Apple TV dropped the “Plus” from its name, but its number of must-see series continues to grow. You’re here for the sci-fi shows, and good thing, too, because the genre titles available on the streamer are some of the best around. If you’ve been wondering what else to watch after finishing Severance for the third time, I’ve got you covered.
Now look, I write a lot about science fiction shows and movies available on streaming services. There are tons of great genre shows on Netflix and Prime Video you can check out. But this article isn’t about them. Today, I’m spotlighting Apple TV.
If you don’t really know what you’re looking for, scrolling through every show on the platform can be taxing. To cut down on confusion, I sorted through Apple’s deep content library and put together the guide below to help you get started on your Apple TV sci-fi journey.
These are the best sci-fi shows to watch on Apple TV. Take note: This list will be updated regularly, so be sure to bookmark it and visit often.
Drawing on Hugh Howey’s book trilogy, Silo explores a dystopian future in which humanity’s survivors live in an underground structure. A variety of classist drama permeates the underground city. Population control, a murder mystery and the potentially lethal world outside keep the show humming. Rebecca Ferguson leads the cast of the series, now in its third season.
Sugar
Mark Protosevich, the writer responsible for movies like Thor, I Am Legend and The Cell, created Sugar – a series that wears its love for the film noir genre on its sleeve. Visually, Sugar is a delight. Add Colin Farrell’s soft-spoken, empathetic private investigator to the mix, and you have a stylish murder mystery with patience and compassion. An unexpected twist flips the show on its head in its first season, steering the whole show into sci-fi territory.
Pluribus
Vince Gilligan’s latest series is way more X-Files than it is Breaking Bad, and that’s a good thing. The show follows a woman named Carol (Rhea Seehorn), who gets trapped amid a worldwide pandemic of unbridled happiness. It’s very Invasion of the Body Snatchers, yet a totally different take on an alien invasion. Smart writing and an Emmy-worthy performance by Seehorn make this show one of my favorites of the year.
Widow’s Bay
If I’m being honest, Widow’s Bay isn’t specifically a science fiction program. It is categorized as horror, but it features sci-fi adjacent details, so I put it here. This show feels unique in its structure and style, yet honors small-town tales of a similar ilk. From Stephen King to Twin Peaks and even Jaws, these influences are all here and make for a quirky, scary, fun time.
Invasion
Invasion is an epic sci-fi drama about an alien invasion. The detail that makes this series different is its international scope. Now in its third season, the show travels around the world to offer a variety of perspectives on the global threat. The events in the series take place in real time, adding a sense of urgency to the mix.
Murderbot
The adaptation of Martha Wells’ bestselling book series, Murderbot Diaries, has already carved a unique niche in Apple TV Plus’s sci-fi library. Starring Alexander Skarsgård (who delivers in everything he’s in) as the murder-y bot in question, the program follows the exploits of a security bot who protects his human clients while secretly watching hours upon hours of TV. If you want action, comedy and science fiction, Murderbot delivers all three.
Dr. Brain
All six episodes of Dr. Brain were directed by Kim Jee-woon (the director behind I Saw the Devil), which pretty much tells you that this show will be a dark and twisted ride. The series follows brain scientist Sewon Koh, who has found a way to hack into the memories of dead people. This is a medical breakthrough, to be sure, but Sewon is more focused on using this experimental technique to solve the mystery behind a family tragedy.
Sunny
Rashida Jones stars as Suzie in Sunny, a series Apple TV Plus describes as a dark comedy. After Suzie’s husband and child mysteriously disappear, she is given a robot to help her grieve. As the show unfolds, Suzie begins to learn her husband’s secrets, leading the program to take a darkly dramatic turn. Presented in a sleek, near-future lens, Sunny feels very Black Mirror-y, which is a good thing.
Severance
If Ted Lasso set the stage for quirky comedies on the platform, Severance has to be the title that cemented Apple TV Plus as a streamer devoted to high-concept genre programming. The series follows Mark (Adam Scott), who works for Lumon Industries, a biotech firm with a unique (albeit terrifying) system to maintain its employees’ work-life balance. Ben Stiller executive-produces and directs many of the episodes.
Hello Tomorrow!
Hello Tomorrow! takes place in a retro-future where door-to-door salesmen sell real estate on the moon. The world-building is one of the biggest draws of the series, which didn’t get a season 2 renewal. Billy Crudup, Allison Pill, Dawshane Williams, Hank Azaria and Susan Heyward make up the show’s strong cast.
For All Mankind
What would life be like if the space race had never stopped? That’s the big question For All Mankind answers. The prestige sci-fi drama occurs in an alternate reality where America and the Soviets compete for outer-space dominance. Thanks to the always creative vision of show creator Ronald D. Moore and the committed performances of its epic ensemble cast, this is probably the best science fiction series you’re not watching.
Dark Matter
What if we did things differently? We’ve all asked ourselves that question at least once throughout our lives. That question comes to life in Dark Matter, a high-concept twisted series based on Blake Crouch’s book. The series stars Joel Edgerton as Jason, a college professor who suffers a strange assault that alters his life and reality. Jennifer Connelly, Jimmi Simpson and Alice Braga co-star in this must-see sci-fi series.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
The Godzilla universe finally came to TV in this Apple TV series. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters seeks to reveal the organization’s secrets as they connect to the monsters who leveled San Francisco. Kurt Russell stars in his first role in a TV series in nearly five decades. Here, he and his son Wyatt play Army officer Lee Shaw in the 1950s and the present day. The monsters and Russell’s star power alone are reasons enough to tune in.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Samuel L. Jackson pivots away from the superhero genre to bring themes of aging and dementia to the forefront. Here, he plays Ptolemy Grey, an aging man with Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to the support of an orphaned teen and the progressive research of an extraordinary doctor, Ptolemy can regain his wits to get closure in his own life while also looking for answers to his nephew’s sudden death.
Foundation
Apple TV did the unthinkable in adapting Isaac Asimov’s epic sci-fi book series. But the streamer pulled it off. Jared Harris plays Hari Seldon, a math professor exiled for predicting the fall of the Galactic Empire. Lee Pace delivers a formidable performance as Brother Day. The space drama follows Seldon and his followers as they fight to save humanity.
Jason Momoa flexes his acting chops in See. Created by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, See explores a dystopian future where humanity has lost the ability to see. The loss of sight doesn’t slow down people’s ability to battle, and it surely is a spectacle to see blind warriors wield weapons for war. Momoa’s charisma and passion shine through, making the show enjoyable, even if the concept is hard to believe.
