Director J.J. Abrams is known for his work with the found-footage horror staple “Cloverfield,” as the director of two movies in the recent “Star Trek” trilogy, and is one of the minds behind the classic 2000s sci-fi series “Lost.” However, much like his colleague James Cameron, who produced a set of docuseries for National Geographic, he’s contributed to non-fiction projects. One that flew a bit under the radar is “UFO,” a Showtime docuseries he’s connected to through his production company Bad Robot.
“UFO” looks further into evidence of life in space across four episodes. In 2017, The New York Times published an article sharing information about the Pentagon’s secret UFO research program. While many had speculated for years that the government was interested in possible extraterrestrial activity, the New York Times article confirmed it. With renewed interest in the topic, “UFO” released in 2021, featuring interviews with researchers, state government officials, and journalists, is now streaming on Hulu for interested parties. It takes a more straightforward perspective on the topic, rather than leaning into the sensationalism often expected, making it a must-watch.
UFO takes a more credible approach
“UFO” speaks further with one of the journalists who wrote the 2017 New York Times article, Leslie Kean. Her work surrounds investigative journalism into more abstract topics like the afterlife and extraterrestrial life. Her most popular articles and books surrounding UFOs involve interviewing government and public officials on sightings and research by government agencies, understanding what they know, rather than gathering evidence in favor of alien existence.
This also holds true in the Showtime series. Because the interviews and information are coming from people in places of authority, former state governors and university researchers, rather than just members of the public recounting an experience, it gives “UFO” more credibility. It’s clear that the goal of the docuseries isn’t for you to believe that UFOs and aliens exist after watching it, but that you have a better understanding of all the facets surrounding the phenomenon.
While it did not have the Pentagon files to work with, those batch releases began in 2026, “UFO” includes then-recent information to create a well-informed picture of where the research is, letting you come to your own conclusions. Paste Magazine’s Tara Bennett calls it “a serious exploration of where we are, in 2021, when it comes to being any closer to the truths around unidentified flying objects and extraterrestrial phenomena.”
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