Since the start of the Golden Age of Science Fiction in the 1930s, sci-fi TV shows have brought viewers escapism and innovation in the comfort of their own homes. With the debut of the first episode of Star Trek in 1966, studios began to invest more money in science fiction properties, and these series developed dedicated fandoms.
Star Trek’s fandom, Trekkies, paved the way for dedicated fandoms for series like the 90s’ Babylon 5, the British time travel series Doctor Who, the Battlestar Galactica reboot, and even Joss Whedon’s Firefly.
Although Star Trek’s original series broke barriers with its on-screen racial and gender representation, it wasn’t until recent years that serialized sci-fi began to depict the inclusivity the genre deserves. Recent shows such as the Wachowskis’ Sense8, The Expanse, Electric Dreams, Westworld, and more have deviated from the genre’s historic focus on white men colonizing space.
At the same time, recent years have also seen a resurgence of new series based around classic IP, from Star Trek: Discovery to The Mandalorian and Marvel shows like Loki.
With this vast galaxy of content, how does one choose what to watch? The Portalist recommends the best sci-fi shows to stream on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Disney Plus, and beyond.
Prepare to boldly go—and binge—where you’ve never gone before.

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