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10 Best Sci-Fi Shows Ever & Where to Watch Them

10 Best Sci-Fi Shows Ever & Where to Watch Them
Image credit: Prime Video, Syfy, Netflix, BBC One, Showtime

Ranked by fans, these ten cult classic gems will make your weekend truly fantastic. Can you guess which sci-fi franchise totally dominates this list, by any chance?..

10. Farscape (1999–2003)

Most space sci-fi stories have warp travels, but only Farscape shows the person who invented it. A brilliant scientist believes he can achieve that by using gravitation, but his first real test ends with him being instantly teleported to another end of the universe. All alone stuck in the void, he must now find a way to return… And survive.

You can watch Farscape on Prime Video.

9. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

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What’s the difference between an utterly useless half-forgotten space station in the middle of nowhere and a thriving economic hub in the same middle of nowhere? A space tunnel that connects two distant corners of the universe. Deep Space Nine instantly turns into a place of booming activity — and makes powerful enemies.

You can watch Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on Paramount Plus and Prime Video.

8. Babylon 5 ( 1993–1998)

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Peaceful co-existence, diplomacy, and mutually beneficial deals — such were the reasons for creating Babylon 5, a massive space hub for various races to settle their differences at. But time has passed, and the station turned into the epicenter of political schemes and racial and became the point of interest for many factions.

You can watch Babylon 5 on Prime Video.

7. Star Trek (1966–1969)

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If you answered “Star Trek” when we asked you which franchise dominated this list, you were absolutely correct. Apart from the plentiful spin-offs, there is, of course, the original series: the OG Star Trek follows the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise as they explore the galaxy and protect the interests of their motherland in deep space.

You can watch Star Trek on Paramount Plus and Prime Video.

6. The X-Files (1993–2018)

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For this one, we’ll have to step back to Earth — but don’t get used to it. Two FBI agents that are assigned to the X-Files project are very different: a skeptic and a believer, they constantly struggle to find common ground and don’t really want to. The paranormal cases they deal with are as often fake as they are true, though…

You can watch The X-Files on Hulu, Disney Plus, and Prime Video.

5. Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007)

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We’re back to space, and remember how we spoke about warping? Yeah, so there are these stargates, and they allow for instant transportation between distant points in the galaxy. Obviously, they are a massive advantage to however control them, so humans create a secret military team to protect the gates and explore the galaxy.

You can watch The X-Files on Prime Video.

4. Doctor Who ( 2005–2022)

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How many people dream of being immortal and traversing time and space at their whim, talking to the great minds of the past and engaging in the most risky and interesting activities our history has to offer? Well, they must really envy Doctor Who — the shapeshifting human-looking alien who does just that in their leisure time.

You can watch Doctor Who on Max.

3. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

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People come and go; so do aliens; so do Star Trek spin-offs. But when some things come to an end eventually, the exploration of the galaxy never stops. New generations of Starfleet officers are being sent into the distant realms to discover new planets, species, and dangers that they’ll later have to protect the Earth from.

You can watch Star Trek: The Next Generation on Netflix and Prime Video.

2. Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

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Humankind is not in the best shape: its ancient alien enemies managed to destroy all core colonies in one devastating attack, and a small civilian fleet that managed to escape houses the last humans. Before them lies a long and dangerous journey to a prophesied oasis of freedom, a distant planet they can settle down on: the Earth.

You can watch Battlestar Galactica on Prime Video.

1. Firefly ( 2002–2003)

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Staying neutral often comes at a larger price than choosing a side, as the captain of Serenity is well-aware of. He and his misfit crew navigate the galaxy, earning their upkeep by committing small crimes and delivering contraband — all while avoiding warring factions and the authorities that are searching high and low for them.

You can watch Firefly on Prime Video.