7 Greatest American Sci-Fi Shows of All Time, Ranked

When it comes to science fiction, everyone has a strong opinion about what they like and what they don’t. Star Wars or Star Trek? Aliens or machines? Time travel or interstellar travel? Because the genre itself is so vast, so expansive, it’s just about impossible to please everybody. Yet, there are some television shows that even the most devoted sci-fi lovers out there can agree on, especially those that ran for a long time.

Even if you prefer other programs, there’s no doubt that certain sci-fi productions deserve high praise. So, we’ve put together a list of seven of the greatest American-made sci-fi shows out there (though, full disclosure, that doesn’t mean that all of them were filmed in the U.S.), which automatically cuts out British staples like Doctor Who or The Prisoner. While opinions are bound to vary (and there are undoubtedly others that could easily belong on this list), these are a select handful of sci-fi shows that we consider to be the greatest nationwide.

7

‘Stargate SG-1’ (1997–2007)

Image via SYFY

A direct spin-off from the original Stargate movie by Roland Emmerich, the Showtime-turned-Syfy series Stargate SG-1 took the concept and turned it into a highly-successful television empire that lasted well over a decade. Following the adventures of Col. Jack O’Neill (Richard Dean Anderson), Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks), Samantha “Sam” Carter (Amanda Tapping), and Jaffa warrior Teal’c (Christopher Judge), SG-1 was a pioneer in modern space opera adventures. Created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, these minds took a concept that was effectively dead in the water and built an entire franchise around it, one full to the brim with quippy heroes, expert worldbuilding, and a high-concept that somehow felt close to home.

Spanning 10 seasons, Stargate SG-1 produced two direct-to-video sequel films, an animated series, a prequel miniseries, and two additional spin-offs, including the highly popular Stargate Atlantis. As one of the most rewatchable sci-fi shows out there, SG-1 has more than earned its place on this list for its general consistency across a decade-worth of television, as well as the reliability of its main cast and the complex lore that only deepens as the series progresses. There’s a reason that audiences continue to regularly revisit this genre gem on streaming, and although some may argue that Atlantis is the better show, if not for the efforts of SG-1, it wouldn’t exist at all.

6

‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)

Image via FOX

It’s hard to say if Firefly is considered one of the best American sci-fi shows because the brevity of its time on air kept it from growing stale, but this Joss Whedon series is no doubt one of the most popular that the genre has to offer. Of course, popular doesn’t always mean “best,” but in this case, it’s hard to argue against the Serenity crew. Set in a unique interplanetary future that blends cultures, languages, and the Old West with deep-space travel, Firefly was a short-lived triumph that rose above its cancellation due to an impressive cult following that simply couldn’t let it die. Fan efforts resulted in both a sequel film, Serenity, and a long-awaited, recently announced animated continuation.

With one of the most lovable casts in all science fiction — featuring Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Jewel Staite, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Sean Maher, Ron Glass, and Summer Glau — and a boatload of potential, Firefly is something of a network television dream. In only 14 episodes, it created a world that many have refused to let go of after all these years due to its plucky characters, tense weekly episodes, and timeless space Western aesthetics. It’s one of the few fantastic sci-fi shows with absolutely no bad episodes, which in itself is quite a feat.

5

‘Fringe’ (2008–2013)

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If we’re considering the best American science fiction shows based on how intelligent they are, then there’s no doubt as to why Fringe makes it onto this list. Created by the combined efforts of J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci, the series began as a pattern-of-the-week-style drama where FBI Agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv), jack-of-all-trades Peter Bishop (Joshua Jackson), and “mad scientist” Walter Bishop (John Noble) would investigate each new strange pseudo-scientific happening across New England, but it quickly grew into a multiversal, time-warping adventure that was about a decade ahead of its time. Somehow, Fringe could effortlessly make high-concept ideas like alternate universes and timelines, cybernetic shape-shifters, and post-apocalyptic futures palatable for general audiences.

Not only is Fringe a sci-fi series that has aged like fine wine, but in its five seasons it never disappointed. It was never afraid to go to strange or dark places, and always did so with intent and a forward-thinking manner meant to benefit the story long-term. “Filler” episodes never felt so filler, and even the smallest clues ended up amounting to something by the very end. With stunning characters that boasted satisfying emotional arcs, it’s hard to say goodbye even after 100 episodes. Sure, Fringe ends well, tying together just about every loose thread it had left behind, but that doesn’t mean we wouldn’t have stuck with it longer.

4

‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)

Image via Paramount Television

When it comes to Star Trek, some will likely prefer Star Trek: The Original Series for its groundbreaking “Wagon Train in space” concept that first introduced audiences to the USS Enterprise, but it’s Star Trek: The Next Generation that really revolutionized the concept and far surpassed Gene Roddenberry‘s original classic. We may love William Shatner‘s Captain James T. Kirk for his bold and courageous nature, but Patrick Stewart‘s Captain Jean-Luc Picard was the more intelligent, “thinking man’s” Starfleet leader who was far more Shakespearean than his original series counterpart. Paired with a solid cast that included Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, and Wil Wheaton (to name only a few), The Next Generation took to the stars in style.

With some of the most mind-bending sci-fi episodes out there, Star Trek: The Next Generation is the perfect successor that proved some sci-fi franchises are built for legacy sequels. For seven seasons, The Next Generation crew kept us entertained, engaged, and enraptured in the interstellar adventures of this eclectic group of diverse space travelers. The series not only revived the franchise on television, but it spawned not only four feature film continuations, but also a sequel series in the form of Star Trek: Picard. It’s no wonder that fans still regularly binge through the show’s collection of 178 episodes.

3

‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)

Image via FOX

Anyone who has seen even a single episode of The X-Files knew this one was coming. The Chris Carter series primarily followed the strange, macabre, and often unbelievable adventures of FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) with a perfect blend of monster-of-the-week and mytharc episodes. Whether you watched the series for the UFOs and little green men or the anticipation of whatever new oddball case the duo would find themselves investigating, one thing was always for sure: The X-Files was must-watch television. The series singlehandedly pioneered the “spooky cop” show, combining traditional science fiction fodder with horror, fantasy, and even comedy. To this day, there’s never been another pair quite like Mulder and Scully.

The X-Files originally ran for nine seasons and 202 episodes (plus a feature film set between the fifth and sixth seasons) before concluding in 2002. But, as fate would have it, Carter wasn’t through yet. On top of the second feature film that hit theaters in 2008, The X-Files returned in 2016 for two additional seasons, rounding up its total episode count to 218, and thus tying it with Smallville as the longest-running North American science fiction series out there. While some seasons are certainly better than others — not everyone loved the John Doggett (Robert Patrick) and Monica Reyes (Annabeth Gish) experiment — The X-Files remains some of the best sci-fi material ever put on the screen, big or small. The mytharc alone is an impressive feat, but some of the most intense X-Files episodes were Mulder and Scully’s standalone adventures.

2

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

Image via SYFY

Sometimes it’s best to go right back to the drawing board, and that’s what Ronald D. Moore did when he completely re-imagined Battlestar Galactica. What was once a campy, forgotten, and short-lived network TV space opera became a serialized cable wonder that rebooted the material completely as a serious, character-driven production about the survival of humanity among the stars. After the Cylons attack the human homeworld of Caprica, the Galactica leads a small fleet of survivors across the galaxy in search of the mythical Earth. The show’s strong cast — which includes Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Katee Sackhoff, Jamie Bamber, James Callis, and Tricia Helfer — was like lightening in a bottle, and it’s hard to believe that Syfy (then Sci-Fi Channel) knew what they had. After a three-hour 2003 miniseries to kick things off, Battlestar Galactica hit the ground running — and it never let up.

Battlestar Galactica ran for four seasons before its epic three-part finale concluded the space saga. Sure, it spawned a few prequels, an interquel, and a made-for-TV feature set near the end of the second season, but the re-imagined series is so strong on its own that binging through all 72 episodes is an effortless adventure. This is one series that you just know is going to be a masterpiece from the first 10 minutes, a rarity not only in the sci-fi genre but in television at large. And let’s not forget to mention Bear McCreary‘s simply phenomenal soundtrack that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand still. “So say we all!”

1

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)

Image via CBS

Arguably the greatest science fiction marvel to hit television screens across America is The Twilight Zone. Although Rod Serling prided himself on his ability to excellently adapt pre-existing works of speculative fiction, the sci-fi/horror/fantasy anthology series was well-known for its impressive collection of writers who tackled some of the most bizarre ideas put to screen at the time. Writers like Richard Matheson, Ray Bradbury, Charles Beaumont, and Earl Hamner Jr. joined Serling in his unique vision for a dramatic series that took science fiction (and other speculative genres) quite seriously. It’s arguably because of this original CBS program that many of our favorite sci-fi shows even exist today, be it due to The Twilight Zone‘s endearing popularity or the inspiration it’s had on the genre at large.

For five impressive seasons and a total of 156 episodes, the 25-minute black-and-white anthology classic stunned audiences with its outlandish concepts, unforeseen twists, and exceptional guest stars. Though the program would later spawn three separate revivals and a feature film, only the original was guided by Serling’s brilliant hand. Even if you prefer some of the best Twilight Zone tales not penned by Serling, there’s no doubt that the original series had something special that future attempts couldn’t quite recapture. Indeed, there’s a reason we continue to revisit the fifth dimension, and it’s not just because of the iconic host’s deadpan monologues.