TV, but perfect for the oddball noir of this sweaty, nervous who — or what — dunnit. It deftly balanced entertaining monster-of-the-week shorts with a dense and twisty narrative. And like the strain of deep-seated neuroses found in characters like Fox Mulder, we never saw its like again. —A.G.
Where to watch The X-Files: Hulu
EW grade: B+ (read the review)
Cast: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, Mitch Pileggi
Related content: The 25 best episodes of The X-Files