8 Best Space Western TV Shows (#1 Is A Masterpiece)

Separately, the sci-fi and Western genres are booming. The prominence of Taylor Sheridan and his Yellowstone franchise has brought new life to Westerns. At the same time, sci-fi shows from Netflix’s Stranger Things to Apple TV’s record-breaking Pluribus have dominated audience attention.

Their respective successes have also led to the rise of the neo-Western, a modern reinvention of the Western that often incorporates sci-fi elements. Whether it’s Westworld‘s futuristic amusement park populated by androids, or Outer Range​​​​​​’s ominous foray into cowboy time travel, this genre has proved to be limitless as it continues to find new ways to embrace Western themes with fresh sci-fi worldbuilding.

Despite the renewed interest in neo-Westerns and rich sci-fi worlds, the Western has been slower to move into outer space. Space operas have become a genre in and of themselves, and their success has displayed how compatible Western themes are with a space setting, even when they stop short of embracing that themselves.

Outer space has become the modern-day new frontier, one that offers the same freedom, possibility, wonder, and even lawlessness of the Wild West. While the Space Western genre continues to grow in 2026, these eight shows have already shown just how powerful it can be.

8

Dark Matter

2015-2017

Not to be confused with Apple TV’s 2024 Dark Matter series, the 2015 show leaned into everything that makes Westerns, sci-fi, and outer space work so well together. After waking up from a futuristic sleep state in a spaceship with no idea who they are, One through Six learned that they were, in fact, some of the worst criminals in the entire galaxy.

Dark Matter took a character-driven approach that had fun with what was ultimately a quintessential Western outlaw story, while also allowing for grounded moments of genuine emotional growth. The show really hit its stride in its second and third seasons, which earned a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, a score that reflects Dark Matter‘s character work, expansive worldbuilding, and sheer entertainment value.

7

Killjoys

2015-2019

In another distinctly Western premise, Killjoys followed three bounty hunters in an interplanetary system known as The Quad. The show delivered on the action expected of such a concept with exciting fight scenes, unique weapons, and high-stakes missions. Yet even as the violence and plot grew in scope, Killjoys maintained a refreshing, grounding character focus that kept it from becoming overly soapy.

Rather than normalizing its action, Killjoy‘s characters consistently had realistic emotional reactions to the things they went through, creating well-developed personal arcs alongside the show’s plot-driven story. Amidst its action and emotion, though, Killjoys also employed a somewhat campy tone and visual style that allowed the show to remain a fun watch, rather than a heavy one.

6

Defiance

2013-2015

Image via MovieStillsDB

Defiance didn’t take place in space, but it did feature seven different species of aliens who all had their own cultures and reasons for being on Earth. Centered around the small town of Defiance, which aimed to stay out of society’s larger institutions and conflicts, the show captured Western ideals of independence and small-town communities, as well as themes of prejudice, colonization, and acceptance.

The logistics of Defiance‘s conflict between its humans and the various alien races were often dense, and the show’s companion video game, which attempted to evolve alongside the developments of the show, ultimately made matters even more convoluted. Nonetheless, Defiance was undeniably ambitious in its lore, visuals, and storytelling, and left a mark as a memorable Western installment.

5

The Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers

1986

For a children’s show, Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers packed in an impressive amount of digestible lore. After being given the tools to access the depths of outer space upon helping two friendly aliens, the show followed a band of human rangers who worked to protect the galaxy from crime. Alongside its rich sci-fi plot surrounding the evil Crown Empire, Galaxy Rangers took on a distinct Western feel.

The show’s intro described the rangers as “pioneers” who were “dedicated to preserving law and order across the new frontier” while depicting them on cybernetic horseback. Galaxy Ranger‘s commitment to both its Western and space focus made its rangers among the first true space cowboys who, despite the show’s abrupt cancellation, have since gone on to develop a cult following.

4

The Mandalorian

2019-2023

The Mandalorian was made memorable by its abundantly endearing main duo, bounty hunter Din Djarin, played by Pedro Pascal, and his mark, whom Mandalorian viewers soon collectively dubbed “baby Yoda.” For a Star Wars installment, The Mandalorian stood out for its narrow, intimate story within the franchise’s sprawling world, which also gave it its Western, fringes-of-society feel.

The fun The Mandalorian had with its characters also allowed it to be surprisingly earnest, and it treated its thoughtful reflections on fatherhood and the question of nature versus nurture with more tenderness than most Star Wars ​​​​​​stories. The Mandalorian also marked the first live-action TV series for the franchise, opening the door to what has since become a gold mine of compelling sagas.

3

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

1993-1999

Deep Space Nine was a departure for the Star Trek franchise in everything from its setting to its tone, and the result was a series with more depth and nuance than any other Star Trek fare. Visually, the show set itself apart through its setting of a space station, rather than a spaceship, and this allowed Deep Space Nine to be a central location for all manner of interpersonal, intercultural, and political conflict.

While the original Star Trek became known for its idealism and utopian morality, Deep Space Nine took a darker approach that wasn’t afraid to depict flawed characters who were often at odds with one another. Deep Space Nine lived in an ethical grey area that previous Star Trek installments did not, and the show’s critical, observational stance on society evoked a Western sentiment.

2

Firefly

2002

Perhaps the show that has become the most synonymous with the idea of a space Western, Firefly amassed a devoted cult following despite its niche tone. Firefly embodied a Western sentiment in everything from its props to its focus on characters based on the outskirts of organized society, living with freedom, danger, and limited technological advancement.

Contributing to the show’s Old West flair was the fact that it depicted no aliens, something incredibly unique for a show set entirely in outer space. This allowed Firefly to hone in on the human responsibility for the state of its world, with no other species to take even partial accountability for the way things have gone in this iteration of humanity’s future.

1

Cowboy Bebop

1998-1999

Cowboy Bebop was undeniably a space Western, as it followed bounty hunters in outer space that the show even referred to as “cowboys,” but it was ultimately so much more than even those two genres. In its promotion, the show was described as “a new genre unto itself,” and this was indeed arguably the most succinct way to describe the impressive genre-bending feat Cowboy Bebop achieved.

Beyond sci-fi and Western influences, Cowboy Bebop embodied traits of film noir, pulp fiction, cyberpunk, and even comedy. Visually, the show offered a high-quality animation style that allowed every seemingly incompatible theme and tone to shine through at once, elevating Cowboy Bebop into a space Western truly like no other that has come before or after.