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Apple TV remains an underrated streaming giant with plenty of incredible series. While its dramas and comedies are notable, the streaming service’s sci-fi series are what stand out. There are sci-fi series on Apple TV that build on established sci-fi stories that can appeal to those who are already fans of the genre. Other series feature original premises that can be more appealing to those who are newer to the sci-fi genre and who might find it intimidating.
Some sci-fi series on Apple TV are post-apocalyptic thrillers that present often terrifying visions of humanity’s future. Other series are more cerebral, and are thoughtful psychological explorations of characters who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. The best sci-fi series on Apple TV are unafraid to ask existential and philosophical questions about human nature and what we could be capable of.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ (2023–Present)
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is set in the Monsterverse and expands the universe of Godzilla and other Titans. The series follows two siblings, Cate (Anna Sawai) and Kentaro Randawho (Ren Watabe), in the wake of Godzilla’s devastating battle in San Francisco, who uncover their family’s hidden ties to the secretive organization Monarch. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters follows Cate and Kentaro as they study the Titans and the legacy of those who risked everything to understand these giant creatures.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is one of the best sci-fi series on Apple TV because it offers a fresh take on the Monsterverse. Rather than relying on massive battles that typically characterize these stories, this series offers a grounded look at how the aftermath of monster events like “G-Day” would impact ordinary people. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters further explores this existing universe that’s already so beloved, while providing an on-ramp for new fans to join the fandom.
‘See’ (2019–2022)
See is a post-apocalyptic drama that’s set centuries in the future after a virus has wiped out much of humanity and left the remaining population blind. In this world, society has adapted to life without sight, developing unique cultures and survival techniques. See specifically follows Baba Voss (Jason Momoa), the leader of the Alkenny Tribe. His children are born with the ability to see, which gives him and his family a unique set of challenges.
See offers a unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre, and gives Momoa a chance to show off his dramatic talents. He’s a relatable protagonist who, for all his faults, clearly wants to protect his family at any cost. This is a deeply compelling survival drama that keeps a family-centered story at its heart. While the first season takes its time to get off the ground, once the story gets going, it’s a memorable one.
‘The Big Door Prize’ (2023–2024)
The Big Door Prize is a sci-fi comedy that follows a small town that’s thrown into chaos after the arrival of a mysterious machine called the Morpho. This strange device claims to reveal each person’s true life potential with just the simple input of personal data. When the townspeople start getting their results, they start completely reevaluating their choices, relationships, and identities. The series is mainly told through Dusty’s (Chris O’Dowd) perspective as a teacher who seems to be content with his life.
Although it’s a comedy, The Big Door Prize manages to tell a deeply existential story by asking viewers to consider whether knowing one’s destiny would be helpful or harmful. It’s a surprisingly thought-provoking story told through the lens of deeply relatable characters. The Big Door Prize also stands out as one of the best sci-fi series on Apple TV because it tells an accessible and heartfelt story that explores the questions everyone asks at some point in their lives.
‘Shining Girls’ (2022)
Shining Girls is a psychological thriller that introduces Kirby Mazrachi (Elisabeth Moss), a newspaper archivist in Chicago who survives a brutal attack and ends up living within constantly shifting realities. When a recent murder mirrors her own assault, she partners with a troubled journalist to uncover the truth. As the two investigate this case, they discover a time-traveling serial killer who moves through dimensions in a way that defies logic.
Moss’ performance alone makes Shining Girls one of the most notable sci-fi series on Apple TV. The series features an unsettling premise that makes it stand out in the sci-fi genre. Shining Girls features a non-linear narrative, which makes it even more engaging. This series succeeds in using its premise as a metaphor for trauma’s destabilizing influence on people’s lives. It’s also easy to appreciate how out of control Kirby feels throughout the story.
‘Dark Matter’ (2024–Present)
Dark Matter is a thriller that follows Jason Dessen (Joel Edgerton), a physics professor who’s abducted one night and thrust into an alternate version of his life. In this alternate reality, his wife and child no longer exist, and Jason has to fight to get back to them in the reality he knows. Dark Matter sees Jason navigate several parallel universes and ultimately has to face himself as the villain in his own story.
Dark Matter stands out among Apple TV’ss sci-fi series because it’s a unique look at the multiverse premise. Exploring Jason’s life through “what if?” scenarios makes his journey through the multiverse easier to invest in. Watching him contend with regret and the consequences of his own decisions sets him apart as a protagonist in a sci-fi story. Rather than focusing on the science of how this story would even be possible, Dark Matter simply focuses on one man and his journey to get back to his family.
‘Foundation’ (2021–Present)
Foundation is based on Isaac Asimov‘s book series of the same name. Like the source material, the show follows Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), a mathematician who develops a predictive science called psychohistory. This new science forecasts the fall of the Galactic Empire and a dark age that will last thousands of years. To preserve human knowledge and manage the chaos he thinks is coming, Seldon establishes an outpost he calls the Foundation.
Foundation is one of Apple TV’s most ambitious sci-fi series because it had no easy task in adapting Asimov’s sweeping work. Apple TV succeeds in translating Asimov’s complex narrative and universe into an accessible and enthralling experience. While the series introduces a complex meditation on our collective future, it never loses sight of the fact that it’s ultimately a story about humans surviving against seemingly impossible odds.
‘Silo’ (2023–Present)
Silo is a dystopian drama that chronicles the lives of those living in an underground silo housing the last remnants of humanity after a mysterious apocalypse. The series introduces Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson), an engineer who finds herself in the position of having to investigate the death of a colleague. Silo follows Juliette as she exposes layers of conspiracy and corruption as she delves deeper and deeper into her investigation.
Silo is one of the best sci-fi series on Apple TV because it creates such a memorable world. The dust on the buildings and the rust on the machines are tangible. The series stands out because it introduces what seems like a straightforward dystopian story before shifting gears and becoming a kind of political thriller. Additionally, Silo captures the dread and anxiety that many people experience in response to existential threats.
‘Murderbot’ (2025–Present)
Murderbot centers on a self-aware security android, Murderbot (Alexander Skarsgård), who’s recently gained autonomy. Although the android wants nothing more than to be left alone to stream soap operas, Murderbot is reluctantly pulled into protecting a group of human researchers on a dangerous mission. Murderbot unexpectedly develops empathy and self-awareness as it completes its mission and integrates into human culture.
Murderbot is one of many stories that humanizes robots and makes them deeply relatable. The fact that Murderbot is obsessed with soap operas and is both drawn to and repelled by human beings makes it easy to understand. This series could so easily use its sci-fi premise to insult humans and highlight how ridiculous we can be. Instead, Murderbot is another example of a sci-fi series on Apple TV because it’s unafraid to ask viewers to consider existential questions about the human experience.
‘For All Mankind’ (2019–Present)
For All Mankind takes place in an alternate reality where the Soviet Union beat the United States to the moon in 1969. This kicks off an even more intense space race as the United States works to catch up. NASA is pushed to keep developing, rather than being slowed down after the Apollo program. For All Mankind takes place over several decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s, and chronicles how the Cold War could have looked radically different if the Soviets had gotten to the moon first.
For All Mankind stands out because its alternate reality feels plausible. The series specifically delves into how an extended space race could have been a catalyst for massive social progress. The fact that the series spans so many years allows viewers to more fully invest in these characters as they either overcome massive challenges or completely fall apart. For All Mankind is a fun and interesting thought experiment that asks what kind of world we all could have lived in.
‘Severance’ (2022–Present)
Severance is a workplace sci-fi thriller that explores the unsettling consequences of extreme work-life balance. The series introduces Mark Scout (Adam Scott), an employee at Lumon Industries. Mark and his fellow workers undergo a mysterious surgical procedure called “severance” that splits their consciousness between their working selves and outside selves. As Mark and his coworkers begin to question the nature of their reality, they uncover a massive corporate conspiracy.
Severance sets itself apart as the best sci-fi series on Apple TV because it functions as a brilliant commentary on the state of modern workplace culture. This commentary on the often ridiculous nature of the modern office elevates Severance above other sci-fi series. The series succeeds in asking small, impactful questions rather than focusing on bombshell twists. This might not be the flashiest sci-fi series, but it’s Apple TV’s most profound.
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Justine Kraemer
Almontather Rassoul
